I got REVIVED last night!

For the past three nights, my church has been holding a revival. Before I go any further, I wonder why it's called a "revival?" Does that mean it's a time to have our souls renewed and revitalized? And why do we need someone other than our OWN PASTOR to "revive" us? Well, after last night I think I know the answer.

For this year's revival, the guest speaker was Dr. Claude Alexander from the University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. I had never heard of him but my girlfriend Tasha said she watches him on the Word Channel and sang his praises and since I respect her opinion I decided to go check him out. If I didn't do it on Wednesday night, I wouldn't get another opportunity because that was the LAST night of the revival.

Well, let me tell you, I got revived, rejuvenated, renewed and I rejoiced the entire time! Dr. Alexander had a message just for ME. The title of his sermon was, "You're NOT Dreaming!" He told me I wasn't dreaming. He tied my story into the story of Peter (Acts 12). This is where Peter was in prison, handcuffed to the guards, who were handcuffed to the prison wall. One night while Peter was asleep, an angel of the Lord came in and released his shackles (but left the guards in handcuffs to the prison wall) and led him out of the prison. Dr. Alexander said Peter thought he was dreaming---thought it was a "vision" but it was REALITY. The Lord had moved Peter, from what seemed like the END, to a brand new BEGINNING (read the rest of Acts for the rest of the story).

Anyway, Dr. Alexander told me all that I had been through this past year was God's doing. He said the chains from my dead end job had been released and He was moving me on because His purpose for me was still very much alive and more important than ever. Dr. Alexander also told me my shackles were removed because of the prayers of the saints---my friends---who have lifted me up time and time again because they knew my struggles and anxieties. Even when I couldn't pray for myself, the saints---my friends--were lifting me higher and higher unto the Lord.

Dr. Alexander told me God was getting ready to do something so spectacular it was going to blow my mind---that He's going to trump even MY expectations. He told me I'm not dreaming. And you know what, I'm really glad I went to revival last night because I needed to be reminded that God is true to His Word---that He keeps His promises and that DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE when you have the VISION!

That means "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age WILL become an Amazon Best Seller in November!!!

Oh...and I think I know why our own pastor doesn't do our revivals...because sometimes, just like you and me, he needs some REVIVING too!

Mid-life Crisis...Whatever!!

Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down, which gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired mustache and chest hair. In mid-life, we no longer have upper arms, we have wing spans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in drag.

Mid-life is when you can stand in front of a mirror and see your rear end without turning around. Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to go topless. Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely in a tube top and scream, "Listen honey, even the Roman empire fell and those will too!"

Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves and we're sitting on our biggest ones. Mid-life is when you look at your-know-it-all, beeper-wearing teenager and think: "For this I have stretch marks?" And to make matters worse, your memory starts to go. As a matter of fact, the only thing we do retain is WATER.

Mid-life means that you become more reflective...You start pondering the "big" questions. What is life? Why am I here? How much Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice?

But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what is important.
We realize that breasts sag, hips expand and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you have now, for the body you had way back when? (I don't know about you but on a day like today, I SAY YES!!!)

Maybe our bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and love we've acquired. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it!

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev

You can read more of my middle age journey in "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Who says you have to be a Size 6 to be considered fabulous? WHATEVER!

I’d like all of the Fabulous and Bodacious women of the world to stand up and be counted! I’m talking about baby boomer babes who are 40 years old (plus) and are sassy, classy and spiritually motivated. I’m talking about the women who aren’t afraid to step out on faith and pursue their God-given creativity. I’m talking about the women who can “give you a piece of their mind” in the nicest way and who can make a size 12 (and up) look stylish and sexy. I’m talking about all of the sophisticated ladies!

If you are someone you know falls into that category, why not nominate them for the F.A.B. Woman of the Month---FABULOUS & BODACIOUS. This is NOT a physical beauty contest. It’s about what you exuberate on the inside.

Just send in a picture (full body preferred), along with the nominee’s name, city/state, age and brief description as to why are nominating her. Be sure to also include your contact information.

Each monthly winner (and the nominee) will receive a special gift and next year, a grand prize winner will be selected and a SPECIAL GRAND PRIZE. (how does a trip to the Bahamas sound?). Men are also eligible to nominate their favorite baby boomer babe.

Please go my website to submit your nomination information. http://www.talk2bev.com/

You know, I just love it when the creative juices are flowing. But I guess that’s what being a writer and a baby boomer babe is all about!!!

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly

I've Turned Into A.....

Oh, my God! I never thought such a thing could happen to me!

I’ve turned into a computer geek! Lord knows, I don’t know how it happened because it wasn’t that long ago that I didn’t even want to turn the thing on. I only bought one because I figured my teenage daughter would have to use it for research, essay papers or Whatever!

I’m a member of the baby boomer generation. We didn’t grow up with computers. Besides, what would be exciting about sitting at a computer all day? That, to me, would be the equivalent of a “time-out” or punishment. As children, my friends and I entertained ourselves outdoors with fun “interactive” games like Hide and Seek, Tag, You’re It!, Kick the Can, Double Dutch jump rope, Red Light, Green Light and so on and so forth.

Homework was done using brain power. And if you didn’t have it, you worked and worked until you got it. I’m not ashamed to say I used my fingers to do math problems sometimes. That may be because we didn’t have calculators, but we did have the Abacus. Remember that, baby boomer buddies? Reading was fundamental back then but we did it by reading the ENTIRE book---not using cliff notes. I’ll never forget the time my 9th grade English teacher made us read “Moby Dick” as an assignment. I thought she must have been insane! But, in hindsight, I can now say I’m proud to have read one of the classics from cover to cover.

But now here I am, thirty-five years later, doing the unthinkable. I wake up and---even before I’ve brushed my teeth or had breakfast---I get on the computer and start checking emails and responding to messages and browsing for News I Can Use for my website. But it doesn’t stop there. I’m BLOGGING….(a word that wasn’t even in my third edition of the American Heritage Dictionary)… and I’m also networking with other folks who, for Whatever! reasons, are glued to their computers just like me. We exchange thoughts and ideas and sometimes even prayers. I do take periodic breaks to do less important things like exercise, cook meals and clean the house. But after that, it’s me and my computer until bedtime.

I’m also learning there’s lots of money to be made through this machine! I haven’t quite figured out how that all works yet, but you can best believe when I do, you won’t be hearing from me as much anymore. I’ll be off somewhere enjoying the fruits of my labor and giving my fingers a much needed rest!

Pray the Fat Away???

OK…this is Day #4 of my mind, body and spirit makeover journey…

I was watching television the other day and saw a woman being interviewed about a book she wrote telling readers to use prayer to get rid of fat. I couldn’t believe my ears! Here was this woman actually saying you can pray away fat. Now don’t get me wrong. I know, firsthand, the power of prayer but I never put it in that particular context. But then I thought, “Oh, what the heck! I’ve tried everything else. Let me give this a shot.”

So before I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I prayed to the Lord:

"Dear God, You know I’m overweight. You also know I’m unemployed and can’t afford a new wardrobe. So Lord, would you do me a favor and melt the pounds away during the night. Twenty pounds will do. This I pray in Jesus name, Amen.”

Well, when I woke up yesterday morning, it actually looked as if I had GAINED a few more pounds. My stomach was bloated and my behind had spread even more.

OK…I do believe God heard my prayer but then it hit me. According to scripture, (James 2:26) “faith without works is dead”. So if I put work more work into my exercise routine, then God will bless my effort. I hit the cross country trail at Duke University for a third day. As I said before, I love and hate that course! It's an absolutely fantastic workout, complete with nearly three miles of tough terrain and hills. But, on the other hand, it is a very strenuous workout, and when you combine it with the heat, humidity and "heartbreak hill" you leave the trail thinking it might be OK to let your middle-aged body hang on to a few extra pounds!

But I’m still determined so after going to noon Bible study I got a little rest and then went to the gym for my very first kick-boxing class. All I have to say is I used muscles I didn’t even know I had! I guess that’s a good thing though.

Before I went to bed last night, I prayed again to the Lord.

“Dear God, Thank you for giving me the energy and strength to keep pressing toward my weight loss goals. I do ask that you continue to deliver me from the evils of too much food and sugar and, Lord, please help me to stay motivated so You will bless my efforts. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

This morning I woke up with new hope!

Where are they now???

Where are all of those now “famous” baby boomers I went to school with?

I went to Ohio University. I graduated in 1979 with a degree in Journalism. Little did I know at the time that I would be connected to some of the most successful people in their craft today just by being a member of the Ohio University Forensics Team. That’s right!

I crossed paths with students like Nancy Cartwright. For those of you who don’t recognize the name, she is the “voice” of Bart Simpson. Nancy was from a town outside of Dayton, OH---Kettering, I believe. She competed on the team for two years in the categories of Humorous Interpretation and Humorous Duo. She was funny back then and always had that sweet, baby voice. She left OU early to pursue her dreams of making it in Hollywood and, by my standard, she did just that!

Then there’s Dave Burgert. I’m not exactly sure where Dave was from. I just remember him as a very quiety, easy going young man who was a member of the debate team and the Republican party. I actually heard from him recently and “googled” him. He was selected as a “Texas Super Lawyer” at the law firm where he is a Partner. That doesn’t surprise me one bit. I always knew he’d be a lawyer. I’m surprised he’s not sitting on the bench yet.

Jack Thomas was also a member of the debate team and I believe he competed in some other categories as well. Jack and I were from the same general area. I always thought of him as a preppy white boy who had a difficult time relating to people that were “different.” We had major conflicts from time to time but we managed to get past them and work together for the good of the team. Jack went to law school and was a practicing attorney before he decided to give it all up to pursue his passion of comedy. I heard he spent some time with Second City in Chicago and is now writing for one of the Nickelodeon shows.

Deb Geisler was an extemporaneous speaker. She was always very supportive of her teammates. I always thought she had a crush on a guy named Jeff Green but I never got it confirmed. Deb is now teaching at Suffolk University in Boston.

Speaking of Jeff, he was my dramatic duo partner. I absolutely loved working with him! He took his work very seriously and was good at it. We were pretty good together and, yes, I had a crush on him too! It’s no surprise to me that Jeff is a tenured Associate Professor of dramatic Arts and Director of the Dramatic Arts program at Georgia Southwestern University. He also serves as the faculty advisor and producer for Hurricane Watch, GSW-TV16 student television productions.

Dave Radanovich was the “coolest of the cool.” He was an extemporaneous speaker. I always loved hanging out at his house with his roommate J.B. (deceased). Dave is a big shot PR guy somewhere in the Northeast---like maybe Pennsylvania.

(Arsenio Hall was also a member of the team but he transferred to Kent State. The rumor was he was ostracized by a racist coach who left the year after I arrived).

Then there’s ME. I was the team member who liked to raise everyone’s level of consciousness. I gave them hell when I felt they deserved it because of their lack of sensitivity to certain issues but I partied with them on Court Street, celebrated our winning victories (and we had many) and cried with them when they were hurting.

I’ll never forget the time they all rallied around me to perform a “Talk-A-Thon” in my efforts to raise money to become Miss Black Homecoming Queen. You can imagine the looks on people’s faces when they saw all of my white colleagues and me standing in front of Baker Center talking non-stop for the fundraiser. It was a defining moment in my relationship with all of them.

What would they have to say about me after all of these years? Trust me, they’d have some stories to tell about this best-selling author!

These are the baby boomers I went to school with. Who was in your class?