JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?߈fpc95*.>S+1`l_by}ˆ"8ψz#CcMҷ_Sķ.>R}_5ܓIEYQ8ʑTRK\P=8B82{7*C)@*jl3RI =)qb@ӟV ׵Iݨ3C₽377d߆x{pni1eTdqRS@C #QA5N#MY2E*t="(5$ @wr[vDN0dQHi1O8μTr‘$nWַaUȊ>o1L0i*6%Jj2c4#|AolˋkˏLq:,PޟIӼSZ$COdBKT|͟Nx6Iqt%ֲ U}Bњ!1x}Su2duoX?'.[4?ؿԎnZBh9t(}NFJ#}ּWS%X"x9?5=XrN⫤ 12,rGޫMc3V7%YтOioA ކ9>\' 1WΧH9ZLq#F 5GoeFÈ9Z=8L~ >2>cH?@?yfZ ZR^*AҐ+QϽK yXI y(&|k[GhX*~mP[2@@s]˨iQx&ExjlSndҭ䰵0vK-&yW9,֮]H'+m#Z@!-4*^V|2bOCN--YTu$hi Z;Uymmx<6H`3Ybxe"-"ȩO_[Dh)c9*\oOZo/gi/lDٶ/ sr[֊+wY#cʊar u[׹;ј}秨>3㏟u-ey[Q t?^{JP5p2:zR6Y0^`-pҮR?真#} %$iy4WJe^5ƘWziّTn5r@ 9t~"ӵ ʷ` c:9CzT1kM8!K0x&KC?u9 2GgB nF#Ci]ؠzCr+Jz]tKB$o;q#~B./pH5WϕK{t1Fb)ǎzk9Cuj 2Y N t\ⱐyĞ{U,: jŅlT{Qh'it+A$w^Yd>\0XqǙX T65<gy9_Bp:Vg1ʹ ոNՋ:cS!IE?yϊ=.;)` QFOҽUpHcԂKʈٺwwPA "Һh\$iBA5;We=@aDgirpiD$=)bLqjL-$]Heo8<07}iA4!)12AtL{8vV =yv H>gy&8 -6O ]r4zQgCIm!5ƒ+~EDӥyދvlElA|pkVRQ#+T*;u3]LU5$#{ tHlEf<ڴ0CM}h̒lfmRZ' +L7x A_$dsM]QZhKwLA/׺*͙镔tJŝ1{-T.t'u88z ³N:fv̯XͨiCɈBq\_IiZ7TNQ4Hm/55au#sTݙ kC%{gVS,qo`ǒ:tRIY>XJϛG"c0w3,l GaBgڿy'$(D @&yM8GV0kާ%;]h$7 gvB ҍKߘ%>dڹZɆ>[߆Ԍ%P]^DK?ƳvBd2+.^6]@6A< gz ;hcd~eQUBN:V;'79MXqޯUuc$ggϘk|fp#+F?**!x U$r0*̲[ݎqa!n\cP.+61׸vsCGF8)Gns= -H3\^o~`YzvZ|Ḅ5Skkrwg5k閺s[3b?xNM.f@y|nA\R$ 淝55cϤkN|Gʹ*2cw@p f&\!eȩ:Y13Y1@U2M,dȈ̻IPJm_ա'/PvI-yǫL.vHK(+3lcV=yk^! 30㠪lm4q~M`?X{ U"f}za!7F2}85ЭHPqZO_Fx`"qkom1`*9=5a(OSy`-#J  Sֵ-V7 rv3Ѿ2Y*sOm{]֟+Te\!%ܹndbмD1]u wƩ-eeec9 9WʐEW >(V{Դ\Q qɊ(X}Ú?~=@*Z]qWjڤH7`jeS[ZDeG՟+7N0*/Q.m!Bҳ&( qU9^'HHIET7;VS94V!$%,JZ4vzwi"W%0pSE`$08XccC]6:V1D&?q[J$XA\RGE7tT@#+Uuo[ gWpOwk)ƶ;2syt՗4**p}(hˡPh3:/J\H"_-0{.H jKC*+8S#>2Qs+ck cE=Ca%HUyb 2ͮ8e TKcZNƝ\ h$e56gHI|䬮`#S]fmrpBzrVm^)۾o¢V993zR1\g$KP~ZLA ܟJ5֤O"y銐cQ^$DŽlXh׋ _FB>B9"{Y~ARC1ߴ(c: dǽ6fF횊s`ܮNpj)qګΥP3IHW6s5$Y@yM2ԞLXr 7|v\h HM̄Fl(ԻX2&1T. S9905/11B[0TuW+n&e`Zk9g]ǾO)z5o 4u#kG=N%17Dr,| ,SW.t0h L/ڛ_# :QX^X_cӽy7_]7xw\CQAȧkC)NdAJn;H 3K)HN0|k4&0 :xN.; 5! OQ?֚"fpJάFqZ#u'$cZxצhfdBb?lqQpR*z Öo3aI_LuE'5B1l;WD xa5|1= grNtyS4gzU?U9 0)/\bүʹ"OJniF+ߴhcNA_?W!t-:HH q"Cdҡ[sd v 6) tLR0N9wQWSƪ@! 9ԑ:S2&MnOw@1Ԯ:\rs8ml@"5 *Vfa6RJP{fb},M`jJoH#嵋JX ώkt<ŖYrQZ+WUrFq\MmxUզ-(kC4wP0k|4O x#JHsb iO׵8ܳq.9$wֲvҳ"_js2kAU=>7I9F: Hͼavr>Ƴ-n{Vr~Qǵd4ſp|udE:t4u0>隟Uf,rB0# 1R8ufX|`b-Ǘ H+~#z^瞧&|/46>ly rYT]N4K;y z`yu#H'UU8?Ҹ/*cdƿGЭ]O*A:u>!Լ8mwMcM4ҳ9+ɦ_.ִ0^ipZBX@8FVE8UXײxz,GRq^S5:uz+AY`OLi$oUNaOS?׊:rqҴ 2H*"š""-cnҨnڧa;UU~7T6VXUU\}xP~sϜbvwsEEt@:BpxI+ NEQMXk9 oE_IzFKiA,-IEC5]V[MF2F#ٮ;I feel that it is important to note that I am not without my faults. I bleed like you, I hurt like you, and I can cry like you. And like you, I too, have made many mistakes in my life. But, I realize that I have only two choices: I could sit around and wallow in  could hav  or I could rewrite my map (the creed) for life and change my current negative circumstances to reflect the  real me. I said a prayer or three and chose the latter.<br>I would like to leave you with these final thoughts: Whatever it is that you are doing well, do it bigger, faster, stronger and wiser the next time. And never wait until you get sick and tired of being sick and tired before you decide to change a negative situation into a positive one. Think it, Dream it, Become it, <br>Live it Just Do It! <br><br><br>___________________<br><br><br> When I first saw the National African American Creed, I was deeply touched. I contacted author Terry Harris and got his permission to share it with our BFS readers.<br>I also went to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitr s Center in Atlanta to gain further insight. The center is a place where all can be both proud and inspired. The following three statements from the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. touched me the most:<br> There is nothing in all the world greater than freedom. It is worth paying for; it is worth losing a job for; it is worth going to jail for. I would rather be a free pauper than a rich slave. I would rather die in abject poverty with my convictions than live in inordinate riches with the lack of self respect. <br> The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. <br> Everbody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don t have to have a college degree to serve. You don t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve . . . . You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. <br>America has come a long way in understanding that everyone is created equal in regards to race, color or creed. However, we must also recognize two things. First, we still have a long way to go and second, all peope, regardless of race, color or creed must strive to do the best of their ability to live up to the freedoms and understandings that have been gained. <br>Two great men that have done just that are Anthony Lucas from Arkansas and Darwin Walker from Tennessee. Martin Luther King, Jr. should be smiling with great joy because of the spirit and accomplishments of Anthony and Darwin. This is what he fought and died for. <br>Read the Creed and then read Anthony s and Darwin s story. Come away inspired. Let us all become better. <br> - Dr. Greg Shepard<br><br><br>_______________________<br><br><br>I, the African American; man, woman, son, daughter, great-grandchild of slaves, descendant of Africa and child of God no longer have to search to find my place in this world.<br><br>I, the African American, have a responsibility to my forefathers whose struggle I must continue to ward off hatred ad bigotry.<br><br>I, the African American, descendant of Ishmael and Abraham, have a responsibility to help my brothers and sisters if they fall by the wayside.<br><br>I, the African American, of dark complexion, have a responsibility to keeping my dark beautiful armor shined with Christ-like luster in my daily walk.<br><br>I, the African American, whose ancestors were great warriors, must become a great warrior against such things as drugs and @_޷- ZQC9wk8tXJZ8-io=Glz;RMn8-@RX=(=@vट㎑o&K+Q(Lrb?V"-'SuiیxO<ߙZe(tx o^Z#$|ìknNt~t!^FdLFeA{3^",}ϭj2 ]իjaGs/'m".&+ʤEQ࿶O(O?FN Bv80;Mƪ/Ⲝ,p򶸕yF&#qMן?_V|šZ0ZIFգ#--"XAI5cG8淖52iVeRY"݃H-E4) Jkˣ aR1͒ \Ek[Zd 5'G1H;I{Y 714RŸH/ Ca8jYHJy%:tV\r7J`7Iv ʽry\Eyo3KbY`v?!&0I㪪?j $m