BOBBEE BEE: THE BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

SUN-DAY SCHOOL LESSON: THE TEMPLE
by eric d.graham

"Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit" 1Co 6:19

The Bible tells us to feast, eat, drink, celebrate, sing, dance, shout, and make music-all things we do with our bodies. These appetites, desires, and delights can actually become a way of remembering how good The Most High is. The physical is not separate from the spiritual; indeed it is the Most High's Spirit who makes our bodies come to life. The Bible doesn't condemn you for wanting to be physically attractive.Now, this needs to be kept in perspective: "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion (Pr 11:22). So, we desire our women to be fashionable without displaying their bodies to the world.

The same principle applies to men.But the Most High did create our bodies. So can we get real? The Most High made us with a love of beauty.

Therefore, we must take care of our temples. According to (1 Corinthians 3:17-19) it states clearly: "If any man/woman defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

So, we must find ourselves walking, working out and exercising. We also must try not to de-foul our bodies with unhealthy foods (Lev. :11:3 and 11:7-8), which could lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol. Alongside a healthy diet, that is not dominated by fast foods, we should try not to smoke cigarettes, which could cause cancer.

Have you noticed the recent outbreak of vaping-related deaths in the US, which has been described as a public health crisis, where at least 39 people have died and more than 2,000 have suffered lung injuries from vaping-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?

These are simple suggestions. Nothing new under the sun. But, our people, according to (Deuteronomy 31:27,) are stiff-neck and rebellious. So, year after year, despite constant warnings NOT to "do drugs," they continue to do the opposite. For instance, currently, between 2002 and 2013, the rate of heroin-related overdose deaths nearly quadrupled, and more than 8,200 people died in 2013. Despite these devastating facts, the number of "NEW" heroin users continue to increase.

While drug addiction is a problem, some people tend to overlook alcoholism (Ephesians 5:18), which is defined as the most severe form of alcohol abuse that involves the inability to manage drinking habits, which could destroy a person's professional life, personal life, marriage, and family.

This is why the scripture states in (1 Peter 5:8) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Case in point, every year like clock-work, there is some news report about some college Alcohol-related hazing incident that leads to the death of a young pledge on a college campus.

Unfortunately, people have forgotten their body is the temple of God and should not be abused. This, of course, also includes sexual relationships as well as "sexual immorality", (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) which we have witnessed with conversation about R.Kelly, Billy Cosby, Jeff Epstein, Harvey Weinstein along with Malik Yoba, Tank, and Lil Nas X. (Mark 7:21-22)

As we deal with these issues of sexual immorality and sexual identity, let's not forget, more than 58,000 Georgians are living with HIV, and about 32,000 of them are in the metro Atlanta area.The issue is particularly acute for young gay and bisexual Black men..

So, remember "Your body is a Temple of the HOly Spirit." take care of it.(Source:WOT)

(bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)

BOBBEE BEE:HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS!!!!

In 1919, the 369th infantry regiment marched home triumphantly from World War I. They had spent more time in combat than any other American unit, never losing a foot of ground to the enemy, or a man to capture, and winning countless decorations. 

Though they returned as heroes, this African American unit faced tremendous discrimination, even from their own government. 

The Harlem Hellfighters, as the Germans called them, fought courageously on—and off—the battlefield to make Europe, and America, safe for democracy.

In THE HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS, bestselling author Max Brooks and acclaimed illustrator Caanan White bring this history to life. 

From the enlistment lines in Harlem to the training camp at Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the trenches in France, they tell the heroic story of the 369th in an action-packed and powerful tale of honor and heart.

BOBBEE BEE: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER & SIDE EFFECTS

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER & SIDE EFFECTS

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.

PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: 1.)intrusive memories, 2.) avoidance, 3.) negative changes in thinking and mood, and 4.) changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person.

1. INTRUSIVE MEMORIES:

Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event, reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks), upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event, severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event

2.) AVOIDANCE:

Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event,

3. NEGATIVE CHANGES IN MOOD:

Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
Hopelessness about the future, memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event, difficulty maintaining close relationships, feeling detached from family and friends, lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed, difficulty experiencing positive emotions, feeling emotionally numb,

4.) EMOTIONAL REACTIONS

Being easily startled or frightened, always being on guard for danger, self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast, trouble sleeping, trouble sleeping
Trouble concentrating, irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior, and overwhelming guilt or shame (Source:MayoClinic) (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com) (eric d.graham)

BOBBEE BEE:MILITARY SUICIDE & PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICATION

MILITARY SUICIDE & PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICATION

According to the World Health Organization, almost one million people die by suicide every year, which is a global mortality rate of 10.7 per 100,000. In the United States (U.S.), someone attempts suicide every 31 seconds and an average of 1 person dies by suicide every 11.9 minutes, a rate of 13.3 per 100,000. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the country. An important consideration is that suicides have consistently been underreported for a variety of reasons. Experts have estimated that suicide incidence may be 10-15% higher than officially recorded.

The U.S. military reflects an important subset of the U.S. population with both shared and unique characteristics when compared to the U.S. population. Historically, military suicide rates have been lower than those rates found in the general population. Rising suicide rates among Service members and Veterans over the past decade have raised public and professional concerns. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. military. According to the calendar year 2015 Department of Defense Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) annual report, the standardized suicide rate was 20.2 per 100,000 for the Active component. For the Selected Reserves component, the rates were 24.7 per 100,000 for the Reserves and 27.1 per 100,000 for the National Guard.

A number of psychosocial factors are associated with suicide risk. The most common individual stressors identified for both military suicide decedents and military suicide attempts were relationship problems, administrative/legal issues and workplace difficulties. Other medical conditions that are associated with an increased risk for suicide include traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic pain, and sleep disorders. These conditions can contribute substantially to increased suicide risk in affected individuals. The most common method for suicide in the DoD is firearms, accounting for over 60 percent of all suicide deaths in the military. (Source:Deployment) bobbeethehater.blogspot.com

BOBBEE BEE: THE PARENTAL GUILT TRAP

My son (and daughter), if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice..” Pr 23:15 NKJV

AFTERNOON SUN-DAY SCHOOL LESSON: THE PARENTAL GUILT TRAP

Since there are no perfect people, there are no perfect parents. And, they are definitely, no perfect children. So though you love your children dearly, at times you’ll get tired, frustrated, disappointed, and irritable with their behavior. Unfortunately, doing this time of turmoil, many parents tend to blame themselves for the decision that their children may make during their lives, which could lead to depression, anxiety and social isolation from others. Especially, within the African-American church, where one may be judged by the faults or decisions our children decide to make.

This is known as parental disappointment or parental guilt, which usually arises after adolescence ends and young adulthood begins. Disappointment is the outcome of parental investment. Guilt is the outcome of parental implication. Both can adversely affect the relationship with the adult child (in his or her mid twenties) that is beginning to unfold.

With that understood, parenting is a process of investment. Because, most parents not only invest their care, energy, and resources in their children, they also invest their assumptions, ambitions, hopes, even dreams about how this person will turn out when grown up. The more investment parents make, the more invested they feel …. are expected, and deserved, in return.

It's like they're saying, "We worked so hard and sacrificed so much for her, the least she can do is give some of what we hoped for back!" They were treating her like she was supposed to fulfill whatever promise they thought she showed and owed.

For instance, what happens when parents, who assumed their adolescent would pursue a traditional lifestyle similar to their own, but (ends up going to jail for using drugs or for selling drugs, or becoming a stripper?) Or what happens when parents, whose ambition was for the adolescent to go to college, have a son who decides after high school that he/she wants to make a living as a musician or an actor? Or what happens when parents, who hoped their adolescent would choose to return to their home city after college and live close by, have a son or daughter who decides to move much further away? Or what happens when parents, whose dream for their adolescent included launching a career (doctor, lawyer) and remaining single until it was established, gets pregnant, gets married, and gives up the profession they were wishing she'd pursue?

"Of course, we're disappointed," declared the parents in counseling. "This is not what we planned for our child! And we told her so." "And how did she respond?" I asked. They replied, "She acted really hurt, like we had let her down, when the reverse was true! And she hasn't talked much to us since." Then I suggested that if they wanted a close and loving relationship with their adult daughter they needed to ask themselves whether their daughter was supposed to fit their expectations or whether their expectations were supposed to fit their daughter?

Their answer to this question makes a profound difference. If they believe she should live up to their expectations and is not, they will feel disappointed, and communicating that disappointment to her will to some degree alienate the adult relationship. If, however, they believe that for the sake of acceptance of a daughter they love they must adjust their expectations to fit the individual path and lifestyle she has independently chosen, then they will affirm that relationship.

It can be hard for parents to remember that when a grown son or daughter disappoints them, it is not his or her doing but their own. They chose to hold a set of expectations that do not fit the choices he or she is making. When the child and adolescent lived dependent on their care, part of living on their terms was meeting their expectations. But once grown into a young adult, that son or daughter is living on independent terms.

Now, for the sake of enjoying an ongoing relationship, parents must do more adjusting of their expectations to accept those terms in recognition that the life they gave their daughter, and how she chooses to lead it, belongs to her, not to them. The grown child is no longer in this world to live up to parental expectations. (Source:WOT, PsyToday) (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)

BOBBEE BEE: DEALING WITH DEATH

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."Matt: 5:4

NOONTIME: SUN-DAY SCHOOL LESSON: DEALING WITH DEATH

by Eric D. Graham

Death comes early in the morning. So, heed the warning. But, how do we deal with Death when it comes? Some of us ease the pain of death by participating in funeral rituals, prayer, songs, sermons, poems, floral arrangements, and burial ceremonies. While others, try to cope with the pain, by self-medicating, by drinking, smoking, and overeating. Despite these acts, psychologically, there are 5 stages of dealing with grief, which most of us go through, which we may not be aware of .

Those five stages are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

1. The initial stage of grief recognizes normal reactions that include: shock, denial, unreality, emotional outpouring, psychological and physical symptoms (e.g. inability to think straight, feel panicky, bodily aches, and pains, which the person may say, "I can't believe Momma is dead. This can't BE REAL"...Along with the SHOCK and DENIAL comes DEPRESSION, which a person is likely to be fearful about what life has instore for them after the funeral and may be constantly defeated by irrational thoughts and belief such as "my life is over.."

2. The second stage involves SURVIVOR''S GUILT-which a person may think "I could have done so much more...If I had just done this instead (A lot of Military Soldiers experience this after losing a comrade on the battlefield ". NEXT, is Anger, which is such a powerful emotion that some people if they don't release it, it can consume them forever. So, they become ANGRY with GOD, the person, who DIED, as well as their family and friends. I have seen it on the faces of Grandmothers, mothers, aunties, cousins, sons, and daughters, who struggle with the lost of a love one, who say: "GOD, how could you do this to me?" Along with ANGER, comes RESENTMENT towards the deceased, which comes in the form of comments like:"Momma, how could you leave me? I need you...."

This is also considered part of the BARGAINING factor, which happens often at African-American funerals, where a family member, after viewing the body, for the last time- may say;" Take me God...But, please don't take my momma.... Usually, this comes with a form of Idealism, which the deceased family member, becomes the "perfect person" in the eye's of the one dealing with his death. 

Regardless of, what the person did in his or her life. After his or her death, he did no wrong.

3. And. the Final Stage of Grief is ACCEPTANCE, when the person comes to realistic terms with life and death of their loved one, while understanding that they are no longer physically present and appreciating both the positive and negative aspects of their lives. Therefore, they must make some readjustment and emotional investment in their lives, while developing a stronger inner sense of self, yet acknowledge, appreciate, and cherish the contributions the deceased person made in their lives ...."I did what I could...Now, I have to let go of some of this Denial, Anger, Sadness, Resentment, and Guilt...And, get back to Normal.. get on with my life, learn how to smile again, laugh again and love again." (Source:Counseling)by Eric D. Graham (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)

BOBBEE BEE: FAMILY FEUDS: FUNERALS, FOOLISHNESS, AND FIGHTING

FAMILY FEUDS: FUNERALS, FOOLISHNESS, AND FIGHTING

SOMETIMES, DEATH brings out the WORST in families. If this has been your experience, please know that you are not alone. Not even close! So many people can relate to family fighting after a death. What’s the number one source of conflict? You guessed it, fighting over material possessions, estates and belongings.

COMMON CONFLICTS INCLUDE:
...

1. When to begin sorting through belongings. Some people are ready right away, some people want more time before sorting through items.
2. Who gets what. Especially when there is not a will, but even when there is a will, there are often many household items or sentimental objects that are not accounted for.
3. What to keep and what to give away. Attachment to objects can vary greatly from person to person. While one person may want to save every Tupperware container and tube of chapstick that mom ever owned, other family members may be quick to toss those items in the trash.
4. Whether to keep or sell a house. Houses can have tremendous sentimental value, making them something many family members don’t want to part with. Houses can also hold tremendous value, making them something many family members may want to sell right away.
5. Money money money. Whether it is scraping together money to pay for a funeral, or dividing up bank accounts and investments without a will for clear guidance, money can quickly become a sore spot.

OTHER CONFLICTS INCLUDE

*Disagreements about treatment at the end of life. Conflict can begin even before a loved one dies when families disagree about goals of care, withdrawing support at the hospital, and caregiving responsibilities.

*Arrangements. Questions like whether someone will be buried or cremated, where will the service be held, where will they be buried, etc. can bring surprising strife between family members.

**Relocating. After a death, it is not uncommon that people may move, either by choice or out of necessity. This can split a family geographically and be devastating for those who feel left behind.

*Custody. When death results in children who must be cared for, conflict can arise around who will get custody of the children if this was not predetermined.
***Different grieving styles. We all grieve in different ways and on different timelines. When people are grieving differently this can be a major source of conflict within families. This is especially common if one family member thinks another is not as impacted by the death or they are ‘moving on’ too quickly. (CHECKOUT DEALING WITH DEATH POST) (Source:What'sYourGrief) (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)