Not Going Back

The enemy has no power over us as Gods chosen. The only way that he can sneak and find his way back in, is if we let him in. Studies suggest that witches can not cast spells on children of God, unless the wich is welcome into that person's presence and that person accepts the curse. This is how the enemy works, he lures us with the hidden desires (temptation). James 1:14 states that "temptation, comes from the lure of our own evil desires." That said, the enemy has no power over us, we choose to fall into temptation, thus causing ourselves to be vulnerable to his attacks. The enemy cannot kill us, nor can he stop the promises of God for our lives; rather, he tries to pervert the promise so that it then does two things. One, it is a dirrect slap in the face to God, and two it causes us to miss out on the full potential of the promise God has for us. However, I have made up in my mind that I am not going to continue to hand over my promise to the enemy. If you want my promise you're going to have to kill me. The promise of a prosperity is mine, the promise of hope is mine, the promise to marry my beautiful best friend is mine, the promise of health and strength. I will no longer willingly give my promise away.

I thank you lord for this marvelous incite, and I pray that you lead and guide me into all truth in Jesus name.

AMEN!!

You are worth it

You are worth it!

You are worth waiting in anticipation to see,
You are worth being treated like a queen,
You are worth missing when your gone,
You are worth me wanting you to come home,
You are worth the compliments that I form,
You are worth me apologizing when I'm wrong,
You are worth standing for when you come to the table,
You are worht breaking down every negative label,
You are worth taking my time with you,
You are worth being overly kind to too,
You are worth getting the ring for,
You are worth opening every vulnerable door,
You are kissed on the hand,
You are worth putting one knee down on the floor,
You are worth all these things and so much more.

So again, Im just really interested.

Thank You

God, I thank you for considering me. Thank you for loving me enough to give me the desires of my heart. Thank you for the woman of God that you have placed in my life.

Dear you,

I truly bless and thank God for you in my life. You are the most amazing woman I have ever come in contact with. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. Your smile makes my heart melt like ice on a sunny day. Your voice soothes me like the sound of jazz on a warm spring night. I know that we both have some grooming to do and some growing to do but i just want to say that our matramony is not as far away as we may think. God is going to do it quickly as long as we allow him, and he will groom us collectively to be the minsters that he wants us to be for the world and each other. Our love will be dirrect worship to God because we have that Agape and Duron love for one another, and we both have strong desre to do his will. We will keep Him(Christ) the head of our lives and house and all will be well! Joshua 24:15!! I love you with the Love of God shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost. I loved you for my entire adult life, and I thank God for allowing us love the way we do. When you get home I have a huge embrace and kiss for you because Im grateful for your life.

I love you Yvonne Coker!

Sincerely yours always,

Ronald Simms.

Quickly...

"I am going to groom you quickly to do the things i have for you to do" Wow, I thought to myself. He is grooming! everyday i feel more and more of the Immature falling off, he is making me bolder in him, more assertive, less tolerable of foolishness, and more aware of the things and people around me. The past few days, even in the last week, he has been putting people in my path to pray for, minister to, share wisdom with, and so much more.

For a while, resented the last few years of my life. I wondered why I had to go through all the hell that I went through. divorce, living back home with mom, moving from job to job, with no hope of stability, lonliness, depression, malice, jealousy, anger, failed attempted relationshps, short on money reckless living. I hated all that I had gone through and wanted nothing more but for this 2011 year to be over.

Then, He reminded me that this year was a year of great trial and test, to be a testimony for the gospel of Christ in my life. What better way to share the gospel than from personal experience. This year was the year that I was reconciled to him. This was the year of the lords grace and mercy over my life. This was a year where I learned that me minus Christ equals nothing. This was the year that made me challenge my faith and move forward.

Earlier in the year, back in January, Yvonne invited me to church. Thats when I met Bishop and the rest of the family for the first time. After a very heart felt word he preached, I went and got in the prayer line, and before he prayed for me, he asked "What is your commitment to Christ" not what I was expecting to hear. I went into the line, seeking a word from the lord and I got this, but little did I know, that this year was governed on the principle. What was my commitment to Christ. Had I truly forsaken everything and trusted in Him? Then I stopped going to that church.

Later in the year God allowed a series of events to happen that caused me again to question, What is my commitment to Christ. Then I made up in my mind that regardless of the circumstance, regardless of me that i would serve Christ.

I realize now, that all I went through, was to prepare me for this moment. my trials are going to bring someone else close to Christ. My life is God is changing my irrtable heart and giving me a heart for the people. God!! Father, dad I know that only you can be responsible for this, because you and I both know I never really liked people that much. Wow!!

God has called me to intercede on behalf of the people. Your people are hurting, Your people are suffering, Your people and discouraged and I am here to show them You oh lord. Use me, I dont want to let you down, so please move me out of the way oh God.

I thank you for your mercy and grace!!!
I bless you Father, because you are worthy!
I am honoured to server you!
Thank You!

Move by your spirit in my life, ontinue to groom me.

Amen!

You

Beautiful. Breath taking. Your picturesque appearence delights the very retnas of my optic experience. I envy your chap stick because it has the immunity to kiss the essence of your lips all day. I long to be your perfume, because the scent precedes your very presence. Im jealous of your glasses because they have the privilege to look into your eyes endlessly until you close them. Im resentful of your blue tooth because it whispers in your ear whenever it sees fit. Im invidious of your clothes because wrap their arms around you all day. I suck my teeth at your bra because it supports the being of you bosom. I turn my head on your stockings because they wrap their hands around your soft silky legs all day long. I frown at your panties because they dwell constantly in your garden. I turn my nose up at your shoes because the forever share the ground you walk on. Im sometimes angry at your make up because it constantly kisses your soft chocolate cheeks, But.... I am gratful for these things, for they not only accentuate your natural beauty, but the keep you company until we Wed.

Be clear, I dont lust after you, I love you!!

I look forward to loving you for the rest of my life!

More importantly, I THANK GOD OUR FATHER for trusting me with your life, and you with mine.

You
Are
Beautiful
and
You
Are
Mine
I
Am
Yours
We
Are
His!

Letter to My Wife

Dear love of my life,

It has been 5 years! we met at a starbucks on a warm summer night. I loved you for my entire adult life! Wow! thats heavy. I would rather go home and be with the lord than to live without you. You are an amazing amazing woman, and you deserve a man who will love you with his life. I am that man. I know how to love you, I know how to nurture your heart, I know how to cater to you, I know how to be the man of God in your life if you will have me. That said I have some thing for you. There are Five Clues around the city one for every year of our friendship. Each Clue will lead you to the next Phase. Your first clue will be at the place it all started. Starbucks! You dont have to go to the one in largo for two reasons, one because its out of the way, and two because its not there anymore. 121511@8pm@4th&South. Your first clue will be waiting there for you.

I love you!!!! The Chase is on!!!!!

I have issues

This weight that I have, this burden that I carry, the constant need to do whatever it takes. God has taken away my by any means necessary, in attempt to get me to trust in him completely. Lord I trust you, I will have faith but I need you to move. I know the scriptures lord make it manifest in my life, I need you now father! I will not eat until you answer me. I will jot let go until you bless me and my family to come. I can do all thing through christ who strengthens me. I can do all thing through Christ that strengthens me. I need your strength. On a nother note, touch ny wife God, don't allow the enemy to steal her joy, don't let let me stand in the way of her peace. Everything in the way of what designed father remove in Jesus name and I call it done. Selah, move out of our way everything unlike you. I thank you in advance. Teach me to be grateful and to have unwavering faith. Lead me as I move forward in leading my family. I pray for wisdom in Jesus name. Finances, circumstances, emotions, distorted priorities, attacks of the enemy, depression, anger, bitterness, malice has to move out of our lives, there is no place for you. We at the righteousness of our father, and he will supply ALL of our needs according to his riches and glory and a will be well. Because we have taken delight in the lord he will give the desires of our hearts. Thank you Holy spirit.

This feeling

Lord this has got to be the hardest thing that I have ever had to contend with. I miss her like crazy, Its only day 3 and I cant stop thinking of her, God I need this woman, I want this woman, I thank you for this woman. God I cant be away from her. Thats crazy, I have never felt this way before.
God I thank you for this time though, I know it will mold us into better beings for you Oh lord. God I thank you for all you are to me oh lord.

Im Grateful!

I love You

Wow..... WOW!!! Im am typing and deleting, typing and deleting. I cant really find the words to express the pain I just felt after reading your blog. Coker, I loved you from day one. I knew from the first time we kissed at Allen Pond Park, as it began to rain. I knew that day that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, But I was afraid. Afraid that I wouldnt be good enough for you, or that I had nothing to offer you. So i kept you close, but I was afrad to get to close because I knew the feelings I had for you. I started seeing other people because I didnt think that i would stand a chance with you and I couldnt face the pain if you had brushed me off again. It was a very cowardly move on my part that not only affected me, it affected you and an innocent bystander.

Im not going to front like I didnt love her, I did, but there was always something missing. I always felt like something in my life just wasn't quite right. I searched and searched, job after job, place after place, city after city, and I could never figure out what was missing; however, when you and I were together I always felt complete, like I could accomplish anything, like nothing was out of my grasp. so I kept you near, and I always wanted you near. I couldn't even then fathom living without you.

Woman, my best friend, love of my life, my wife to be, forgive me the pain that I have caused you. I vow to love you with everything in me for the rest of our lives. I dont deserve you, but God has forgiven and has given us both the desires of our heart and its pleasing to him. I have since apologized to the young lady as well, its actually kind of sad, but when I told her that we were getting married she said "You should have married her in the first place, considering when we met, you said that you wanted to" I have always wanted to marry you, I have always known that you are the perfect match for me.

I love you as deep as the atlantic ocean, I love you as high as the moon is to our optical ability with out a telescope, I love you as freely as the wind blows through the trees, I love you as strong as the tree planted by the stream, I love you as far as the very last moon on pluto is in distance from the earth, I love you as painfully as child birth, I love you as Christ have love the church. I love you with all of me, and I am privaledge to be the man of God in your life.

Proverbs 18:22

Love,

Ron Simms

Thankful

This week of fasting and concecration is well needed. I went throughout the the day yesterday and i kind of floated through, nothing major happened. Ive been prayng and asking the father for guidence in all i do, and for some reason toward the end of the the my spirit was pricked and i could feel the need to pray. So i continued with the day then all of a sudden i felt a strong want to hear the song "Walk on Water" by Mali music. While i love this song a lot, there was one part of the song that seemed to be the most clear. "Keep your eyes on him", "dont look to the left, nor to the right, just look to the Lord" and again "keep your eyes on him" I felt an instant need to seek his face.

After closing up shop at work, my co-work offered me a ride home. he was going to his mom's and she didnt live far from me. So i sat in the car very quietly listening to my music. once i got into the house, the spirit said pray now. So i began praying it started out as just a regular soft prayer, then to me praying in the spirit. Not very long, I believe God, and the spirit makes intercetion for us with utterence that we can not understand but God does.

When I got up from laying prostrate on my living room floor, I was still praying in the spirit, it was as if God were not yet done. I walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water stll praying in the spirit (Mack is going to be in for a treat if he drinks any of this water lol.) then I sat down on my couch and began to pray naturally, it started out soft and "dainty" (as my beloved future wife would say lol) then i couldnt contain the etreme gratitude i have for all that the Lord has truely been to me.

"Lord Im grateful for all that You are to me, I walk with You daily and still it amazes me, how You NEVER change, Your love remains the same"

Tears rolled down my face as I began to remember where He has brought me from, and all that he has been for me. I remember the old songs that would say "when I think about the goodness of Jesus and all he has done for me, My soul cries out Hallelujah, thank God for saving me.

I am truely grateful for all the Lord is in my life. I dont seek gifts, I seek to be like my father in heaven through my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen! (It is agreed)

Grateful

Lord where you lead I will indeed follow! You are certainly the best father anyone could ask for, you supply all of my needs! He is the best friend you could ever have, he gives the desires of the heart!

Thank you father for considering me worthy to worship you, thank you for all that you are to me. Lord I thank you for your sense of humor.

Man plans, God laughs! Yc

Man I thought I had it all figured out, I thought that I knew what was best for MY life, Haha, was I mistaken. God I thank you for keeping me. I thank you for all that you are to me. God you indeed know my heart, and what I like and you are so faithful to me. I am really beginning to understand Matthew 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, and all the things will be added. I will continue to seek the lord, deny myself, and follow Christ.

Gods way is not just right, its better. -- Tye Tribbett

On another note, thank God for trusting me with his daughter, I love you Yvonne Coker, I commit our relationship to the father I know he will keep us. I am excited about what God is going to do in our lives. Amen!!

I can not begin to expla in how i feel right now... im frustrated, angry, hurt all at one time. Every tear you shed, every time you frown, everytime your sad, my heart feels like a piece of glass that was plunged off of a ten story building and hit the at 500 mph.. My heart is so broken because your heart is broken, I paniced, I started to over analyze, and spoke entirely to soon. this had no affect on my time line at all. If your reading this babe, Im sorry. It is never my intention to hurt you.... I love you more than the breath it takes to say it, more than the energy it takes to type it, and I want you to be the happiest woman in the world. I am crying on the inside as i feel your broken heart. Hopefully you still love me, and still want to marry me. *sigh* i guess ill say good bye now.

Its never been easy for me, why should I expect it to be now?

"Mooch, Throw away that credit card, Shred it, its going to be nothing but problems" I can distinctively here my saying this to me. I was July 31, 2006. I had just turned 18 years old not even 72 hours before i received a letter in the mail from capitol. In the letter was a credit card awating me to open, sign and use. Three or four days later, "Mooch, can I use your credit card so that Min. Antoine can pay for his luggage to be sent here"
"What" I said to myself. "You just told me to get rid of it". Story of my life.

Livng a life of endless contradictons, I feel like I was doomed from the gate. Things like, dont "Shack up" while shacking, or pay your tithes while partially paying tithes. Commit your relationship to God, While fornicating. So, here I am twenty three years old, at the greatest point of my life, my prime. Ive been broken and confused, Ive been married and divorced, Ive been up and Ive been down. Ive been alone and Ive been lonely. Ive been a lot of places in my life and time, and now here I am. My prime.

Ive already been on my own five years. Though I dont consider it much, I have a place to call my own here in Philadelphia, Pa. Ive got a wonderful church family, a decent job, and the baddest girlfriend in the land. Man, one would look at me now and say "man he's doing it". While I am truely grateful for all that the lord has blessed me with. There is so much more that I need out of life. I saw somethng that almost broke me today. Believe it or not it was my credit score. I hadnt realized, the affects that my mistakes had on everything.

This broke me because I feel like, It should not have been this way. I look at other people my age, most of whom were not thrusted into the world of independence as nearly as I and sometimes it bothers me. Why could I not have had more responsible parents? One was non-existent as he ventured to secure a life for himself minus us. The other, hustling and bustling doing whatever it took to feed us, with no strategy, no guide, and clue about stability. Ugh!!! My life. It may seem that i am complaining, I assure you im not. Just a little frustrated.

Starting from scratch is very difficult. Sometimes, I just want to yell, AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! but then I remember that Paul said, all things work together for the of those who are in Christ Jesus. Thank God! does it suck... yeah it does, however, I will hold on to God unchanging hand and hs steadfast love.


Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.- Job 13:15

Random, but relavent

So the time is 3:54 am, I fell asleep around 9:42p, and woke up frantic at about 10:28p because I knew that I had probably missed her call. I woke up and I called her back. After apologzing for falling asleep, afterall I asked her to call before she went to bed, she said "It's ok babe I was just callng to say I love you.

Wow!! Wow!! Oh how I have longed to hear those words from her for a very long time. I get overwhelmed thinking about it sometimes, I am so amazed at what God is doing in our lives. I feel like Job, God blessed job With Double of what he had before.

Yesterday as I was worshping and crying out to God for my Brother, the praise team tapped me, so that we can go upstairs and pray. The Spirit of God was moving so heavily on me that I could not contain the Pure worship that was in my heart. When everyone else was done praying, I was still "in" but I didnt hear anyone else's voice anymore, but i felt a hand on my bad, and a quiet voice praying in the spirit. Initially, I thought that it was Elder Pat, because of the side that she was standng on, it was the same side that Elder Pat was standng on while we were praying.

When I came to, I wiped my face of the tears, took time to catch my breathe and the person was still there prayng softly, as I opened eyes I saw the most beautiful woman in the world. It was Yvonne! there by my side praying never leaving. My help! God shows me more clearly everyday, Why he chose her to be my wife.

After service we all ate dinner. Coker, Man Man, Mack and myself. While dealing with Man Man's "Shinanigins" we concluded that it was time to go. Then again, going anywhere with Man Man, ends with a "ok lets go" feeling from everybody because he is clearly rediculous lol. However, prior to leaving, i asked coker if she wanted to go out afterward, and she sad yeah sure.

We dropped Man Man and Mack off at my place, and after i was changed, we left and went to her place so that she too could change clothes.

Then, We walked.

We walked around the city for a little while, building with each other, learnng each other yet again, rememberng why we really love each other. I have missed her so much in my life and when I thnk about how great God is and how much he cares for me by allowing her and I to freely express pure Love of God through the Holy Ghost to each other.... again I am overwhelmed.

I am excited for what God is doing in our lives, I comitt this realationship, to my Father in heaven, and my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ who is seated at the right hand of the father. I thank you for your grace, and mercy toward me, Thank you for allowing Yvonne Coker and I to reunite and more importantly to express the love you gave us to one another.

Yvonne Coker, you are my crown, your my queen, I bless God for the very air it takes to say I love you. You make my heart melt with your smile, your voice is like music to my ears, your worship to God inspires me to be better, the way you carry yourself is as a queen, well deserving of being treated as such, I love you woman of God, and I wait excited to make you my wife.

I Love you

time 4:30am

Only God! I am grateful

It has been quite sometime since ive felt this way. My heart is overwhelmed, my mind is running a million thoughts a second, I cant stop smiling. Oh God what is this? Its a feeling like never before. When I think about it, i get choked up, and slght tears come to my eyes. I am eladed, God saw fit to bless me with exceeding joy. It is sincerely, exceedng joy. After walking outside of the will of God for my life for so long, He still saw fit bless me.

God as promised, You will be the head of my decisions, Holy Spirit lead and guide me, I will follow you. I will lead my family in the way of the lord. Christ as the head, and i will pattern my life after the model which you have set before me.

I thank you for all that you are to me oh God, and Praise you for right now! I am excited about what you doing, continue to move and I will follow.

The Difference Between the Two

          “Unlike our economic system, the hunter-gatherer economic system rests on a set of highly formalized expectations regarding cooperation and sharing.”(Milton pg 7) Unfortunately, we have lost our sense of community. There was a time in early American history, where people cared about their fellow man. However, “City life made the “eye” and the “I” more important than they had been in the Village.”(Reilly pg 29) Self-preservation has become more important than the well-being of one’s own “brother” or “sister.” I find it difficult to find a place in modern society that truly promotes and nourishes communal growth. While both Milton and Reilly may have validity in both arguments, I believe that modern people who are driven by the acquisition of material goods have indeed lost some of their humanity. Furthermore, if we would readopt some of the values of the “village life,” we can then stimulate collective growth, minimize unhealthy completion and encourage much more sustainable and moral family lives.

            Reilly states that “class divisions were, however, a definite stimulus to productivity and creativity in the early city civilization.”(Reilly pg31) Reilly was showing us that, because of the separation between the different classes, some were able to live prosperous while others were left to their own spoil. As an individual who is familiar with city life from personal experience, it is accurate to conclude that most people in the city are willing to “step on” anyone they possibly can to ensure their personal and family’s immediate survival. However, the commoners—typically considered low class individuals—are left with nothing. “As a result their horizons were severely limited.” (Reilly pg31) By implementing a system where everyone is truly considered equal, the morale of the “commoner” can be raised and bring about enthusiasm toward building a more promising community, and society would then be able to flourish like never before. A flourishing society takes away the insecurities of its people, and gives a more positive outlook on the city itself.

            Not only would adopting some of the “village life” values stimulate collective growth, but it will also help to minimize unhealthy competition. “This didn’t mean that hunter-gatherers didn’t compete with one another for prestige…” (Milton pg6) This simply means that they had a different perspective of what should be competed for and what was necessary for survival. Unhealthy competition can cause people to lose respect for one another. For example, when a hunter kills a large animal, he knows instantly that, that animal is not merely for the feeding of himself and his immediate family, but that it is to be shared with everyone in that village. In fact, He was not allowed to even take his own portion off of the animal; it had to be given to him. (Milton pg6) While we have established that not all competition is bad competition; however, unhealthy competition also promotes selfishness. “Unable to contemplate returning to life without steel axes, the Indians begin to produce extra arrows or blow guns or hunt additional game….” (Milton pg7) Mass production of goods causes the depletion of natural resources and less of abundance for the common man. It then becomes a vicious cycle where it’s every man for himself.

            What shall we say then? If would only readopt some of the values of the “village life”, we not only can stimulate collective growth and minimize unhealthy competition, but we can also encourage a more sustainable family life. “The most important possession that the Indians carry with them is knowledge.” (Milton pg5) Without knowledge of how to operate in the “us” most individuals will automatically adopt the theory of the “I.” However, a moral and sustainable family life takes the focus off the individual and places it on the family unit. This also promotes a very keen sense of interdependence where individuals can rely on one another for guidance and to lend that helping hand if needed. Though “the villager knew everyone personally,” and “cities brought together people who often did not even speak the same language.” (Reilly pg 28) if there was an equal balance of the two, people would be able to live harmoniously with minor issues. In lieu of that idea, healthy families stimulate growth and personal development. A healthy personal development alongside discipline, can and will minimize crime in the city.

            “Once a society has reached a level of abundance, once it can offer technological means, the educational opportunities, the creative outlets necessary for everyone to lead meaningful, happy, healthy lives, then classes may be a hindrance.” (Reilly pg 31) Social class is just a way to keep the rich, rich, and the poor, poor. This is more of a reason for families to stick together, and become one unit. The pursuit of the “I” causes people to lose focus on the big picture, which is, that no matter what your social class, we still need each other to survive. It is ridiculous for a person to think that he or she could possibly make it in this world—on this planet—alone. We are creatures of cohabitation, form the existence of man, we have been cohabiting with each other, be it to find a mate, or just for companionship. I think that it is inhumanity at his finest to just write someone off for the sake of your own personal survival. If you survive and are alone, then what an African proverb suggest the theory that “I am because you are and because you are therefore I am.” I agree with Milton when she implies that if we could but go back to the jungle life that we would be much happier than we are now. (Milton pg10)

Acoholism in Urban Communities

Yesterday I saw a homeless man passed out on the street, with a half empty bottle of Hennessey spilling all him. This guy didn’t wake up for a few hours. The next time I saw him, he was at a septa train station, with the same clothes on and the same bottle of Hennessey in one hand and an empty cup in the other hand asking for change. This highly perturbed me, but the worst part was that neither he nor anyone else seemed to think there was anything wrong with it. This was literally on my mind all day, but I tried to ignore it and just went on to take care of my business for the day. Later that week, a buddy of mine and I were walking long Germantown Ave. near where I live, and I made a very enlightening discovery. I discovered that literally with in a half a mile radius, there are three places to buy and consume alcohol. I understand if we were in center city, or something of that nature, but we are in a run down, dilapidated residential area. Hoping it was just a coincidence, I went to some of the rural areas- the top of Germantown Ave, Willow Grove, and Bucks County- and I found that there aren’t nearly as many liquor stores in the residential communities. So, I came up with the conclusion that the liquor stores are strategically placed in the urban communities, designed to promote alcoholism amongst minorities.

            Studies show that 50% of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related. Growing up without a dad because, he could not control the drinking, then turned to physically abusing my mom. She was forced to leave. Likewise, how many fathers do you see lying on the streets passed out, no care in the world, no job and no desire to better themselves. On the contrary, alcohol is also seen as an anti-depressant. So now you have an addictive stress reliever, that’s easily accessible by a community of people who suffer from mental oppression. Most who suffer from alcoholism to the extreme usually begin to look for other ways to curve this appetite and need to feel inebriated in some way, form or fashion, that the in turn go on the other types of drugs, like marijuana, crack cocaine, or even heroine. Anything to ease the pain, of an otherwise painful reality, from which there seems no relief.

            Now, I guess from a business aspect, this may seem like a gold mine. You have a whole group of individuals who are searching for a way out (even if only mental) and willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Mostly the reason, that these places are in place, is because it’s good for business. If I were selling Girl Scout cookies in a place where, cookies were their ideal snack, I would make a fortune. It’s the same concept. Alcohol companies, make a large chunk of their profit from urban communities. In fact, some conspiracies would suggest, that the placement of alcohol in urban areas, is indeed strategic, designed to keep the minorities in that same place. Another simple reason that companies choose urban areas to set up shot for liquor stores, is because they know that no one in that area is going to contest having them there. If fact, most would actually welcome them to move into the community. If you invited me to a place where I knew I would make a fortune, but didn’t really have to do much work, I indeed would do the same thing. Move right on in.

            Though most people don’t really see a problem with alcoholism in urban communities, I have to differ. I would agree with most conseprisist, that alcoholism in urban areas is strategic. I could see if, when I went to the other areas, it was the same, but it wasn’t. Actually it was noticeable different. The rural communities were very community focused, and family oriented. Urban communities and the people in it, have enough to contend with in the day to struggle to get by, and it doesn’t help having a depressant, antidepressant polluting the neighborhoods. It’s truly an oxymoron. You take away the mind of the individual, and you can do anything to that person and the people around them that you want. What happens is, the person who cannot control himself then begins to act out and brings down the value of the neighborhood and makes people not feel safe in their own communities. It destroys families, breaks communities, and sets a negative example to the you in the area, making them feel that they really have no way out.

Life as we know it

Life As We Know it.

            “I’ve had some good days; I’ve had some hills to climb. I’ve had some weary days, and some sleepless nights, but when I look around, and I think things over, all of my good days out weigh my bad days, and I won’t complain”. I remember when I was younger, my grandmother used to always make try and make me sing this song to her. She would say “Rambo” (as only she could say) “come here and sing me this song”. Being a child growing up in the slums of our nation’s capital, the last thing I wanted to do was be in the house singing a song; especially when I could hear all my cousins outside running around, and playing games. Frustrated, I would sigh, “grandma I want to go outside” then she would let me go. Never letting up, at every family function, or at every one of her birthday celebrations, she would ask me to sing this song. Most times, I tried to sing the song, (mostly because I didn’t have much of a choice) but the song be written in a key too high for my screeching voice to reach, I would get upset and storm out as soon as I was done. I never under stood why of all the songs in the world to choose from, she always wanted me to sing this one.

            I was already a troubled youth. Watching my dad in his drunken mess, whip and beat my mom, I became angry. I remember one day my brother sister and I were all laying in the bed with my mom, my dad comes in and immediately kicks me off of the bed. Crying, I left the room and proceeded to the kitchen. My mom came in after me, and he after her. I grabbed the broom and began to lay the body of the plastic wrapped metal body of the broom, to my stumbling drunk dads head. Afraid that he would hurt me, my mother sent me to live with my grandmother. I love my grandmother dearly. People from the neighborhood would come over all the time, asking for Mama Greene. She would cook dinner for the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless, was a mother to the motherless and prayed for those who need prayer. This woman was truly a gift to us all. Eventually my mother came back into the picture of my life, but growing up with my grandmother, I had already far surpassed my years in wisdom.

            When I moved back in with my mother, it was like turmoil all over again. Now scared and emotionally damaged by my father, she begins to act out. I remember nights of her getting high and drunk, and partying. So I went from living the good life with grandma, to taking care of three kids, myself included. Thankfully, I remembered everything I had already learned from her, and was able to successfully take care of my siblings. Eventually, mom got it together. We began going to church, and developing a spirituality which helped in a lot of areas in our lives. Unfortunately, it didn’t really help with stability. I went to four elementary, three junior high schools, and six high school (five of which were in my senior year). I never really got the chance to build any long lasting relationships, all I knew is that my brother and sister had me, and I had them. At this point, we were living in Chesterfield County Va., a place where we finally thought we could call home. Then all of sudden, our foundation is rocked yet again. My mom tells us that were moving back to D.C... It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, especially since this meant that now I got to see my grandmother more often.

            Just out of high school, I had to watch my mother go through a second divorce, causing us to lose our home. Desperate, with no place to go, we moved in with my grandmother. That was an experience in itself. Children running around all, aunts and uncles loud talking and cursing all the time, and I can remember grand mom, calm in the midst of it all just sitting in her wheel chair, humming the song to herself, “but when I look around, and think things over, I won’t complain”. Tired and unrested from sleeping sitting up at the dinner table because there was no room on the couch or floor for me to sleep, I became frustrated. I counted sixteen people to this three bedroom apartment. Not to mention insects, and roaches. When we finally moved into our own place, it was little better. We moved into a one bedroom apartment, in Landover, where we stayed as I went off to college. The University of The District of Columbia, as the first person in my family to actually go to college, I was more than excited.

            By now I had a job, and thought it was ok to move out. After all, our place had begun to become full, with my mom and her new boyfriend, my pregnant sister and her boyfriend, myself and my brother; we were all right on top of each other. Thus, I moved in with my girlfriend at the time. We then went on to get married. Feeling the pressure and urge to provide for myself and my wife, I dropped out of school and started working full time. I worked from six thirty am, until about five pm... Making great money, and feeling financially stable, we decided it was time we moved into a real apartment. Wow, our first real apartment, stainless steel appliances, island in the kitchen, Jacuzzi style bath tub, vanity mirrors and a washer and dryer in the apartment. We had finally made it. Later that year, we were scammed, for all the money we had in the bank. Devastated we needed to get away, so we came to visit her parents in Philly for the Christmas holiday. Two days later, I get a phone call informing me that my grandmother had passed away. I immediately broke down in tears. Snot running down my nose, my face drenched in a pool of tears, I fell to my knees laid my face on my wife bosom. I had never felt anything like this before, literally my heart was broken and I could physically feel the pain.

            When we returned back to home, I was still in shock. Now preparing for the funeral, I pulled myself together. I knew I had to be strong for my family. Everyone weak, and worn out from the shock and pain. We comforted one another and tried to make the best out of the situation. Despite the pain and hurt I was going through, I volunteered to sing at the funeral. Everyone asked and asked “Ron what are you going to sing?” I never answered them. Finally we get to the ceremony and they are asking if people had anything to say, and everyone had something to say. Then I hear, “were going to ask Brother Ron to come up and render us a selection”. So I swallowed my tears, whipped my face, took a deep breath and shouted with a loud voice “I’ve had some good days, I’ve had some hills to climb; I’ve had some weary days, and some sleepless nights” now with my voice starting shake and tears running down my face, “but when I look around, and I think things over, all of my good days, outweigh my bad days, and I wont complain.”

City Planning article

“Surviving, it is a description of life in the Richard Allen Homes…” (Cohn 2) Being relatively new to the city of Philadelphia, I must say, at first glance there is no hope for this place. There are run-down buildings, garbage covered streets and not to mention the very strong and vile smell that hits you right in the mouth when entering any underground subway platform. Unable and unwilling to travel the city—for various reasons—this aggravated truth remained prevalent to me and my perspective of “Philly living.” Over the summer, I had the privilege to actually travel and explore the city, and concluded that “in the designed environment, pain manifest itself as unfriendly or hostile places.” (Greenberger 38) In lieu of that, I decided to stop complaining and to become a part of the solution. I live in perhaps one of the most popular places in north Philadelphia; home of the famous Max’s Steaks, and Black and Nobel bookstore, as well as Temple University Hospital, Broad and Erie Avenue also known as Nice Town. Standing on the corner of Erie Ave and Broad Street, after just leaving one of the local restaurants, a thought rushed me like the breeze of cold winter air. I realized, that by revitalizing the Broad and Erie—Nice Town—section of the city, we can then bring pride to the community, encourage social and economic growth among the residents and attract new residents to the city as a whole.

            By revitalizing this small but very popular area, we can bring pride into the otherwise careless community that currently exists there. “The despair that the neighborhood keeps this community in, I think it begins to psychologically affect the people.” (Cohn 3) Buildings aren’t going to fix themselves up, and trash isn’t going to pick itself up, we have to do it. However, we cannot begin this work if no one sees that it is indeed an issue. By educating the residents on the current conditions of the blighted community, we can begin to mold a different point of view and evoke an otherwise dormant desire for change. For starters, things like community clean up days. It doesn’t cost the city any money, for the people to come out and clean up their own neighborhoods. It gives the people the chance to get out and meet one another; it also gives them a sense of pride about their living conditions. However, “… for me, beauty resides in more than the visual characteristics of a place. It resides in the way those characteristics are brought to bear on the life they contain, protect, and inspire.” (Greenberger 39)

            Also, by educating the residents on their current social and economic status, we can then begin to change the way that the majority of the people think in the neighborhood. “As a man thinks, so is he” a very popular saying, but holds some of the most imminent truths about how we view ourselves today. So, the idea of changing the way people think of themselves “will” indeed evoke a “required” change in the neighborhood. “It’s not that people who live there don’t care…” (Cohn 5) they are just uninformed. However, we can implement community outreach programs in which we have people volunteer to come and teach the residents how to flourish in the society socially and economically. For example: class on how to obtain and maintain good credit, classes on controlled spending habits, as well as classes on work place preparations (how to build a resume, what to wear to a job interview, work place etiquette and more). By doing this I can minimize the idea that “mentally, it’s not really a home, it’s not really a community,” that “it’s just a place to live until you find someplace else.” (Cohn 3)

            Once we have done this, we can attract new residents to the area. “The sweet spot is that place in an environment where perceptions converge in harmony and new connections are revealed, even if only for a moment.” (Greenberger 38)When looking for a new place to live, there are two things that people most commonly look for. The first thing is the property itself and secondly, how the neighbors and the neighborhood are as a whole. The more people that live in an area, typically the more room for opportunity you have. For example: If more business owners live in this area, there would be no apprehension in building businesses in the area. More businesses mean more job opportunities. A man who lives in the Richard Allen Projects in north Philadelphia said “I can see them saying, if you’re able-bodied, you shouldn’t have to get welfare… but they tell you this and then they never tell you about any jobs.” (Cohn 3) With more jobs, people begin to spend more, and taxes can be used to build more resourceful public libraries, and recreation centers, to keep the minds of otherwise disenfranchised youth from being idle. Making the neighborhood even more marketable, because not only is it clean now, but it’s safe.

            “Our most important role as designers is to create the network through which the positive energy of life can flow and the spaces in which the sources of positive energy intersect and enrich life.” (Greenberger 38) It may seem a little difficult at first; however, once we get everyone on the same page in the neighborhood then we can start the process. I am sure that the local business in the area would be more than willing to help any way they can. Just knowing that this means that they won’t have to worry that some starving person is going to come in, and steal from them. You can sometimes see the pain that the long time business owners have, they don’t want to leave they want the people to get better. If the area were nicer and had more to offer, I too would stay after I am done with college. “We can successfully apply these skills at the scale of a building and at the scale of the city, as long as we approach our work with a measure of humanity and a belief that events we can set in motion eventually take on a life of their own.” (Greenberger 38-39)