The Power Within t26e

THE POWER WITHIN

WRITTEN BY JESSE A. DEBRAUX I

Copyright © 2012 by Jesse A. DeBraux I.

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978-1-4797-3123-7 978-1-4797-3124-4

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Contents

This Book is dedicated to My Immediate Family

Acknowledgements

DEBRAUX

This Book is dedicated to My Immediate Family

First, to my loving departed wife Dorothy of forty two years of marriage. Dorothy was a loving and caring mother of our children. There was nothing left unturned when it came to the care of our children. From the first child, then the twins and then the triplets, there was never favoritism in the midst. She never missed a beat when they needed her motherly love, during times of sickness, schooling, children’s fun and games. Being a career mother, Dorothy always found a way to balance out her time for the family. To my children who always showed love and gratitude to Dorothy and me for the loving relationship we created for them. Last but not lease, Dorothy was a loving, faithful, ive and dedicated wife of whom I truly loved.

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank the following: The Portsmouth School Board istration The Norfolk State University istration & My adoring wife Paulette, who spent many hours in working towards the completion of this book, “The Power Within”

DEBRAUX

IT ALL BEGAN on a bright clear day, when the morning was filled with clean fresh air and the trees were green with their newly sprouted tender green leaves. The fruit trees had already brought forth there blossoms which will bring forth its fruit in due season. The flowers of the earth had awakened to a variety of colors, shapes and smells. The birds were chirping as though they were expressing their joy as being a part of this great and beautiful day. There was no doubt that spring time was here. It was a really beautiful day. It was a good day to be alive and well. Dorothy and I started a family. Our first born was Jesse Jr., and then later Dorothy became pregnant again. Let me tell you the story behind this pregnancy. With this pregnancy Dorothy began to gain weight very rapidly so much so that the Doctor put her on a strict diet. Dorothy had to eat chicken without skin on it, and she had to eat any nutritional thing that would prevent her from gaining much weight. Dorothy said to me, “I want my baby to be healthy and I am going to do whatever is necessary to make sure that it happens”. She said “if I have to eat chicken without

Single—Jesse II Twins—Davina (front right) Lavina (back right) Triplets—Sherrie (front left) Sherrae (back middle) Sherrell (back left)

skin, I’ll do that. I am not going to eat a lot of fatty foods, you know what I mean”, I said I understand, and anything I need to do to help, let me know. I was thinking to myself, wow, I felt sorry for Dorothy; she can’t eat the really good stuff. I never ate chicken without skin on it. I just knew skin on chicken whether fried, broiled with vinegar or baked is delicious. Yet, I knew she was going to do what was best for our baby. She was mighty large. Perhaps our baby was going to be large like I was. It made sense because I weighed 9 lbs 9ozs at birth. My mother said I was a big baby. We both were looking forward to having a big healthy baby. Now comes the day of giving birth. During the delivery the Doctor said “here she comes”. He then gave the baby to the nurse. Then suddenly he pauses and said “wait a minute, here comes another one”! We were all in total shock. The Doctor said he never heard but one heart beat. No wonder he could only detect one baby. Now we knew why Dorothy had the weight gain. We also understood why both babies were born so small because she was trying to eat based on the health of one and not two babies. The position they were in caused one of the babies to receive less food. We both were surprised, but were very happy that we were blessed with healthy twins, Lavina and Davina. Davina was much smaller at birth than Lavina. Dorothy named Davina after David in the bible. Later Dorothy told me that the Lord told her that Davina was a special child. Now, there were five of us. Months later, one particular morning, Dorothy had cooked sausage, eggs, grits and biscuits for breakfast and for some reason I was extremely hungry and the smell just stimulated my appetite the more. I had to hurry and eat breakfast because it was almost time to go and I did not want to miss breakfast. I had spent most of the time playing with the twins and talking and playing with Little Jesse. Dorothy was finishing breakfast, preparing the babies formulas and other things that needed to be done. I had to help also when I was at home. One of the major things I did was ironed. I ironed everybody clothes. Although, I did not know that I would end up ironing all the clothes in the house, for everyone for the next twenty some years. Well, I guess I got good at it. While we ate breakfast, Dorothy and I discussed as much as we could prior to my departure. We discussed the children’s future, and other things we could think of during that short period of time. I was very active in church. I was on the young adult choir, attended prayer and bible study on Wednesday nights. There was hardly a night that I missed going to any church activity. I taught Sunday school and a bible school class, and there were a few other things that I did. Anything that I could do to help the church in any area, I was willing to do it. Although I was very active, I made sure I had time for my family. So I did not have time for anything else. That particular morning, I recall even playing my

trombone some. I played it every chance I got in order to keep in practice. The trombone was my major area of comprehension in music when I was in college. Some years later, I recall playing amazing grace in church and it touched the heart of someone so much that he gave his life to Jesus Christ. Amazing grace was one my favorite songs which I love to play. I completed a song I wrote called “My God”, where I played a trombone solo in the middle of the song. Later, that song was published on Venture Recordings Label, along with other songs I did not write. I really liked that trombone. It was the only one like it in the area at that time according to the music company I purchased it from. It was a first line professional trombone, which I used to play professional rock and roll before I gave my life to Jesus Christ. After accepting Jesus Christ as my personal savior, I promised him that I would never use that horn for the devil anymore. I told him I would play this trombone for his Glory from now on, and I meant that with all of my heart. What I told Jesus upset the devil. He did not want to lose me, but it was too late for him. One Wednesday night while we were in church someone broke into our home and stole some items including my trombone. I just said, Devil you can’t stop me from playing that trombone for the lord. I was just going to purchase another one. What disturbed me the most was that those thieves stole a half a case of the twin’s milk that was under the kitchen table. You talk about taking candy from a baby, they stole milk from babies. Anyway, back to that particular morning. I was always full of energy, and that day I was ready to take on anything. I never seemed to get tired like you here some people talk about tiredness. Even while marching in the band in high school and college I would get winded to some degree, but not all out tired. I in high school, the band would march 252 steps per minute going onto the field and coming off. After we got back into the stands and seated, after a few minutes I felt like marching some more. Anyway, it was time to go. I told the children that I would see them later; I kissed Dorothy and told her I would see her later. I went out of the house, jumped to the ground; there were only a few short steps, I went through the gate and got into the van with the two people waiting for me. We greeted each other asking how you are doing. Little did I know that I was about to experience an accident in which I would be rendered helpless! Helpless to the point that the doctor told me it would be six weeks before I could start learning to walk again. However, those six weeks never did come, because I received a miraculous healing the first week of the accident. Not only did I receive a miracle, I saw a miracle. What I saw or rather who I saw would cause such an impact on my life, that my perspective of many things would never be the same again. While receiving prayer for the battered body I received from the accident, I was in the spirit when I saw my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That was an

experience which



High School

IC Norcom High School, Portsmouth, Virginia 1966

Norfolk State University Band

I had no idea would or could happen to me, let alone happen to me twice. The first time I saw Jesus, was when I gave my life to him. I was bowed down to him. The surroundings were the same the second time I saw him. However, the situation was different. We have always heard that a person’s life flashes before them before they die. Believe me, the old me died. Well at that time, my whole life came before me. Everything that I had done just before the age of five and up too that previous night was right in front of me. The reason I say five is because the first thing that I saw was me standing in our front yard. It was like a picture, a snap shot because everything was motionless, it was alive. The picture was real. I saw me in the front yard of the house we lived in when I was that age. I was not doing anything wrong, I was just out there. As a matter of fact, I can recall having a wonderful feeling at that time. It was like everything was beautiful. The sky, trees, and plants in a large field close by. The clouds were beautiful. It was such a great feeling that nothing else mattered. Running and playing did not matter, toys did not matter, friends at that particular time did not matter, and even candy did not matter. Now, that must have been some kind of good feeling that these child goodies did not make any difference at that time. Somehow I believed, that was the Spirit of God which was over whelming me. I also believe that I was at the age of understanding because that was the beginning of my life that was before me. It appeared that all the bad things I had done in my life stood out so much that I could hardly see any of the good things that I had done. The worst part of the entire situation was the fact that I was kneeling before Jesus with all of these sins upon me. My entire life was between me and the lord Jesus Christ. I never felt anything as bad as this in my entire life. Jesus was so holy, clean, pure, just, loving and ultimately powerful. He was all that is the opposite of evil and unrighteousness. Above all, he was present right there before me. I did not have the right nor did I have the authority to look on his face. He had the right and the power to cast me into outer darkness, the lake of fire, Hades, or anywhere he wanted to, with a mere gesture, and I did not have the right to contest any of his actions because the evidence was all there. All I could do was to keep my head bowed down in shame and total submission to him. The experience was too much to bear, yet, I had no choice in the matter. I had no power, no authority, no decision making power, no right to do anything except to wait on him to decide what he was going to do to me. All I saw of him was the bottom of his garment. It was extremely bright, not like a harsh brightness. It was cleaner than anything that I had ever seen. My mother always said that cleanliness is next to godliness. All of us (my sisters and brothers) always believed my mother and tried to keep up with what she said. For the first

time, I realized exactly what she meant. However, our cleanliness could never be compared to the cleanliness of Jesus Christ. For his cleanliness went so deep into the area of being sinless, that no human being could even began to come close to matching the cleanliness of Christ. Sometime later, after I had given my life to Christ, I read in the scriptures that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags and believe you me I could really understand why. If he decided to cast me into oblivion, there was nothing I could say or do about it. I was truly worthy of being a cast away. As I waited on my sentence, to be executed, all of a sudden something happened. All of the things I had previously done in my life just appeared before me, and before Christ, and there was a real problem with that situation. For included with everything else, there were all of the bad things that I had done in my life. However, there was a good side to the whole situation. All of a sudden, those bad things were gone also, they were no more. They just disappeared. Not a trace of those bad things remained. It was as if they never were. I did not feel the condemnation that I felt before, I did not feel the sorrow I had felt before, I did not feel the loneliness I felt earlier that morning, I did not feel the sadness that I felt earlier. The relationship at this time was different. I felt a forgiveness that only Jesus could give. I began to feel a love that transcended everything that I thought was love. This was a love that mankind doesn’t ordinarily know and understand. We have a love for our parents, our sisters and brothers, a love that a husband has for his wife and a wife has for her husband, a love for nature, but this love was different. This was truly the love of Jesus Christ that the bible speaks of. This is the love that people have talked about for years, but few in comparison have experienced. This is the love that makes you love one another, this is the love that binds relationships, this is the love that causes people to bury the hatchet, this is the love that heals, this is the love that transcends the love of mankind, and this is the love that will not hurt. When a person truly gives there life to Jesus Christ, no one has to tell them what has happened to them. They will know for themselves. It is there, it is automatic, and it is something that has actually become a part of that person. The Lord had forgiven me of my sins and delivered me from the judgment to come. My soul was saved, it was cleansed, set free, delivered. Then, as fast as it had happened, I was in natural familiar surroundings again. Now the second time I was before Jesus, things were definitely different. This time was different from the first. This time I was not bowed down to him like the first time. I did not feel the guilt and shame that I felt before. I was not in turmoil as I was before. This time when I saw him I was standing upright with gladness in my heart. I was looking at him face to face. I later realized that there was a reason I was able to see Jesus. I realized that there is a power within all of us that has always been present from

birth. A power that must have a clear path from us to God in order to be in direct with him. A power that is far greater than any force that mankind has ever possessed. A power that can alleviate many of the ills of life, such as, fears, oppositions, illnesses, doubts, defeats and many of the problems to numerous to name. This power has the strength to create, bring about changes, establish situations, attract good, love, happiness, joy, peace, it can see the true beauty of life, bring forth success, wealth and even give rise to miracles. This power that I am talking about is “The Power Within”, and it allows us to reach out and touch the God of all creation. “The Power Within” was placed inside of us for good and not evil. From the beginning, it was the opposite of everything which is evil and it will remain so. It was designed to adhere to that which is good and abhor everything which is bad. Everyone needs to realize and understand the presence of “The Power Within”. So many people are seeking ways to overcome the voids that exist in their lives. That is why so many seek the help of psychics, crystal ball readers, palm readers, and other people who are believed to have special powers. They are not aware of the power that exists within them. Without that knowledge they go to where they think they may find satisfaction. God says in his word that “My people perish for the lack of knowledge”. Knowledge is power and the knowledge of God is the greatest knowledge that exists. One might say, I don’t have this power you speak of nor do I know where to find this power you speak of. Well, I can honestly tell you that everyone has this power. It is not difficult to learn where the power came from, why the power was put there, what is the powers purpose, who put the power there, how to use this power and when we should use this power. Let’s talk about this great power. First of all we must realize its source. The word of god precisely states that, “God breathe into mans nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul”. God breathed into man, the breath of life. Whose life? God’s Life force. That is correct. It is Gods’ life or we might say the life of God that is within us. Also, the word says God gave to everyone a measure of faith. It is the responsibility of each individual to realize this power within and once this occurs, that person is well on their way to formulating a relationship with Jesus Christ that they have never experienced before. The bible also states that you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. The truth is that a part of God is within us. Nothing can exist without the life of God. Every creature lives because of the life of God. Every plant, every blade of grass, every tree, every bush, every shrub, every vegetable, every large plant, every small plant, even microscopic plants, every microscopic animal such as the amoebae, the flute, the paramecium, every good bacteria, every bad bacteria, even microscopic insects such as mites etc. All fungus from the microscopic to the mushrooms, moss of all kind, all life in the

sea, from the microscopic planktons to the giant leviathan. Every moving and living creature has the life of God within it. We should be most happy and humble to know that God made us the higher form of life among all other life forms on earth. For example, it is a known fact that scientist have detected life in places we would think life would not exist. Certain bacteria have been found to exist in a vacuum. We know that air does not exist in a vacuum and we have always thought that air is needed in order for life to survive. We also thought if a vacuum was created where there was life; the life would surely die without the presents of air. Well, that’s proof that God knows more than we do. Also, it was detected by scientist that a certain kind of bacteria was found in temperature exceeding 2000 degrees. Now you know we have always been taught that heat kills germs and bacteria. We thought that any germ and bacteria would not and could not live in 100 degrees or more. Next, we were told that bacteria and different kinds of germs do not exist in freezing temperatures. It was also discovered that there was a certain kind of bacteria found in liquid oxygen. Liquid oxygen is so cold that if you put an object into it, such as a stick, metal, or really anything and take it out and drop it or hit it against something, it will break from brittleness. Therefore no one would want to accidently put their hand into liquid oxygen. These three areas which have been thought not to sustain life, has life in them. This proves that Gods life is everywhere. Out of all the life forms that exist on this planet earth whether in the air, on the land or on the sea, God has made man superior to them all. That is why we should be extremely happy that we are Gods supreme creation, the cream of God’s creation, the crown of God’s creation, the apex of Gods creation. Now, is that awesome or what. I am sure that you have heard knowledge is power. Well, Gods life is the greatest power that mankind posses, because this is our way of touching our heavenly father and our heavenly father touching us. Next, you must realize that you really do have the power within. Then you must understand what the power is, where it came from, why it is there and most of all, how to use this power. This power is the life of God, which is the spirit of God. Now, you tell me, if there is any power that is greater than God. I want you to know that there is none. what we said earlier, that “God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul”. Understand how powerful Gods life is. Man was just formulated from dust, motionless, thoughtless, lifeless, breathless, a useless period. Man did not become intelligent, mobile, vocal, or a Gardner of Eden, until Gods life went into him. Then intellect came, intelligence to the point that man could name every animal in the field that the LORD GOD had made and he did not attend any college or university in order to accomplish that feat. Man became mobile and walked around the garden, searching out and

learning of the things around him. Man learned of the diversified fruits and vegetation that God had brought forth into the garden. He also learned of the different kinds of trees that did exist there including the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of eternal life. Man became vocal to the point that he could talk to God and speak of the things around him. He became the Gardener of Eden. Alive to the point that he not only realized who his wife was, but the man loved his wife. He had feelings for his new companion, for he said,” this is bones of my bones and flesh of my flesh”. The man Adam was also proud of his companion Eve. God gave man this power because he wanted mankind to be superior to every other creature that he had made. God made us unique; for man is the only creature on earth that has intellect, thought power, creativeness, mobility, and ingenuity, the ability to build, invent, and solve problems on such a level as man can. Tell me, what ape or bird or cow etc, can build a sky scraper, an automobile, a house, an air conditioner, or make money, write a book, and the list goes on. Do you get the picture? You see, God not only caused man to live, he carefully placed into man a power that no other creature possesses, and that is. “The Power Within”. A very simple act is applied in order to truly activate this power. Most people think that something has to be complicated in order for this power to have great significance, which is not true. This simple act I am suggesting is the act of believing, seeing in your mind, accepting that what you want is true. It is real. You have the ability to make it real, be glad, and be happy about it. That makes it real. When you make it real in your mind and heart, accept it and then receive it. Believe and you shall receive. Believing and trusting is synonymous. Example, when you go to a table to sit, or to a desk to sit, or to your car to sit down, you don’t stop to think whether or not this seat is going to collapse or if it is going to sustain you or whether or not your car seat will break down on you. Of course you don’t. You don’t give it any thought because you automatically believe that the chairs will sustain you. You don’t have to put forth any special effort, you just believe, trust, and be glad about it. Simply, trust and believe. Simply, believe in God and Jesus Christ for the deliverance of your soul for the lifting of the weight of unrighteousness (sin). You might say well, that is not for me. Well, I want you to know that the word of God says that all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. Once this weight has lifted, the power within us is free to touch God and once this happens nothing is impossible if you only believe

based on God’s word. How do I apply this power, you must be asking? The answer is to speak things with your mouth as you believe, as if they exist. Speak as if it is already done. This activates the power also. God said “Let there be light and there was light”. He spoke light into existence. He also spoke the sun, the moon, the stars, the birds of the air, the fish in the sea, the vegetation in the earth, and the water on the earth into existence. He spoke everything into existence. You can speak things into reality. How often have you heard of someone desiring something and when they consistently talk about it, believing, without doubting, eventually, it will come into reality. After a while, it will just come to . We increase this power by talking to God when we trust and believe. The Bible lets us know that talking to God, is prayer. Again, God said, in his word that “nothing is impossible if you only believe’. You believe when you accept the truth that is before you. A pure heart, an honest heart is what God is looking for. Don’t get bent out of shape because I use the word God. Some of you may say Yahweh, Elohim, Jehovah, or maybe the man upstairs. I will not and cannot judge you on that. There is absolutely nothing wrong by calling him by his true name. In order for one to use this power within (the life of God) to communicate, to speak to him, it must be free. Free from the weight that will hinder you from his intimate presence. The weight I am talking about is the weight of sin. What is sin? Sin is transgressions against God. The majority of the people don’t want to hear about sin because it steps on their toes. Most people do not want to feel the feelings of condemnation. However, there are some who just don’t feel anything as they say. Some people feel condemnation and won’t do anything about it. Some people get offended discussing the subject of sin. Jesus said “the day you hear my voice, harden not your heart and I will come in and sup with you and you with me”. I agree when your heart in not in tune with God, his word can be offensive. It tells us so. Yet, there are many people who are like the man who went into the synagogue and came out justified more than the other man. For he went before the Lord in a humble manner, smiting his chest saying “Lord be merciful to me a sinner”, while the other man was not humble at all. There are many people right now, who are waiting for that opportunity, if only someone approaches them and offer to them an invitation to hear the truth. There are some who don’t know what to do. They are not aware of how to know Christ or his Father. There are some who believe that all they have to do is treat someone right and they don’t need to know the Father and his son. There are some who believe that all you have to do is to get baptized and they are safe.

They just go down a dry pitiful soul and come up a wet pitiful soul. Some folks believe that being morally good is all that you need to do. Just because a person may not commit fornication, adultery, lie, steal, cheat, covet or any other thing deemed to be wrong, it does not mean that he or she is ok with Jesus. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in not doing those things. The Bible simple states, that, “Jesus is the way the truth and the life, no man goes to the father but by me”. Isn’t the Father in heaven? Therefore, the only way to get to him is through his son. If you disagree, you have that right to disagree. However, I strongly suggest taking God at his word. Pray for the truth to be revealed to you. Read for yourself. Ask questions, and receive answers from someone who is knowledgeable. There are people out there who understand the word of God. Some believe that rubbing down in oils will get you where you need to be. Taking communion alone won’t get you where you need to be. Holy Communion is done in remembrance of him. He did not say it washes away sins, or anything else. It is the atonining blood of Jesus Christ that washes away sin. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness and truly believe what you are saying and he will forgive you of all of your sins, no questions asked. , not some or most, but all of your transgressions. He doesn’t do things half way, he does a complete job. He did not create half of a world and stop. He didn’t stop until the entire world and all that is in it was complete. He did not create half of our solar system and stop. He completed the job. The universe was created the same way. A completed job from the beginning. The expansions, quasars etc came later. I think we can learn a lot about completing jobs from his example. Jesus did not leave this planet called earth until his job was done. Once you are free, you are free to communicate to him. You see people who have not created a relationship with Jesus and his Father, can accomplish things in this life also. They may accomplish natural things, but not the spiritual. what the scripture said “God breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul”. That means that every person born into this world has the life of God in them and that is why a person can accomplish things, sometimes great things and not have a relationship with God or his son Jesus. The scriptures also speak of gifts without repentance. It is also stated that man is born in sin and shaped in iniquity. This lets us know that a person can gain a lot in this life yet lose out on God. The word of God says, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole and lose his own soul. There is much more involved than natural gains. Your soul is more important than anything in this life that you own or will ever own. Things in this life will soon away, no matter how well they are put together. A house or a building will

be torn down after it has been around for many years no matter how well they are put together. Clothing will eventually wear out, cars will be crushed, machinery will finally break down, televisions will stop working eventually, erosion will eventually wear away the rocks, many objects will finally deteriorate and this fleshly body of ours will one day no longer exist. However, when you look at the soul of man, the sprit, the heart, not the fleshly heart, but the seat of emotions, the inward activities of a person, such as love, sorrow, hate, happiness, joy, feelings of all kind and the mind. These things will not disappear. These will inevitably have their part in everlasting eternity. Just like the senses. When a person leaves this world, the senses don’t stop either. They continue on with the soul of that person. For instance, we all know that the bible is telling the truth when it states that it is impossible for Jesus and his father to lie. When Jesus made a statement concerning something he was telling the truth. When he spoke of a rich man and the poor beggar, there was actually a real rich man whose name was Dives and there was a poor beggar whose name was Lazarus. It came to past that both men died and the thing we want to concentrate on now is the fact Jesus said “the rich man lifted up his eyes being tormented in the flames”. Before we go any further, I want you to know that the rich man did not go to the lake of fire because he was rich but because he was evil. Some of the wealthiest people in the bible were righteous. The point of this is that he lifted up his eyes; he had the sense of sight. Being tormented he had the sense of feelings, and to strengthen that point, he also stated that the fire was hot and could not be quenched. He felt the heat of torment. He had the ability to understand his reasoning faculty. The scripture went on to state that he asked father Abraham to send Lazarus, (the same person he sent his dogs to attack when Lazarus ask for the crumbs from his table before they both died, and stick his fingers in water and place it on his parching tongue. This give the ideal, that he also had the sense of taste. Now he is asking the same poor hungry sore written Lazarus, to give him water. Lazarus had undergone such a transformation when he crossed over to the other side that his sickly body did not exist any longer. I don’t know how hot that lake was. If it was 2,000 degrees or 200,000 degrees it is more than anyone could bear. The tormented man asked Abraham to send Lazarus back and tell his five brothers not to come there. He could talk; he had the sense of speech. Therefore, it is apparent that the spirit does not die, does not away, and does not go out of existence, when the physical body dies, it waits for the resurrection. God hinted to us when he said I am from everlasting to everlasting and I change not. There is no change in eternity. Time does not exist in eternity and time brings about change. For every moment, second, minute, hour, day, week, month, decade, and century and so on, things are constantly changing.

While you are reading this book somewhere a flower has bloomed, another book was written, someone died, babies were born, decisions were made, structures are torn down and some are being built up, someone just finished singing a song and someone just started to sing, someone just proposed in marriage and someone just got married. The changes continue on. Are you getting the picture? In time as we know it things are constantly changing. Time as we know it does not exist in eternity. The same beings, creatures and things that are in the eternal heaven now were in the eternal heaven eons ago and will not change. Therefore, I believe, whatever a person leave this world as, that is what he remains. If a person leaves with a personality unchanged before leaving, that is what he or she will remain. For instance, if a person leaves mean, evil, dishonest, unrighteous, etc or on the other hand loving, peaceable, honest, giving, understanding etc., that is what that person will remain. The bible tells us that none of those negative things will enter the kingdom of God. One of the last things a preacher will say at a grave site is the scripture that states,” and their works do follow them”. What path are you following? The scriptures tell us that Satan and all of his cohorts will be cast into the lake of fire along with death. The breath that God breathed into man just cannot disappear into nothingness, or just die and be gone. You and only you can determine your destiny. God has given to every one of us the power to make our own decisions. It is out of our own will we do things. Jesus said, “Who so ever will, let him come”. He will not force us to approach him. It is his desire for us to come to him in love not fear. Therefore, no one can blame someone else if they don’t accomplish what is really in their hearts. YOU have been given the power of choice by the creator of this great universe. You have been given the power within you to make your own decisions concerning your spiritual life and everything else in your life. I recall a time in my life in the year of 1970; I had to make a desperate decision to call on God. Somehow I knew that I had the ability, the power to reach him. I recall that day. I was twenty years of age, a college student, loaded with energy, very alert, ready to take on anything. I woke up that day thinking what I was going to wear. I would go casual unless I had a meeting or had to be on what is called Seminar or jury in the music department. We had to perform as required. Neck ties were uncomfortable at that time and I did not like wearing them that much. During my college years I wore bowties to keep from wearing neck ties. I recall one day on Jury in Music at Norfolk State University, we had to perform whatever the selected professors asked us to play. It determined grades. Each semester the complexity of performance increased. It was tough and fun at the same time. Most of the guys wore neck ties whether they liked it or not. Some of the guys

would make jokes of someone who wears a bow tie, because bowties were not a popular item. Sociable foolishness. However, I never had that problem because I had no problem with peer pressure. I was my own boss. I would be myself and refused to let other people’s opinions influence me. Also people are funny. If you are exceptionally good at what you do and you have a lot of confidence in yourself, you can wear what you want and no one would ever say a thing to you. I had the confidence and I was exceptionally good at playing the trombone. I was considered to be one of the best if not the best trombone player Norfolk State ever had, according to my professor mentor. I could play things with my trombone other trombone players or other brass wind instrumentalist could not play or some struggled to play. So I wore my bowtie and instead of getting joked out, I received applauds, and standing ovations at performances. I had not given my life to Jesus Christ at this time, yet I was applying faith and confidence in myself. I realized I not only needed faith in myself, I needed God. I recall the time I had a sea food business where we sold different kinds of fish, grocery items, condiments and several other items I thought would sell. I would always get to the store early, at least an hour before it was time to open. I would not only make sure that the place

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AT NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY IN 2012

CONTRIBUTED BY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING SPARTAN LEGION BAND

“EMERY L FEARS” THE LEGEND (BAND DIRECTOR) OF NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING SPARTAN LEGION BAND

CONTRIBUTED BY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING SPARTAN LEGION BAND

My years attending NSU (1966-1970). Later further education (1987-1988) My daughter, Lavina, also followed my footsteps by ing the NSU Marching Spartan Legion band. Likewise, my granddaughter Patricia followed in my footsteps by ing the NSU MARCHING SPARTAN LEGION BAND, (TOP RIGHT & 2ND FROM LEFT ON THE WALL)

CONTRIBUTED BY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

looked neat and clean, but it had to smell clean. One of the worst things that could happen to a sea food business is to open up for the day and to your surprise, someone forgot to do something. Maybe someone forgot to clean the sinks or other items where fish or fish parts are placed during the course of the work day and overnight heat and air caused a smell. It could be very embarrassing and even cause you to lose customers. You could have the freshest fish around, but if the smell is there you can forget it. I recall going to buy some fish years ago before I had my business. Upon entering the market the most pungent odor hit my nostrils and I did all I could do to hold my breath and get out of there. GOOD GRIEF! When I started my own sea food business I made up my mind that I would not let that happen. So, I was there early just in case someone forgot to do something. Sea food is not only good, it is good for you and I continue to believe that eating fish regularly will help you remain healthy and live longer. I also believe that there should be a pleasant atmosphere around fish. We sold kiddy swimming pools. I told Dorothy I was going to put kiddy pools in the store. She ask me was I serious, she said this is a sea food market. I said yes I am serious, I know we specialize in sea food, but we have to be innovative. You have to sale what is sellable. When people come in with children, most of time the children make the sales. If the customer did not have children the pools were mentioned anyway. Dorothy said well if you say so. We sold several kiddy pools and there were other items that sold very well. One was called mellow butter cup ice cream. We could not keep enough of it. It was truly a delicious ice cream. It was mellow, smooth, creamy, and buttery with an unusually good sweet taste. It was not too soft or too hard. It was so good. To my surprise many adults purchased the ice cream as well as the children. The pharmaceuticals sold slower than anything else. They were there for convenience more than anything else. Everything sold well from potato chips to vegetables. I really enjoyed working with the sea food. I did all the choosing and making all the purchases. I bought from areas such as Virginia, Beach, Newport News Virginia, and Jobbers with very good fish, Shawan, NC and any where that had good fresh fish. I recall going to Shawan NC to get more fish. The workers told me it was a long way to drive to bring back fish; I told them I don’t care. If a supplier can give me what I want and the price is right, I will go where ever I needed to go. One thing I would pride myself in is having the freshest fish around and that was why people kept coming back for more. Sometimes my fish was so fresh; they would still be jumping in the big show case. Sometimes a shrimp or two could be seen crawling over the fresh fish I had just received. You cannot get any fresher than that. Some told me that I shouldn’t expect to have

fish that fresh all the time. I told them that I could and I will and I did. I recall adding a little attraction to the show case. While in Shawan, selecting a supply of fish to purchase, a fish boat had just recently come in and dumped a load of fish. Much of the fish were fresh water catfish. I didn’t have a need for catfish at the time, however, what I saw I could not ignore. They had pulled in some of the largest catfish I had ever seen. I knew I was going to purchase fish such as perch, round heads, and there famous fish roe from herring. The cat fish were unusually huge. One cat fish had a head almost as large as a basket ball. Someone yelled out, “that’s got to be the granddaddy of um all”. By that time more cat fish were being dump. There was one cat fish so big when he opens his mouth, you could see he could easily swallow a soft ball. His whiskers were about a foot long. Now, I am not afraid of fish, I’ll even deal with a dog fish (small shark) without fear. However, when that gigantic cat fish hit the dock with a big slap like thump, all eyes was on that cat fish only. He wasn’t too far from me when I immediately jump back with a loud outburst (woooohh!). He was sum huge fish to behold. I knew right then that I wanted him to be placed on display in my market. I forgot how much he actually cost; I do that I sold it by the pound. Seeing that big old cat fish; made my day. I temporarily forgot about the herring roe and other fish I was there for. I didn’t even try to handle that huge slippery cat fish myself; I left the men working on that dock take care of it. I couldn’t wait to get back home with my prize. I could visualize how the customers would respond to seeing the great cat fish. I could almost hear the voices saying, wow would you look at that. Boy he could bite your hand off, or god knows what else they would be saying. Returning home, the big old cat fish was put right in the center of all the other fish setting up high on the crushed ice. Now do you think that big old cat fish caught anyone’s attention? You bet it did. People would come to see the granddaddy of all cat fish. Did it help the business, you bet. Everyone who saw the huge cat fish made it an immediate conversation piece. Some people came in just to see and not to purchase anything. However, they left with something anyway. It was a busy day and I wanted to finish all I had to do for the sea food because I was also devoting time to a contracting business I had. Although I had people working in contracting with someone supervising, I still needed to be on the scene as much as possible. I thought that big old cat fish was going to be around for several days, but would you know a man came in about sixty-five years of age, looked at the gigantic cat fish and smiled. He didn’t say anything at first; he just looked at the fish from left to right and right to left as if he knew exactly what that fish was all about. He gave the impression that he knew something that we didn’t. He looked as if there was a secret about the big cat fish and he knew what it was. Finally, with

his bib overalls and old dress hat he looked up at me and slowly said how much you want for um (him). He caught me by surprise because I had not put a price on that huge cat fish yet. I really didn’t think anyone was going to buy him. I was going to cut him up and sell him by pieces. I said to him give me a minute I just recently put him out there and have not put a price on him yet. I knew I was in the business of selling fish, but I did not want to sell the granddaddy; At least not yet. I want to keep him around for a little while. Nevertheless, I went on and added my additional cost and profit to the purchase price and sold the granddaddy. The man asked me does that price include cleaning im (him)? Immediately I said no it does not. Cleaning cat fish is harder than cleaning regular fish. The skin doesn’t have scales it is smooth and you have to skin it. This was going to be a tremendous job, a whole lot of work for whoever is going to clean this monster, and it was not going to be me. I already knew if I sold it, I was going to sale it as is. If I cleaned it for someone they may not have wanted to pay the cost of what I was going to charge unless they just had to have the cat fish. So, the granddaddy was wrapped up into a lot of news paper and put into a large clean black garbage bag and given to the man. When it was time to go I made sure that the people working the sea food had everything they needed to operate properly before I took off. I would always call every day after I left just to see if everything was going ok. I one day, business was so good we sold all the fish except for 10 lbs, and people were steadily coming in. My nearest supplier could not get there for another four hours or possibly the next day. That was not good for business to run out of fish because fish was my business; I went to the back of my building not letting anyone know what I was going to do. I stood there and looked up and told God that I needed his help right now and please hear my prayer. I knew he could do it and if he would work it out for me right now I would immediately praise him. I told God that he said in his word that we

could command him, so I said, I am asking that you send us some fresh fish now, I made it as precise as I could, I named the kinds of fish that I needed, and asked for at least 500 lbs. also I asked that the shipment of fish be fresh and keep our reputation good. You don’t have to be sophisticated while talking to God. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t care about sophistication, what he wants is honesty and pureness of heart, just being down to earth. The reason I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing was because I did not know who would turn out to be the faith killer, if there were any. I did not want to take a chance on that. You see, some people can’t help themselves; as soon as someone starts to talk faith, sometimes someone else starts to talk doubt. That lack of faith and negative talk will hinder your prayers, I did not need any faith killers around now, I did not know if someone would doubt, I just did not want to take any chances. Jesus displayed a perfect example of how faith can bring things to when faith killers are not around. In the Bible there was a man named Darius, whose daughter had died. When Jesus saw her he said, “she is not dead as you suppose” guess what, the faith killers were there and they laughed Jesus to scorn. What did Jesus do? What he did not do is to try to change their minds or take the young girl to another place. What he did was direct and dramatic. He immediately put them all out and the only ones left were the disciples who possessed faith along with Jesus. Then Jesus said to the young girl “maiden arise”, and she immediately stood up. That is why I went on to pray by myself at that time. There were times when there was a need for group prayer, but I did not think this was one of them. Also, there wasn’t a lot of time and there were customers out there who needed to be waited on. Sometimes you may be in a crisis situation where you will need to reach God immediately because you don’t have time to call the preacher or the mother of the church or the deacon or anyone else you had confidence to pray with you and for you. One needs to learn how to reach the father and the son for themselves. So I continued on with my prayer. As I was saying amen closing out the prayer, one of the workers knocked on the door and said, “I don’t mean to disturb you, but we are out of fish, someone bought the last few lbs and people are still out there waiting and wanting to know when will we have more fish. I opened the door and walked out thinking what could I do. As I was about to tell the people we were out of fish, one of the employees quickly came over to me and said, the jobber is out there with his truck wanting to know if you needed any fish before he leaves the area. I said, did you tell him yes. They said, I wanted to check with you first. I looked through the door and I knew that my prayers had been answered. A smile began to mushroom on my face because I

could count on him to always have fresh fish. I told one of the workers to tell him to come to the back door. I told the customers that we have a supply of fresh fish and it will be out momentarily. I seemed to have got an extra bounce in my steps. I felt good. Even before we knew that the fish was going to be there I continued to have faith and feel good about it. The bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. When we have strength we can do things. We can pray properly, we can function better with things around us and make better decisions and much more. It is extremely important to keep the joy of the lord in your life. It isn’t easy all the time when you are going through fiery trials and tribulations. That is why it is imperative to fight. For the bible lets we know to fight the good fight of faith. Now, the price was right as usual and immediately the cases were being filled with fresh fish and shrimp. By faith, God had answered prayer. I was told later after the fish were brought in, that he was on his way in for the day. He had just gotten a fresh catch of fish just out of the water. He was going to put the rest on ice for the night when I just came to his mind. He said to himself, I’m not supposed to go there for another two days and its late in the afternoon so I’m going in. He said he just made the turn and headed right to me anyway as if he was supposed to do that. He said that he thought that I was going to tell him that I will be ready the next delivery day, not today. He said when I saw your empty case and the people; I knew you really needed some fish. I had already told my helper to get ready to unload. He told me that was strange because he was definitely going in for the day. I told him that I had gotten desperate and I went into the back room to pray and I know that God had led him here. He said he believe that because he was not suppose to be there. I was happy because he had answered my prayer and provided a big supply of fresh fish. He was happy because he made an unexpected sale which meant additional money for him at the close of the day. Although he told me, that, if I wasn’t ready to pay right then, he would have stocked me anyway. Mildred, my wife’s aunt, manded the cash . Mildred said, I know God answered prayer. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I thought we were going to lose some customers. In desperate moments as well as moments that are not so desperate, when there is a need whether great or small we must know how to call on our Heavenly father when we need him. I have found that the Lord of all creation will permit things to happen to increase our faith in him and help us to use the power within us to make things happen. I believe that he is constantly trying to let us know that there is nothing complicated about it, we just need to learn and know what to do. Sometimes God will permit things to happen to help us to learn and that he will work things out for us. It appears that it sometimes

take desperate moments to occur in our lives in order to activate the power that is within us. It seems that ordinary or easy going things that happen in our lives don’t motivate us like those desperate moments. I believe that if the Lord God wants to use us constantly in this life he will allow things to come our way to test us in order to help increase our faith in him. Also, he allows small miracles to occur and sometimes alert us as to what is to be expected. The Lord God Almighty will gradually break us in a little at a time instead of over whelming us all at once. He will reveal things to us a little at a time. Some times too much to fast can hurt more than help. One incident I believe is a good example of God causing a small miracle to occur in our lives was while the family and I were out of town. By this time our family had grown again. Yes, Dorothy had given birth to a set of triplets. We named them Sherrie, Sherrae and Sherrell. After reaching Washington DC; we checked into a motel and everyone was hungry, all eight of us. So we unanimously decided that we wanted to have Chinese food, which was really decided by my wife Dorothy. She really enjoyed eating delicious Chinese Food. I do also when it is cooked right. We did not stop but once while traveling so we made good time and created some good appetites to boot. Dorothy did most of the driving. She learned how to drive long distances a few years earlier and she just really enjoyed driving. When we stopped at the rest area, everyone got out for a stretch and a break. It was good traveling weather and there was some over cast which kept the sun from blasting down on us. As I got out of the van first, I looked around the area. I have a habit of checking out the surroundings for safety, no matter how nice a place is suppose to be. There were a lot of people there. Everything seemed safe. However, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings where ever you go especially while traveling out of town. It was a pleasant atmosphere. The people seemed to be polite and willing to help someone if help was needed. There was a light breeze blowing which felt very good. The triplets wanted money for vending machines, Jesse Jr. and the twins wanted a soda, the twins wanted to look around and find the vending machines. Dorothy wanted me to go with her to the information center to see if they had a map of Washington D.C. I knew right then and there we had to organize ourselves immediately. I told the children to all go together and I meant everyone. Go to the rest room area first and wait for each other and whoever finish first wait for the next one until everyone was finished. Then everyone go to the vending machines together. Then everyone return to the van together. Almost at the same time the children started to complain saying “why do we have to do that, why do we have to go together, we are big enough to take care of

ourselves. All of the girls were talking at the same time, all five of them. Jesse Jr. didn’t say anything while they were talking. I said with a firm voice trying not to be loud attracting attention, look here, before I could say another word Little Jesse, Jesse Jr. said in a comical tone of voice, I tell you what, all five of you can stay in the van and don’t go anywhere and that will settle the whole thing. I took over the conversation and said you have a point there. The girls started complaining, oh dad, shut up Jesse etc. I said hold it. Now are you going to stay together, they agreed. I said you got to think safety first. Dorothy said that’s right, your daddy’s right, you know I have always told you about that. You can’t be too careful. I told the girls, you hear about people disappearing, getting robbed, getting attacked and god knows what else. I don’t want anything happening to anyone in this family. Now that is the way it is going to be, is that clear. They said,” alright” with a non shalant tone of voice. I knew that they understood what I said and took it seriously. Everyone returned together and in good time. They were young ladies in their teens not knowing of the real dangers of the world. Dorothy got her map, I got a good stretch and a soda, the kids got what they wanted and now we were ready to resume our journey. I asked Dorothy did she want me to drive. She asked me was I tired, I said a little I guess but I will drive. She said, I will drive, I am wide awake. She knew I had been up vey late the previous night. I said ok, but if you get a little sleepy at all or a little tired at all let me know immediately. She said ok. We all got back into the van and took off for the final stretch towards Washington D.C. We were careful not to make wrong turns, by carefully watching exit signs, route numbers and street names. If you make a wrong turn you could end up miles away from your destination. We were hungry and ready for something different. We had sandwiches, and things like potato chips, fruit, which is my favorite, cookies, and a few other things. With children you need plenty of food when travelling long distances. We had gotten hungry and we were not about to make any wrong turns. Anything would have been good to me at that time, chicken, fish, even a burger sounded good to me. As I said earlier the decision was Chinese food. After arriving, we searched the phone book to fine a Good Chinese Restaurant. How good, we really didn’t know not being familiar with the area. We found one that seemed to be what we were looking for. After getting directions I was ready to go. I told Dorothy that I was going to pick up the food. Little Jesse wanted to go, Lecia (Lavina) one of the twins said, I want to go too. I said ok, let’s go. We left the room, carefully shutting the door behind us making sure that it was locked. I made sure I had a key with me. By this time it was getting dark and I did not want to make a wrong turn. Cars were moving fast and it was getting a little difficult reading the street signs. I knew what to expect of D.C. We

continued on and guess what I did. You guessed it, exactly what we said we did not want to do. We missed our turn. I kept driving until I could find a suitable street to turn around. We were constantly ing one way streets and it took a while to find the right street to make a turn. Finally we reached a street to make a turnaround about a quarter of a mile or more from where we made the wrong turn. I told my children, I don’t get a good feeling about this place. Both Lecia (Lavina) and Jesse agreed. You could feel the uneasiness. It was like being in a war zone and on enemy territory and you cannot see the enemy, although, you know that the enemy is close by. Soon after that feeling, we saw what appeared to be winos on the corners and some individuals on the dark side of buildings and what appeared to be ladies of the night. This neighborhood had the appearance of being a rough place. It was dark and we were in a strange area. There wasn’t any fear, we just wanted to be cautious and I did not want any incidents to occur especially with my children there. Then it happened, all of a sudden, a bunch of guys on a corner that we had just ed moments ago broke out into a run into different directions. We didn’t know why they were running, those guys were not little children, and we knew they were running for a serious reason. I immediately stomped on the accelerator to get my children out of there as quickly as possible. Then it happened, gun shots rang out. I told Jesse and Lecia (Lavina) to get on the floor, you talk about wheeling and dealing that car I was driving, well I was doing just that. All I could think about was getting my children to safety. I turned into the first street I got to moving at a rather fast rate of speed. I made another turn and after two blocks I made another turn attempting to duck the violence and trying to get back on track. My head was down low as low as I could get it and still see the road. If I could have gotten it lower I would have. Finally, we made it back to the main street. We were back on course. THANK GOD. We continued on to our destination. I watched carefully. I was not about to make that wrong turn on the way back. Jesse and Lecia (Lavina) continued to talk about that incident. We agreed that, we made, THE WRONG TURN. Whew! We all seemed to have given some sigh of relief in our own way. We finally reached the restaurant. We got out the van a little jittery I guess, because everyone knows that stray bullets bear no names. We went inside expecting our order to be ready because it was called in. Maybe they thought we were pranksters. After giving them my name and phone number, they began to move quickly preparing our order. The kids and I began a conversation among ourselves, Jesse or Lecia, (Lavina) I don’t which one said, don’t

forget to ask for paper plates. So I asked for eight plates and forks. The food was finally ready; the plates were beside the bags with the food. They were heavy duty light cream colored to a white color with red Chinese embroidery like pictures around the top edge of the plates. I paid the man for the order, he said thank you with a smile with a Chinese Accent. I told him you are welcomed, and smiled back. He kept looking at us smiling continuously as we left. He continued to look at us and kept smiling even after we were just outside of the door. What was the continued smile all about? We weren’t concerned, we just wanted to hurry and get back to Dorothy, Lacia (Davina) and the triplets. When we got into the van, Jesse was sitting in the front seat enger side; Lecia (Lavina) was on the back seat. I started the van and when I looked at the plates Jesse had placed on the dash board, they did not look like eight plates so I counted them. I counted four plates and I said he did not put but four plates on the counter. It appeared that there were more than four on the counter. Jesse said that there were more than four plates. I’m sure, let me count them. Jesse counted four plates. Lecia (Levina) said, let count the plates, yawl can’t count saying jokingly. Lecia (Levina) said, hey, you are right, there are only four plates. I counted one more time and there were only four plates. We all decided that we will not go back for more plates, it was getting late now. We decided to stop at a 7-11 store we saw earlier when we left the motel. So we departed from the Chinese Restaurant and headed for the 7-11 store. We picked up a package of paper plates and proceeded back to the motel. We reached the motel, got out the van with the packages and went to the door. One of us knocked on the door, we heard one of the triplets ask, who is it? We almost answered simultaneously, it’s us, open the door. They recognized our voices. We put the food on the dresser and after washing up, every one prepared to eat. I began ing out the plates and told Dorothy, we had to stop for plates because they did not give us enough at the restaurant. Jesse and Lecia (lavina) were telling everyone about our little experience after making a wrong turn, when suddenly, something looked different. Those four plates we counted did not look like four plates anymore. The stacks of Chinese plates were stacked higher than they were in the van. Dorothy said we have enough plates without opening the ones you got from 711. The plates from the Chinese Restaurant were different from the other stack because they were not only larger, they were redder with decorative bordering at the top instead of the like the first color, and they seemed to be a little thicker. There, setting on the dresser was a stack of Chinese plates about 21/2” high. I said”, what is going on here”. I began counting those plates and to my amazement, there were 14 plates. Jesse and Lecia (lavina) said, “It can’t be fourteen plates, we counted four. They each counted fourteen plates now. We

were overwhelmed. We don’t know how or why, but those four plates multiplied to fourteen plates. It was mind boggling. What was its purpose, why did it happen? What was going on? We just did not have an answer for what had just happened. We had just witnessed one of those small miracles. Why God caused this miracle to occur, I did not know. Why the use of paper plates, we did not know. One thing we did know was that, in the word of God, it says that God gives the increase, but this was really an unusual increase. We knew it was the Lords doing and not the Devil. Why did the Lord add to these plates? We just had no answer for what happened. I knew that the Lord had done other things we really had no explanation for and here is another prime example. We just gradually accepted what had happened and gave the Lord thanks for the increase. The Bible says in everything give thanks, and we always thanked him whether it be small or great things. It pleased him for us to thank him so I guess the Lord was just showing us that he can work miracles showing us his miraculous power through this example. He was just breaking us in. He was just letting us know that he can and will help us anytime, anyplace or anywhere. And believe me, there was another time in my life I needed his help and I needed his help right away. Now, back to the morning when it all it started. Truly it was a test of my faith, hope and everything else I believed in and God knows as never before, I needed the Lord Jesus Christ. As stated, that same morning something would happen to me that would not only change my perspective of who I was, but would increase my perspective of who I really am in a most dramatic and supernatural way. It was approximately 9:45 a.m.; I was traveling as a enger in a van with the two other people. I just could not forget what a pretty spring morning it was as I stated earlier. The temperature was perfect. The flowers were blooming, birds were chirping, the trees had started to show there tender green leaves which were just beginning to awake for the year, and the fruit trees were attracting the bees with there bright colorful blossoms. It was my favorite time of the year. I was looking forward to a wonderful day, but little did I know what was just ahead, only a few minutes away. You never know what the day will bring to you that is why it is good and important to always pray when you arise in the morning before taking off for the day. Even if you don’t pray as soon as you get up, you should pray at some point and time that morning before you get started. We did not always get an opportunity to pray before leaving home. One thing we did was to pray after getting into the van. That morning I prayed with my family before I left the house. A little later, I heard a horn blowing after prayer. The friends who were scheduled to pick me up had arrived and we left. We had not been traveling not longer than thirty minutes or so when it all began. Little did I realize the miraculous rendezvous which was awaiting me. A man

had been traveling all night; he crashed into us head on. He told the police that he had become fatigue and his tiredness impaired his judgment and caused the head on collision. He told the police that he thought he could make the turn that caused the accident. I seeing the car coming right into us head on until the impact. It did not seem real. It was like a dream. It did not appear to be really happening, but it did. We had a head on collision with another vehicle. The impact was great, it was truly unbelievable. I could not recall being hit so hard in all my life. My head went into the windshield cracking the windshield. The front of the van had crushed in on both my legs. I was hurt bad. The other two guys received only a few minor cuts and bruises. I was bleeding profusely because the metal had punched a hole in my right leg the size of a half dollar. After the impact I was knocked unconscious momentarily. The bottom of the inside of my right shoe was slushy wet as if someone had poured water into my shoe. I realized later that what I felt was blood. I also found out later in the emergency room that blood vessels and nerve endings were severed in my right leg where the hole was, the bones were jammed from my neck to my pelvis. The impact was great and I was really hurt bad. Why me? Why was I hurt so bad and the others only received a few minor cuts and bruises. I was happy they did not get hurt any worst. I had accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior, I was active in the ministry of the gospel of Christ, and I fasted and prayed and studied the word of God. I knew that things like this had happened to believers before; some had cancer, deadly sicknesses, and or other problems they had to live with for the rest of their lives like the apostle Paul, and some did not make it. Nevertheless, God could heal or his grace would be sufficient. Whatever the case, I really believed that he had a purpose for it all. Something happened while I was in the emergency room area. I did not stop in the emergency room when the paramedics took me from the ambulance into the hospital. I was wheeled the emergency room door into a hall way and left. I realized after being there for a while that the numbness was wearing off and pain was increasing. There was a clock on the wall a little to the left above me and the time was 10:34 a.m. the pain was increasing and no one seemed to be paying me any attention. I constantly looked at the clock. Time seemed to be ing slowly and the pain was intensifying. It was now 11:00, and then 12:00 and where I was no one was coming by. It was a little strange because this was supposed to be an emergency area and there was no one around. Evidentially I was not taken to the right area. I was not getting any help at all. Someone would walk by every now and then. Why wasn’t someone helping me, where were the people who took me there. It was apparent that I was alone. I had become a little apprehensive because of the way things were going. As time ed I became even more apprehensive. I

found out later, that the two people that were in the accident with me were inquiring about my status and some one mistakenly informed them that I was being treated. That was not the case. After everything had settle down following the treatment, my friends told me that they were told that I was being treated. They figured there was no need to pursue the issue any further; it was now a waiting game. Evidently, another accident must have occurred and the nurse at the desk thought it was me being treated when actually it was someone else. At the time I was still alone and no one was coming by. Where and why did they put me here? If I could have gotten up I would have, but I couldn’t move. I thought to myself, the very next person that would come by, I was going to ask for help. Finally I heard footsteps; it was a nurse coming by. I tried to open my mouth and call her and to my amazement I could not open my mouth to say anything. Something was wrong. I tried to moan and groan aloud and nothing happened. This was really getting very ridiculous now. I could not get out a sound. It had to come from the impact of my head going into the windshield. That nurse did not know that I was trying to get her attention. She didn’t even look my way. It seemed as though I could not take any more of the pain, while waiting and being ignored. I said to myself what in the world is going on. It was now after 2:00 pm and no one came to get me. About five hours had gone by I realized that I had to look to God for help. I couldn’t talk so I began to pray within. God knew my heart. The Lord knows the depth of the mine and the intents of the heart. I began to pray with my mind and heart. I was using the power that the lord had given me to call on him. “The Power Within”. A moment of pure desperation had arrived. I talked to God and told him that these people had forgotten me and I needed his help. I asked God to help by removing this terrible pain and send someone to attend to me. I asked him to do this in the name of his son and my savior Jesus Christ. Instantly a great calm came over me. I did not feel any more pain and less than five minutes later the bed that I was on began to move slowly. It moved down the hall way going directly to the entrance of the main area of the emergency room. I was so glad. Who was this pushing me? The strange thing about it was that I did not hear any footsteps. Even when the hospital personnel walked in their soft bottom shoes I could hear them walking. Now I could not hear a thing. Nevertheless, I was moving. No one said anything to me while the bed was moving. I was waiting for someone to say something like you will be ok, the doctor will see you now or something, no one said a word. There was no sound except the rolling of the wheels of the bed I was on. I did not see any one by, I did not see anyone come up and I could not see who was pushing me. All I knew was that someone was pushing me from behind. I could not see who it was I was just moving. I was pushed into the

emergency treatment area and the bed came to a stop right in the open area of the floor. I thought it was a little unusual to leave me in the middle of the emergency room floor. Normally, the patient is pushed into a room or to a section and curtains are drawn. Immediately a nurse came over, looked at me and called two orderlies and said lets’ get him into a bed. Before the orderlies got there, a doctor came over to me and looked at me and asks the nurse who brought this patient in? The nurse replied I don’t know. The doctor asked how long has he been here. The nurse replied, I really don’t know, he was just here. The doctor looked a little puzzled and said again in a louder voice; who brought this patient in here? At the same time he was checking me, he said I want to know how this patient got in here. I could tell he was trying to be calm and keep his voice as low as possible. No one answered. The nurse asked the other nurses and their answer was I have no idea. The nurse asks the orderlies and their answer was I don’t know. I began to wonder what was going on. I knew I did not push myself into the emergency room; someone pushed me into the room and left me in the middle of the floor as if they wanted to make sure someone saw me. I did not see anyone leave from behind or either side of me. I did not give it much thought when they were trying to find out who pushed me into the emergency room. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, it had to have been the angel of the Lord to have done that merciful deed and right away the spirit of the Lord was all over me. The doctor seemed to give the appearance that something different was happening. As strong as Gods presents was at that moment, I knew he felt it also. I wanted to tell him how I got there but he may not have understood, so I did not say anything. You never know though, he may have understood. He asked me did I hurt anywhere. As I open my mouth I realize I could talk again. I told him I was not hurting right now, but I could not feel the toes on my right foot. He carefully pulled the sheet back that someone had put over me when I was pushed into the hall way. The Doctor’s eyes got big and he pulled the sheet all the way down. I could tell by the expression on his face that something was not right. I did not panic, I just tried to relax and stay calm. I continued to think that God had everything in his control. He quickly turned around and called the nurse and someone else and started talking doctor’s talk, you know what I mean. He was talking fast and began to move in a hurry with much excitement. I could tell that something was wrong. People began rushing around, getting things and bringing them to my bed side. I could not see what the doctor saw. While they were preparing to work on me I twisted my head as much as I could and looked down. I saw where they had cut my pants; my voice was getting stronger little by little. The sheet that was under me was red from the bottom up to my waist. I had been bleeding very badly, and I prayed that I wouldn’t lose any more blood. The devil

tried to put negative thoughts into my head. I thought of how people had bled to death from a long time lack of assistance. People would out from losing too much blood and I did not want to do either one. They worked on me as fast as they could. They cut my pants all the way up and took off my shirt to see if I was hurt any other place. When they finished I had received a blood test, numerous shots, and twenty-five stitches in my right leg along with other treatments. I started to hurt again. The doctor wanted me to stay overnight for observations but I told him I would rather go home. He insisted that I stay, but I just wanted to go home, so he let me go. They put me in braces, gave me crutches which I couldn’t use, put me in a wheel chair and rolled me to the front where I saw the two guys I came with. One of the guys called his father in-law to pick us up. I did not want Dorothy to know what had happened before she saw me. After thinking about it, I thought maybe I better tell her what had happened and let her know I was alright. If she saw me all braced up with crutches that would scare her for sure. Someone dialed the number for me and held the receiver to my ear so that I could talk to her. Dorothy asked me if I was sure that I was OK because I sounded weak. I told her, I guess I do sound a little weak after they finished sticking needles in me and poking all over me. She said ok. I told her I would be home soon. Our ride finally came and I must have looked pretty bad because when his father in-law saw me I could tell by the sudden expression on his face that it was not good. I guess he could not hold back his expression. When we got home, they helped me out of the car and into the house. As they helped me towards the house I saw Dorothy standing in the door way. I could see the hurt in my wife’s eyes and I could do nothing but lie down. I was very uncomfortable and in pain. That was a long night. I went to sleep and woke up time after time. I was tired yet I could not sleep and could only eat a little soup that night. After being seen by an orthopedic the very next day he tolded me that the paralysis in my right toes will take time to go way if it goes away at all. He then told me that it would probably take about six weeks before I could learn to walk again. The big toe and the one next to it were paralyzed on my right foot, and I could not walk with crutches. The strength in my hands and arms had diminished so much; I could not pick up a book. The medical report stated the bones had jammed from the neck down to the pelvic bones and nerve endings and blood vessels were severed in my right leg. I could not move at all without help. Dorothy had to hold me even while I sat on the commode. I could not feed myself or hold a glass of water in my hand. During that time Dorothy had to take care of our son five years of age and twin girls still on the bottle without my help. Now she had to take care of me morning noon and night. I realized it was too much for her and I needed to heal fast. Sometimes in our lives when insurmountable problems

occur, we must accept this situation no matter how bleak it may appear. We have to take charge of our lives. However some things cannot be dealt with by doing something physical in order to remedy the problem. It may take a stronger power and I needed that stronger power, “The Power Within”. Often times as I lie there in the bed, all of a sudden without warning I would mentally experience that accident over and over again. Satan tried to hinder me by throwing negative thoughts into my mine like how long it would take for me to walk again or not walk again at all, My toes will stay paralyzed, the pain will never go away, but I just kept fighting doubt, negativism, the fear of all the things he threw at me. Then I reached the point that I would began to speak to God and Satan. I told Satan that he was a liar and the truth was not in him. I told God that I believe his word, that by Jesus stripes we were healed. I told God that I trust him and would not doubt him and I know that he will heal me. I said this several times a day each and every day. When I started to speak out I began to activate the “Power Within” and I noticed that something began to happen. I heard less from Satan, I saw myself healed, and I saw myself with no pain. I saw myself walking again. On that Saturday I could have made up my mind to stay at home Sunday and work on my recovery because it was a justifiable reason to stay home. This Sunday would be the last day of our Fellowship Convention and Satan was not going to cheat me out of being there. I could not walk or sit up in a straight chair for a long period of time or the muscles in my leg would quiver and tremble and the pain would increase. I began to acquire an even stronger desire to be there. Somehow I knew that God wanted me to be there because by using the power he gave me my prayers were going to be answered. Dorothy could dress me but she could not get me into the car. She would have to drive because I could not. I told her that I wanted to go to church and will she please dress me in the morning. She said if you want to go to church she will dress me. It was difficult for her because I could not assist her. The next morning four young men came and put me into the car. They heard that I was injured and I wanted to be in church and they came. Dorothy drove me and the children to church. The twins were in car seats and Jesse was sitting beside them. My heart went out for Dorothy and somehow I could not let her continue to go through this turmoil. I really thank God for her and I loved her very much. While going through all of that, she never complained once. I knew it was tough on her, she had gotten beyond tired and God had to do something about it. The worship service was held at I C Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia in order to hold the crowd of people. Upon reaching the school I was carried into the building and into the auditorium. As I was being assisted to a seat on the front row I saw Pastor Benjamin Smith on the stage. He was to bring the message for the day. Pastor

Smith was the head pastor of the fellowships of all churches involved. He was a humble individual and a great speaker. I was glad to see him and I always enjoyed hearing his sermons. As I was seated, I recall Pastor Smith looking at me and giving me a gesture and arm wave to throw away those crutches and braces. He tried to smile with a concerned look on his face. I was in great pain but somehow I was able to give him a gesture of agreement back to him. I didn’t know how the gesture looked; I was hoping it was a good positive reply. Moving around contributed to the increase in pain therefore I was glad to be seated. Pillows were placed into the seat for me to sit on to keep the muscles in the back of my legs from jumping from the strain of sitting on a hard surface. I was hurting so bad I was nauseated. The morning service progressed with music, singing, announcements and introductions. I did not recall everything in detail that happened, and I did not recall the entire sermon. I was constantly praying trying to get some relief from the pain that seem to consume me. I do recall at the end of the sermon that Pastor Smith quickly came down from the stage to pray for people. I don’t if I was the first to receive prayer or not, I believe I was. When he reached the place where I was sitting, two male alter workers helped me to my feet and held me up on each side because I could not stand on my own. As he began to pray for me I began to praise God and I could hear the congregation praising God with me. Many of the people knew that I had been in an accident and was hurt very bad. The word got around fast. I could tell by their voices that their hearts were really into the praises. I felt Pastor Smith’s hand on my forehead as the prayer continued, then all of sudden, all the voices disappeared, the surroundings were changed immediately and I was somewhere else. A miracle occurred right before my eyes, I saw Jesus face to face. I was out done. I knew this was not a figment of my imagination, this was real. He began to approach me and spoke to me at the same time. As he continued toward me I felt a sense of great heat more and more the closer he got to me. This was not like heat from a heater, furnace, car or some other heating apparatus as we know it. This was totally different, it was alive, it was life, it was love, and it was goodness. It just radiated right to the depths of my soul, it seemed to infiltrate every cell, every blood vessel, every bit of bone marrow, every piece of tissue in my body, and it elevated my spirit and brightened my mind. It was truly wonderful. Jesus was talking to me and telling me he was always there, he was just waiting for me to realize he was there. He wanted me to know that he not only wanted me to be healed, he was going to heal me. I do recall to some degree the surroundings, it was bright yet comfortable, it was very light yet soft, the color appeared to be a combination of blue and white and other colors I cannot seem to describe. There was nothing else before me except Jesus. I knew

without a shadow of a doubt that something wonderful was happening. Something good was going on and I knew I was being healed. I did not hear him with my natural ears yet I heard him talking to me. It was clear like someone was talking to me naturally. I did not see his lips moving, it was so fast, yet a lot happened. The closer he got to me the more I felt this extremely deep warmth intensifying. It was amazingly good, it felt so good; I also felt tremendous love, great love. He just kept talking to me and moving toward me at the same time. He continued to come. When reached my face it was so wonderful. Just as fast as it happened it was over. I heard the voices of the congregation again. The familiar surroundings had returned. I was so full at that time, if someone had asked me what my name was; I could not have formulated my mouth to get it out. At this time the praises of the congregation became so much more intense and their voices along with the presence of God were unusually intense. Tears were just rolling down my face. I was a person who did not cry at all. Something had happened to me out of the ordinary. The first thing I noticed was that I could feel my toes again and the consistent pain I could not seem to get rid of was gone. I could hear a cracking like sound from the top of my back to the bottom of my back. My hands and arms had strength in them again. I did not feel the pain and pressure of the wound on my right leg. When I realized I was healed, it was just too much to bear. The joy that I felt at that moment could not be described. I was just overwhelmed. I could not wait to take a look at my right leg. I could not even feel that hole in my leg that took 25 stitches. When I did look, I saw that the wound was still there but the pain was gone. I was definitely healed. The church went up in a roar. To me it was like the bible says the Lords voice as like a multitude of voices. The music was playing in a rapid victorious fashion. The percussion instruments seemed to have been striking to the glory of God. People were shouting and praising the Lord. Everything seemed to be going on. Pastor Smith knew that the victory had been won. He began to move rapidly towards everyone who came for prayer. By that time there were so many people coming up for prayer, there was hardly any room to move around. The spirit of the Lord was moving all through that place. As soon as Pastor Smith touched the people who came up for prayer they immediately fell to the floor under the power of God. They were what the old saints used to say, and that is, they were slain in the spirit. God was doing a work on them and for them. It was a while before everything settled down. When everything had been said and done, my wife and I left from that auditorium that day different people. I left the braces and crutches on the stage. I did not even want to carry those braces and crutches back with me. The way I felt at that time, I did not need any other proof of that miraculous healing. Upon leaving the auditorium, I was strong enough to

carry one of twin babies to the car and also, I actually drove home. What an experience. I felt stronger than I did before the accident had occurred. I had put the life of God in me, the “Power Within” to work and talked to God and receive my healing. You don’t always know how the Lord is going to do something and most of the time you don’t know when he will do something. I trusted the Lord and I knew he would deliver, I just did not know how or when. He was even there for me as a child. At the age between five and seven I was following my older brother and some of his friends into a field. The vegetation was taller than me. All of a sudden they started to scream and run and I was left alone. I saw something move to the right side of my face and then things were moving all around me. When I looked to the right there was a snake about three inches from my face. I can see his red tongue going in and out right now; I had walked into a bed of snakes. I could have easily been bitten but then I heard this voice inside of me saying don’t be afraid and then the voice said softly, go this way. Surrounded by snakes I just obeyed the voice and soon I was safely out of the field. Another incident occurred as a child was when I chased a rabbit into some underbrush which was shaped like a cave. I got on my knees and start crawling into it and did not realize it was getting smaller and smaller. I kept crawling until I had to crawl on my stomach and I couldn’t go any further because the underbrush had now closed in on me. I could feel the underbrush on each side of my shoulders. The rabbit kept going and was now out of sight. I decided to turn around and go back but I couldn’t. I was in very close quarters. As a child I did not know how to get out. I tried to turn around, but I could not. Then I heard that same voice softly say just back up. It was a long time backing out of there, but I finally got out. I had gone deeper than I thought. I was exhausted and scared. Another time, I was going down a path on a summer day. The top of the trees overlapped each other forming a sealing. As I walked down the path I noticed a long black something hanging down from a tree limb. It came all the way down to which appeared to be about five feet from the ground. I heard that same voice say to me, “STOP”, go back. I just turned and started back, and when I looked around at the long black thing that I thought was a rope, I saw it slowly move up and down and when it twisted itself I could see it moving from black to white. I then realized that it was a huge long snake. I hearing adults call them horse whippers. Once again, I was delivered. Maybe everyone will not have an experience like I had in order to be healed or be delivered from dangerous situations. The Lord has reasons why he does what he does and we should not question his actions. The main thing is to realize the power that is within us and act on it and watch God move. Also, there are many other benefits from using the power that is within us. Problems can be worked out, needs can be met,

dreams can be accomplished and so much more. People everywhere are looking for that something that is going to work for them. That something that is going to make a difference in their life time. I believe that many people are not only reaching out and searching for that truth, they are finding the truth. However, there are countless of thousands even millions of people who are continuing to search, but don’t know where to start and how to start looking for this truth. For many years the scientific profession as well as the medical profession only looked to the process of elimination, the scientific method and logical reasoning to come up with answers to explain the phenomenon’s which we call miracles. It is a known fact that now, doctors and scientist are realizing that there is a higher power than science and medicine and that higher power created the sciences and made the physicians. For instance, there was a documentary on prayer which was viewed on television one night and during the discussion with one of the subjects, it was mentioned how many medical doctors are looking to prayer in assisting patients during their healing process. This is something that was unheard of in the past as I stated earlier. This is some proof that people from all walks of life, different professions, different races etc. are reaching out to a higher power. That power is the power of the creator of the universe and our savior Jesus Christ. In closing I want you to not just go after the fishes and the loaves once you realize the power that is within you and how to use it. The fishes and the loaves are fine if that is what you are in need of at a particular time. In other words just don’t get satisfied with the natural things and accomplishments of this world. Again the bible says “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his only soul”. There are many things out there in this world that the Lord is interested in doing for us and interest in us doing for him. First and most of all, we must realize that there are literally thousands of souls leaving this world every sixty seconds. Teen agers are doing more adult things than ever before. The age of criminals has been decreasing for years. Young people are continuing in drugs, robberies, murders, seductions and more. Parents need to be aware of what their children are doing. Parents need Gods help in dealing with these problems. They need to understand and know that God can give them the tools to work with. Sickness and disease is rampant. Cancer and aids has not gone anywhere. Many countries are suffering terrible things that they cannot seem to get rid of. Sickness, wars, civil, as well as global. We have already reached the turn of the century activities. Many things happened at the year 2000 and after. Being a Music Major we studied music from primitive to serializum. Most people never heard of Serializum in music. We learned that changes occur in

many areas of life at the turn of the century. Changes in the art forms, changes in styles of music, changes in political systems and governments, changes in lifestyles, ecology, to name a few. We have already reached the turn of the Century. We see the changes in entertainment, music, governments, some have changed to a democratic form of government from what they were. Iraq is one to name a few. The ecology, global warming effect, the arctic is affected, music, science, anti-aging supplements and facials, the space program is through the roof and it just goes on and on. The reason many people are not aware of these changes is because they did not happen abruptly or in the open. Economies changed; do we need to explain that? Take a look at the housing market, the jobless rate, the banking system, Wall Street and more. A lot of evil is on the rise. Cults are expressing themselves as never before. There are more vampire groups; satanic worshipers, more people taking drugs. Children rebelling against their parents, problems in the schools. Everyone needs help in one way or another whether you are rich or poor. Everyone needs the “Power Within” active in their lives in order for it to work for them as never before in an age that we living in right now. It will make the difference of solving your problems or laboring with them. There are many people using this “Power Within”, although the number who is not is mind staggering. The “Power Within” is also inventive, creative. All the inventions, music, concepts, building designs and construction, wealth, love and happiness all comes from the “Power Within”. Knowing how to use it is the key. So many things in this world did not come from the mind of a Genus. They came from the minds of average people. We all have this power, some people just learned how to use and make it work for them. The bible said that God gave to every man a measure of faith. You see, all of us have it. Start planning your goals, write them down, do your home work, research, inquire, study, get more knowledge. This is the action that is needed. , faith without works is dead. You can want to do something all you want. However, if you don’t do something about it nothing happens. Wake up from the dream and get busy. Example, if you were hungry and there was a huge table of food at your disposal, delicious breads, tasty pies, different kinds of scrumptious meats, fruits, vegetables, starches, delicious drinks of all kind. As long as you set there drooling with your eyes wide open and your hands on your lap and just keep looking, your taste buds will not be satisfied and you will stay hungry, because no action was ever taken. On the other hand, if you pick up a fork and knife and start bending those elbows opening and putting food into your mouth, you will not have to force yourself to chew. You will automatically start chewing. Your taste buds will be satisfied, you will be filled and the hungry goes away. Once your plans are complete and the action starts, there will come a point and time

that things will automatically kick in and you are on your way. You will get into an unstoppable pattern that will assure your success. Don’t worry when stumbling blocks get into your way or unforeseen problems arise. That is just a part of your challenge. I will never forget some time ago, I met a man who was very wealthy. As a matter of fact he was a multi-millionaire in his senior years. He told me whatever you do don’t ever give up. He told me his story about how he lost everything in the beginning of starting his business. Because of a little inspiration deep down inside of him he started all over again with nothing and this time it worked. Now I am a multi-millionaire he said. It was the “Power Within” that inspired him. Don’t consider yourself a failure if something goes wrong the first time. There is always another way to solve the problem, starting with the mind. The mind is like an iceberg. The smaller part of an iceberg that we can see represents the conscious mind, the bottom part which we cannot see represent the subconscious mind. The top of the iceberg could be a mile in diameter, while the bottom part is many miles in diameter. When we feed the conscious mind the sub conscious mind receives what is being fed to by the conscious mind. Although we are not aware of the subconscious mind like we are the conscious mind, the subconscious mind being much bigger and greater is the mind that stimulates the conscious mind to bring things into reality. Therefore, Become inspired! Pay attention to your thoughts and actions! , you will always have,

“THE POWER WITHIN”.

The End