Saturday, August 31, 2013

8th Edition


Welcome

to the

8th Edition

A Belated Tribute to Fatherhood/Manhood entitled:


"Father's Day In August."



Jubilee News!
You made us popular. Now, it's our turn to make you proud.


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~Disclaimer~

The works, When Men Speak, When Men Speak-The Radio Edition, & Jubilee News are the intellectual property of its founder, creator, & Editor-In-Chief, James W. Falcon. However, the submissions of all artists are expressly theirs. Jubilee News wishes to thank each artist for lending this newsletter your gifts, talents, and works. Jubilee News seeks only the best talent to convey the sometimes complicated message of reconciliation between the sexes. Your investment in the "relationship revolution" is greatly appreciated.

Reproduction of material & information found in this newsletter is prohibited. All requests to copy and or to reproduce material and information from this newsletter must be submitted via electronic request to the Editor-In-Chief at wmsjubileenews@gmail.com. Your compliance is appreciated and your professionalism, celebrated. Thank you.




JN POETS & COLUMNISTS
|---------STAFF--------|

Editor-In-Chief

James W. Falcon

Co-Host, WHEN MEN SPEAK-The Radio Edition

LaVerna Saunders

Copy/Online Editor

Open

Director of Marketing

LaVerna Saunders

Manager, Social Media

Open

Columnists

Dr. Ann

Memoirs of a Lady

Jai-ree

Nekil

Resident Poets & Spoken Word Enthusiasts

MJD

God’s Precious Flower (GPF)

Victoria Sharrock

James W. Falcon

---------------------------------------------------[]--------------------------------------------------

|----------POETS, SPOKEN WORD ENTHUSIASTS, COLUMNISTS-----------|

~8thEdition~

Sonja Maxwell

God’s Precious Flower (GPF)

Nekil

Jai-ree

James W. Falcon

~Previous Editions~

MJD

God’s Precious Flower (GPF)

MJAY

Victoria Sharrock

Memoirs of a Lady

From the Reservation

Meredith Duncan Weber

Sonja Maxwell

LaVerna Saunders

Jai-ree

Michelle Pringle

Barbara K.

Nekil

James W. Falcon

I am immensely grateful for the contributions of all of the above mentioned persons for their voluntary support of Jubilee News. Thank you. 
-James W. Falcon


EDITOR-IN-CHIEF'S MESSAGE



Welcome to the 8th Edition of the Jubilee Newsletter.  This August 31st, 8th Edition release, more than any other, has a story of triumph linked to it-a story that will be and that must be told at some point, one day.  We have hurdled many obstacles.  We have circumvented many technical challenges.  We have navigated through some of the roughest seas of events since the conception of this Edition through to its release.  Yet, by the grace of the LORD, we have been honored to see and to celebrate this day.  As we look back over the past Editions, in particular, the 7th Edition, we are reminded of the significance of the number, from a Biblical standpoint.  Drawing from our Judeo-Christian heritage/faith, the number “7” speaks to completion; perfect execution; and a fulfillment of things.  The number “8” points to a new beginning-a new cycle; and new journey.  And so, we “completed” or “finished” the work of the newsletter with the last edition.  What we executed matched what we conceived back in February, this year.  For the 8th Edition, it is our plan to begin a new journey of “news telling” by building on the foundation layed, and by incorporating so much more.  A new, broader vision will be implemented.  Going forward you can expect us to take you even deeper in the reality of man-woman relationships.  You can look forward to us providing more insight, more mature themes.  And you can anticipate the provision of tools through our column writing, prose, and poetry.  Though it may appear that our pace has slowed, I can assure you that we have no plans of stopping what we’ve started…AT ALL!  So long as the need for encouragement exists as it relates to man-woman relationships, Jubilee News plans to continue publishing its online newsletter.  Our mission remains the same: to provoke a relationship revolution!  Not only for ourselves, but for our children for many generations to come.

We were remiss that we didn’t take the opportunity to release a tribute to Father’s on Father’s Day weekend.  You can not have a women’s based publication and pass up such a rich opportunity to acknowledge the good in men.  As a man-the only man to have written for the newsletter so far-I thought it an amazing chance for all of us to go against the grain of society, our families, and perhaps even our own negative experiences to present men in the best light possible.  And so, to Fathers…to men…and all of those they have been impacted and will continue to be impacted by this issue, Jubilee News presents a salute to Fatherhood/Manhood that have titled "Father's Day In August.”  Enjoy!

From the deepest places within me, I thank you for your support of our work-our attempt to invest in the best resources on planet earth-each other.

Appreciatively,


James W. Falcon
Daddy to 4 Princess Daughters, & God Daddy to 1 Princess God Daughter
“Pop-Pop” to 1 Grand Princess & 3 Grand Princes

Associates of Arts, Biblical Studies
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Master of Science, Organizational Leadership

Founder, Café Encouragement & Café Encouragement Radio
Founder of WHEN MEN SPEAK
Founder/Co-Host, WHEN MEN SPEAK-The Radio Edition
Founder/Editor-In-Chief, Jubilee News-A WHEN MEN SPEAK Publication

Author of:
Up & Over: Encouragement In Tough Times
What Men Really Need: A Step To Reconciliation Between Men and Women
PITCH BLACK: Navigating the Darkness
The Daddy Pages


PS:


Your support of this newsletter is appreciated. Your input is craved!  Drop me a note at wmsjubileenews@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments regarding the content of the newsletter and I will guarantee you a timely response.

Also, if you have any suggestions for topics we have not covered, we will be happy to review those requests as well. Once again, thank you for your support and thank you in advance for your emails.
 Thank you once again.

OUR FOREFATHERS' CHALLENGE

Run Son, Run On…

Written by James W. Falcon, August 29,2013


I ‘memba it, jus as clare is day

I kin still see his face, wid no smile he’d say

Run son, run on, run all da way



S’wud my Daddy tell me do

Don’t make me git up, run afta you




I said gwon, I’d hear’d him say

Run son, run on, run all da way


Now you run, jus like I’s tell you do

Run night, run day, week’ns, too

Dat’s wud my Daddy say do


Run son, run on, be better d’me

Deys a big bright wurl out dar you’d see

Do mo’, have mo’ be wud I cain’t be

Stud’em books, pray a bit, den git up off dat knee


Lis’tuh me now...hears wud I say

Run son, run on, run all da way

Edumoncation, col’age eem, LORD’d sho you da way

But run son, run on, run all da way

Pappa ain’t gwon be huh alway



I’s gwon close dees weary eyes, one nees day

Don’t let nuttin’ stop you, ya hear, when I say

Make up yo mind’n, run boy, run on, run all da way.

Don’t have much ta give ya, cept dees word I say

Pass ‘long dees huh wurds, my Daddy say to me’n his day



He tow’d me…I nah tell you…tah run son......run on...run all da way.




THE DADDY DILEMMA


Daddy Dilemma
 How Men Set The Tone In The Lives of Their Sons and Daughters
by Nekil

  When children are born they’re usually welcomed into the home of a loving mother and father.  The parents of the child properly planned for the arrival of their precious bundle of joy and plan to do all that they can, together, to raise their child up to be a happy, well rounded and productive adult.  This is what happens in most cases but more and more situations are occurring when a child is born and welcomed to a fatherless home which is usually headed by a determined mother; she is determined to be the best parent to her child that she could possibly be and most single parents will go above and beyond for their children so that the child won’t feel as though they are missing anything as a result of having an absentee parent.  Women are resilient and are able to deal with multiple tasks and are able to be a good parent while dealing with their personal issues such as how she’s going to be able to both provide for her children and pursue a career.  Most women don’t plan to raise their children on their own but it does happen and the effects that children could have due to what they’re lacking at home are many.  A child who has never experienced having a father in the home may not be able to relate well to a child who lives in a two parent home and may not understand why their father left in the first place.  A lot of children will even blame themselves for their father not being there. Women have been heading the household for many years.  It’s almost a rarity to see a family where both the mother and the father are together.  The fallout of this epidemic is that children are raised with no awareness of what it would be like to have a father in the home.  Boys who grow up without having daily interaction with a male figure are clueless as to how to be a man.  Only a man can teach a boy how to be a man, a young boy learns this by example.  When a father isn’t present in the home it’s important for a mother to have either an uncle or a close family friend to act as a father figure to be a role model to her son because it’s vital for boys to see a positive image of manhood even if it’s not from a biological father, this shapes him into a man.  Having a positive male figure in his life that also has a healthy relationship or marriage will also show him how to love, respect and appreciate a woman and gives him an example of how to be a father to his future children.  To a girl having a loving father in the home will have a major impact on her as a woman.  Fathers shape their daughters self esteem by giving her a sense of value so that she’ll know exactly what she’s deserving of and how she should be treated when she becomes a woman. Many young girls who grow up in fatherless homes usually try to fill the void of her father not being there by replacing a father figure with a man.  This could lead her to having sexual relations at a young age because she’s longing for male interaction, this could also lead her to make poor choices in men and settle for men who are less than deserving of her all for the sake of having a man in her life.  A Father’s love is essential in a young girl’s life. Girls who are raised with a father in the home will generally have more self value and her standards will be higher when choosing a mate. 

     Usually when men end the relationship with the mother of their children they tend to spend less time with their children.  There are situations in which the men have chosen to remain active in their children’s lives regardless of the relationship they have with the mother and these children are much better rounded because they are still able to maintain a good relationship with their father.  The children who have fallen victim to having a distant father experience all types of emotions in childhood that follows them into adulthood. 
Father’s your sons need you to show them how to be men and your daughters need you to build her self esteem by treating her like the princess she is!


Incarceration Rates. "Young men who grow up in homes without fathers are twice as likely to end up in jail as those who come from traditional two-parent families...those boys whose fathers were absent from the household had double the odds of being incarcerated -- even when other factors such as race, income, parent education and urban residence were held constant." (Cynthia Harper of the University of Pennsylvania and Sara S. McLanahan of Princeton University cited in "Father Absence and Youth Incarceration." Journal of Research on Adolescence 14 (September 2004): 369-397.)
Suicide. 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of the Census).
Behavioral Disorders. 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes (United States Center for Disease Control)
High School Dropouts. 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools.)
Educational Attainment. Kids living in single-parent homes or in step-families report lower educational expectations on the part of their parents, less parental monitoring of school work, and less overall social supervision than children from intact families. (N.M. Astore and S. McLanahan, American Sociological Review, No. 56 (1991)
Juvenile Detention Rates. 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept 1988)
Confused Identities. Boys who grow up in father-absent homes are more likely that those in father-present homes to have trouble establishing appropriate sex roles and gender identity.(P.L. Adams, J.R. Milner, and N.A. Schrepf, Fatherless Children, New York, Wiley Press, 1984).
Aggression. In a longitudinal study of 1,197 fourth-grade students, researchers observed "greater levels of aggression in boys from mother-only households than from boys in mother-father households." (N. Vaden-Kierman, N. Ialongo, J. Pearson, and S. Kellam, "Household Family Structure and Children's Aggressive Behavior: A Longitudinal Study of Urban Elementary School Children," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 23, no. 5 (1995).
Achievement. Children from low-income, two-parent families outperform students from high-income, single-parent homes. Almost twice as many high achievers come from two-parent homes as one-parent homes. (One-Parent Families and Their Children, Charles F. Kettering Foundation, 1990).
Delinquency. Only 13 percent of juvenile delinquents come from families in which the biological mother and father are married to each other. By contract, 33 percent have parents who are either divorced or separated and 44 percent have parents who were never married. (Wisconsin Dept. of Health and Social Services, April 1994).
Criminal Activity. The likelihood that a young male will engage in criminal activity doubles if he is raised without a father and triples if he lives in a neighborhood with a high concentration of single-parent families. Source: A. Anne Hill, June O'Neill, Underclass Behaviors in the United States, CUNY, Baruch College. 1993

A Father's Love (Poetry)

My father left a long, long time ago
I sometimeswonder how my life would be if he hadn't gone
My mother gave me everything I needed and much, much more
Guess she spoiled me to make up for that fact that he had gone
Lots of clothes, shoes and jewelry, needed none of the above
What I really needed most was to be shown love
A voice on the phone could never replace his presence in our home
I needed love, attention and well wishes, a father to help me avoid ditches

A man to set the tone, to let me know how I should be treated
But instead my father was the first man to set the tone of men that would leave me

I was young, couldn't quite wrap my mind around it all
Growing up too fast looking for love from a man but going about it all wrong

Thought I had to give something to get something in return
It took many, many years to know that this wasn't the way love from a man could be earned

Looking in the mirror, thinking, what's so wrong with me?
Why did he leave, was it something I did, I was just a baby!

My hunger for my father's love turned into desiring men to love me and never leave me
It took me awhile to realize that this was what I was doing, subconsciously

After a few failed relationships I had an epiphany
And what I realized is that I didn't love me

My self worth is not based on the ones who left
My self worth is based upon the love I have for myself



A SALUTE TO THE FATHERLESS

In acknowledgment of all of the children that did not/do not know their fathers;  to those who never watched him shave; who never heard his laugh nor have seen his smile; to those that never witnessed him cry.  And to those who have been forced to create super hero like fairy tales to pacify themselves through the pain of not having a Father present in their homes,  this edition is dedicated to you.  We recognize your strength and we commend your endurance.  To those that have fought/continue to battle the anger affiliated with a father's absence who have somehow remained sane and, by the grace of god, willing to have and to maintain solid, healthy relationships with men while keeping your frustrations at bay, we honor you today for these reasons and for many, many more. To you and for you especially, we celebrate your understanding of the value fathers can have in the lives of their children.  More than celebrate, we encourage you to hold that understanding near and dear to your hearts with the intent of sharing that value with others, as time and conditions permit.

Although I had the privilege of knowing my Dad in the best ways possible, I include myself as a member of the "we" category because fatherlessness defines us (in the short term) and diminishes us (in the long term).  In essence, it impacts all of us in one way or another.  For some, it provides the basis for identity concerns.  To others, it prompts a series of questions like, "Why did he leave me?" "Doesn't he care?". "Why did he leave us unprotected?" "Isn't he curious how I turned out?" "What did I do to deserve such cold treatment?"  And, in honor of all of the questions you have posed that may be answered some day and for those that may not, I encourage you as a spokesperson for many men who find fatherhood a privilege and who have but one regret...that their families did not include you.  On this day I celebrate your incredible worth and priceless value.


Compassionately submitted,
 James W. Falcon
Founder/Editor-In-Chief, Jubilee News


A DREAM COME TRUE


A FATHERHOOD/MANHOOD DREAM COME TRUE

By Sonja Maxwell
(This column was originally published in the 4th Edition as
The Dichotomy of the Single Parent)


Single parents are an interesting and multifaceted group of people. I can say this because I am a single parent. I am 32 years old and have a five year old daughter whom I adore more than life itself. My daughter’s father and I were never married and while that isn’t as important a fact, it does bring up the idea of the need to fulfill the qualities of both Mommy…and Daddy.

Now, before I get too carried away into making a point here, let me start by saying that this is not an attempt or opportunity to “male bash” in any way. I think men are fantastic and interesting creatures and have a lot to offer the right woman when they find her. There are many dads out there who are terrific parents and give their children everything and opportunity they can. On the other hand, there are many single parents who don’t have the emotional support from the other co-parent that would be so nice to have when trying to raise a child on their own.

In my particular case, the cards I was dealt were such that I would have to find a way to fulfill both roles. Where the traditional stereotype of a mom is to be the comforter, the understand-er, the listener, and dad is the one who administers the discipline and teaches the lessons. Believe me, it’s a tight rope walked between doling out punishments one minute and kissing boo-boo’s the next.

My father taught me many, many good lessons in my childhood and continues to surprise me even into my adulthood with the occasional lesson. Dad taught me everything from doing my homework before I was allowed to play and not accepting anything other than a‘B’, to baiting a fishing hook and teaching me how to shoot my first rifle, to standing up straight and being proud of who I am. He taught me how to change a tire and change my own oil; that I could survive on my own and that I did not“need” a man in my life unless I chose to include one in it. He taught me how a man is supposed to treat a woman and what I should come to expect and not settle for from a man. I can remember telling my Mom as a little girl that when I grew up, I wanted to marry Daddy. A she delightfully laughed, she told me that she was married to Daddy but that if I was lucky, I would find a man just like him. To me, my father is the epitome of how a man should be.

When I was faced with the fact that I was going to be a single-mom and I wouldn’t have that traditional family life for my daughter, I immediately began the journey to assume both roles and teach her whatever I could. Things like how to stand up for yourself; how to do for yourself; how to find the intestinal fortitude to get things done on your own; how to be respectful but also to earn that same respect from others; that if you’re not 10 minutes early, you’re late. I learned not too long after that there were some things I would never be able to appropriately convey to her simply because…I’m not a man.

It became very important to me to show my daughter that just because we didn’t have a traditional home life, we were still a family. Mommy gave her enough love for two parents and made sure she had everything she needed. She has seen Mommy do without so she didn’t have to. She has seen Mommy work two jobs to support her, and recently she has seen Mommy go back to school so that she can do even better for us. But it’s not the same as having two parents in the home together.

So where did I turn when I needed that positive male influence in my daughter’s life? My Dad. By now I can almost hear you asking yourself “why didn’t she turn to the father of her child for that guidance or male support?” Without “man-bashing”, because I promised I wouldn’t, let’s just say that I made a poor choice in ethical male specimen when I chose him. She comes home clean and fed but, he’s not winning any awards. So at least once a week we visit Poppy (that’s what she calls my Dad) or he picks her up from school and they have quality time together. He plays with her and teaches her things the way I remember him teaching me as a little girl. When I see her face as they interact, I’m immediately thrown back 27 years and it’s like I’m experiencing it all over again. She has a very special relationship with her Poppy and I thank God for that, every day.

Granted, she is only five years old, she will remember these things when she gets older and they will stay with her in a meaningful way. She will learn that she can survive, and live a healthy happy life on her own until she decides to include someone, the right one, in it; which brings me to my next and final point.

I met my fiancé Nick when my daughter was 14 months old. She did not meet him until after we had dated for a few months and even then, I did not let her see us interact in any other way than was friendly and platonic. I wanted her to see that a man and a woman can have a healthy relationship without being romantic. After some time he took both of us to dinners and to the park, and even took us fishing. For the largest 75% of her life she has seen a man treat Mommy with respect and love. She has seen us play together and she has seen us work through frustrations in healthy way. He loves my daughter more than I could have ever prayed for and he is her “favorite person”, as she calls him. I realized just recently that I will no longer have to play the role of both Mommy and Daddy anymore, and for the first time in a long time, I stopped holding my breath. Nick and I are set to be married on August 17th of this year and we are all very excited.

My prayers have been answered. Through God’s divine wisdom and plan, while things didn’t occur in the traditional way, everything came together. I’m blessed with a man who loves me and my daughter in a way I at one time only dreamed about and is the father figure I so desperately wanted her to have.

Mom was right; I did find a man just like my Daddy, and now my daughter will get to experience all the wonderful things that both Nick and Poppy can teach her.


Sonja Maxwell is a phenomenal presenter & professional trainer by trade. She has a presence in the classroom matched by no other and energy in expounded the complexities of learning that is unparalleled. Join me in welcoming & thanking Sonja for her contribution and her candor.



ON RELATIONSHIPS

WHEN MEN SPEAK

by James W. Falcon

Originally written for and published in the 2nd Edition



I think I’m finally ready

I’m left with no choice; it’s reconciliation I seek

So I gathered my thoughts and am ready to speak

Please indulge me

I long for you…for us, and the mountain top, the peak

I’m sorry, so sorry I’ve wait so long to speak

I’m…so lonely, in despair, our future looks bleak

Desperation has gripped me, there’s a gaping whole, a leak

Our rose pedals are rotten and reek

It’s not too late, to rekindle us, that wonderful thing we had; so special & unique

Please indulge me, I’m now able

For our next date, meet me at the conference table

Where honesty’s a must, not a lie spoken, nor fable

You talk, I’ll listen, you listen, I’ll speak

I’ll become a professor of us again, a student even, a geek

What ever is necessary, whatever is needed, it’s your heart I seek

You talk, I’ll listen, you listen, I’ll speak

What language would you prefer, Italian, Spanish or Greek

Let’s celebrate our past, envision our future, for the possibilities let’s peek

For let’s leave behind the hardness, and anger and approach this with meek-

Ness, breathless, sweaty, ready to exhale, and ever so softly…whisper

No choice; same page? it’s reconciliation I seek

Thoughts gathered, center stage and I…yes, I…your man..am now ready...

Sssssshhhhhh! You talk, I’ll listen, you listen, and then I’ll speak.



THE ULTIMATE "MAN"

That Man

Written by GPF on 3/3/02

There is a man I know

            Who brightens my days with one long gaze --This man I know

There is a man I know

            Who warms my bed and fills my head with wonderful things; I’m so amazed

There is a man I know

            Who makes me whole and moves me toward a goal-- so nice and what a surprise

This man consumes my spirit; he keeps me in my place

And when I fall and dirty up, envelops me with mercy and grace

The one I know is not like any other Natural Man

It’s so amazing and significant; I am his biggest fan

There is a man I know

            To the Worldly Christian does not compare

The Spiritual Christian knows Him well because He’s always there

He is the best, the most famous, the latest

This Man I know, he is the Greatest

With this man no need to fuss…because his name is Jesus




ON PASTORAL LEADERS


A SALUTE TO THE SHEPHERDS


I have been extremely blessed to come to know some very good, godly individuals over the years.  By them, a thankless job is executed in the lives of those who are lost, broken, incarcerated, helpless, homeless, hopeless, destitute, sick and afflicted. I have had the privilege of knowing many men (and women) that have been appointed to the role of Pastor that I wish to salute in this celebration and acknowledgement of Fatherhood/Manhood.  I credit you for the sanity and the salvation that I have come to enjoy and for the many roles that you’ve played in my life.  Thank you.






(Slide compliments of: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leadersedgetrainingcentral.com%2Fministry%2F&h=0&w=0&sz=1&tbnid=g8xxfCQ9pVly1M&tbnh=177&tbnw=285&zoom=1&docid=OMA5daYpRtfgSM&hl=en&ei=REciUtvPKorDsATBxYDoCw&ved=0CAEQsCU)




FUNNY BONE

On Fathers

excerpts from
Fathers then & now


In 1900, fathers prayed their children would learn English.
Today, fathers pray their children will speak English.


In 1900, a father's horsepower meant his horses.
Today, it's the size of his minivan.

In 1900, if a father put a roof over his family's head, he was a success.
Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that's just the vacation home.

In 1900, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived.
Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure film is in the video camera.

In 1900, fathers passed on clothing to their sons.
Today, kids wouldn't touch Dad's clothes if they were sliding naked down an icicle.

In 1900, fathers could count on children to join the family business.
Today, fathers pray their kids will soon come home from college long enough to teach them how to work the computer and set the VCR.

In 1900, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, "Wake up, it's time for school."
Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting: "Wake up, it's time for hockey practice."

In 1900, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table.
Today, a father comes home to a note: "Jimmy's at baseball, Cindy's at gymnastics, I'm at adult-Ed, Pizza in fridge."

In 1900, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations while fishing in a stream.
Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons' ears and shout, "WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE.."

In 1900, a father gave a pencil box for Christmas, and the kid was all smiles.
Today, a father spends $800 at Toys 'R' Us, and the kid screams: "I wanted Sega!"

In 1900, a Father's Day gift would be a hand tool.
Today, he'll get a digital organizer.

In 1900, a happy meal was when Father shared funny stories around the table.
Today, a happy meal is what Dad buys at McDonald's.

In 1900, a father was involved if he spanked the kid now and then.
Today, a father's involved only if he coaches Little League and organizes Boy Scouts and car pools.

In 1900, fathers threatened their daughter’s dates with shotguns if the girl came home late.
Today, fathers break the ice by saying, "So...how long have you had that earring?"

In 1900, fathers pined for the old school, which meant a one-room, red-brick building.
Today, fathers pine for the old school, which means Dr J and Mickey Mantle.

In 1900, fathers were never truly appreciated.
In 2001, fathers are never truly appreciated.

(Source: http://www.ahajokes.com/par003.html)


Joe: What does your father do for a living?
Jon: He’s a magician. He performs tricks, like sawing people in half.
Joe: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Jon: Yep, four half-sisters and a half-brother.
– Submitted by Jonathan W., Stroudsburg, Pa.
Source: http://boyslife.org/features/20917/20-funny-jokes-for-fathers-day/


On Men

Male Vs. Female

NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it’s only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t need but it’s on sale.

BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel
The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

(Source: Men Jokes http://www.greatcleanjokes.com/jokes/people-jokes/men-jokes/#ixzz2dZNZvikB)


excerpts from  
International Rules of Manhood 
Date: Sent Thursday, December 1, 2011

- Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella.

- If you've known a guy for more than twenty-four hours, his sister is off limits forever unless you actually marry her.

- On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.

- When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.

- Friends don't let friends wear Speedos. Ever. Issue closed.

- If a man's fly is down, that's his problem; you didn't see anything.

- Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both. That's just greedy.

- Thou shalt not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, orange, or sky blue.

- The woman who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets a PS3. End of story.

- There is no reason for guys to watch ice skating or men's gymnastics. Ever.

Received from ArcaMax Jokes.

(Source: http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=5761)



A SON ON HIS DAD

THE GENESIS OF JAI-REE
by James W. Falcon


James Reed Faulcon was born in Littleton, North Carolina on September 7th, 1924.  He was the youngest of 4 children born to James Tyson and Sadie Faulcon.  He was a rare breed.  He was extremely likeable.  He was intelligent.  He was articulate.  He was deliberate.  But above all, he was more than my father-he was my Dad, and there is a difference. 


Granddad and Grandma Faulcon migrated to Baltimore when my Dad was very young.  The Faulcons settled in an area of east Baltimore that was teaming with life as so many other African American families from the south did during the period in history later termed "the great migration" yet they were the only Faulcons in the phone book.  Granddad had come to Baltimore to find work as Baltimore was one of may northern cities that offered stable, long term employment to African American.  Granddad worked for a number of companies including Bethlehem Steele to support his family.  The Faulcons lived in the 1200 block of Bond Street.  As the stories go, Granddad was a wiry, fiery passionate man that worked long hours who loved his family while trying desperately to keep his demons at bay.  Grandma, again as the stories go, was just enough woman for him and afforded the precise amount of Ying to his Yang.  As my mother would often tell the story, Granddad would come him from work drunk and Grandma would refuse him entry into their home forcing Granddad to sleep on the bench outside.  While I know very little about my Grandfather (in comparison to the other members of the Faulcon clan, I know this: Granddad displayed a gentleness and a kindness that greatly impacted my Dad in the best ways possible.  In a story that my Dad told me many years ago, Dad explained:
    
"My Mother had had enough and demanded that I be spanked.  My Father, angrily grabbed by the arm, and rushed me into an upstairs bedroom.  Once inside, he closed the door, sat me down but calmly instructed me to do exactly as he said.  He said son, I want you to start yelling in a few minutes as if I'm spanking you. 'Son,' he said, I should probably spank you but I'm going to try talking to you first.  So, make it sound believable. And for the next few minutes, I screamed and yelled as if I was getting the whippin' of the century.  When I left the room, my face was frowned up and I rubbed my behind to try to be as convincing as possible.  I later over heard my Mother talking to my Father as she exposed his fraud.  And he simply said, 'the boy didn't need a spanking-he needed a talk.'"

Those exchanges, however many there were, would provide the basis for the development of an extraordinary man who was thankfully, able to ensure the passing of those qualities and traits to at least two generations-a legacy that I will speak to later.  My Dad grew up in east Baltimore, playing in the streets and alleys, and on vacant lots. At some point in time, he developed a love for the game of baseball that he spoke of quite often.  He as a scrappy, gritty kid that quickly gained a reputation for being a fighter.  At 15, he saw a job offered at the local railroad company and applied as an 18 year old applicant.  The submission of that application would transform his life and legacy.

The U.S. was on the cusp of entering World War II-a draft was initiated and the story began.  Despite the effort of Grandmother who petition the court to try to prove that my Dad was too young for military service, my father was enlisted.  As he sat down at the intake desk, the Sergeant verified his first name.  Then asked, "What do they call you in the neighborhood boy" to which my father responded, "Bill."  Next, he asked my father to verify his last name.  My father, like many members of the family pronounced it, "Falcon."  Forever thereafter that exchange, the man born James Reed Faulcon became James William Falcon.

James Reed, or "Jay Ree" as he was called by his Mother and siblings, loved military life and planned to make that love a career.  He rose through the ranks and became a Sergeant and commanded troops in a number of divisions.  Dad served through World War II and the Korean War and received an Honorable Discharge just before the Vietnam Conflict erupted.  When asked why he shortened his career, he replied, "I got tired of wearing the same colors."  The real reason though was to pursue his dream to start a family. 

Dad's incredible story continued as he taught himself to read, earned his high school diploma, and enrolled at what was formerly called, Coppin State College, as a Sociology major. But above his formal education, my Dad was a wise far beyond his years.  It was that wisdom, that gentle approach to life, to learning, and to love that he left me as a legacy.

Dad once told me when I was very young, “Son,” he said, “You will never have to tell anyone that you are intelligent, or cool, or that you have a particular talent.  If you are any of those things, people will know it.”  That statement more than any other was indicative of the kind of person he was.  He extremely gifted.  He had the ability to carry a conversation like no other person I’ve ever seen.  He could be the conversations antagonist or the everyone’s advocate but remain mild, gentle and very convincing in either mode.  I once saw him jump into a conversation in a barbershop as a means of teaching me how to get into and out of conversation.  It was discussion about religion-the kind of a discussion that they warn against participating in nowadays in the workplace because of its high propensity to provoke offense.  And that was my Dad’s mission.  When we entered the barbershop, he said to me, “Watch this Son,” as he turned to me and whispered coyly in my ear.  I watch…and I listened as Dad jumped in, provoked the lead conversationalists, provoked fiery tempers, advocated for all, and calmly got out of the conversation, while bidding everyone a good day upon leaving as only a gentleman would.  The amazing thing was, the men in the barbershop knew they had been had, but by the time that realization sank in, Dad and I were at the door with our coats on, and ready to embark on our journey home.  As we walked up the street, Dad said to me, “I knew exactly where each man stood, and I poked at’ em all just enough to provoke them, then I left them alone.”  I remember thinking, man!  That could have gotten ugly.  But I also remember thinking, if my Dad could handle himself that well in a conversation, there was no reason for me to think he couldn’t handle himself if the conversation had gone “side ways” as they say.

 On another occasion, I remember my Mother and Father having a pretty heated disagreement.  And I, hoping to champion the cause of men, said to my Dad, “Dad!  Are you going to sit there and take that?”  A statement said in utter ignorance, of course.  To which my Dad said, “Son…let me explain something very important to you.  I love your Mother dearly and right now we are having a disagreement.  But I want you to always remember that it is in these moments that a man must mind his tongue.  Because once something is said in angry, it can never be retracted.  And no amount of “I’m sorry” can ever fix it.”

Even though I was a boy of about 12 years old, I remember thinking how deeply rich in advise that statement was-a statement that I have tried so very hard to live out myself.

I could probably go on to write a good sixed novel in recalling all of the wonderful experiences I had with my Dad.  But neither time nor space allow me to in this edition.  Suffice it to say, that he was truly amazing.  I miss him dearly and I will count myself blessed if I can because at least half the man to my children as he was a man and a Dad to me.  In honor of my Dad and the person he was, I have developed and written a series for Jubilee News entitled, “The Daddy Pages.”  I use the pen name, Jai-ree in his honor and hope that the love filled overtones of the father figure in that series can touch the reader in some small way like my life was touched.  To my Dad and to all Dads, what an awesome task we have!



THE DADDY PAGES

How important is it for a little girl to have her father in her life? Is a father's presence that important? What are the benefits of having a solid connection with your Dad? Ladies, follow a fictional character named Blossom as she grapples with these topics in her growth and development from childhood to womanhood in each biweekly addition of Jubilee News. Jubilee News is proud to present the work of a Baltimore native; artist-author, Jai-ree. Enjoy the 8th installment of...



Young Blossom had been curious for quite some time so she decided to muster up the courage to ask her Dad for an explanation.
     "Daddy," said the 15 year old, "why don't you ever want anything for your birthday, for Father's Day, or for Christmas?  Each year you've told me to save my time and my money and to not bother.  Why is that?  Don't you like presents,” she asked intently.
     “Baby Girl,” Dad said, “That is a great question.  And I have been waiting for you to get old enough for us to have this conversation. I love presents.  But for me and for most men, I don’t like to be honored on special days during the year.  I’d prefer being honored every day of the year instead.  I would rather have the offers that are afforded me on Father’s Day, my birthday and on Christmas, made to me throughout the year.  For many, many reasons, we chose to honor each other on special days instead of every day.  So, instead of being given the option to have steak or shrimp, or to see a movie or a play, or to have a blue shirt or black shirt, I’d prefer to have affordable, thoughtful options given to me all year long instead of on special days.  Please don’t misunderstand me.  I am extraordinarily thankful for the gifts given to me.  The kind of gift that really hits home to a person is the one that is given with the knowledge of what the persons really desires-what the person really wants or needs.  And all I’ve ever wanted…more than anything else from you and your Mother…is your time.  Whatever we can do to spend time together is gift enough for me.  And to me, that is so much easier and cheaper to provide than a gift.  The gift that I want most is you.  And I would prefer that over all other things.  Does that make sense?”
     Whoa!  That was deep, Blossom thought to herself.  So simple that it was complicated, so complicated that it was simple.  She had never thought about it that way.  It occurred to her that Dad prefers me over everything else.  Blossom never saw herself as being a “gift” to her Dad.  She was so touched by the exchange that she was angry with herself for not realizing this sooner.  She was angry for not asking her Dad years ago.  On-the-other-hand, she was incredibly thankful for having the courage to ask.  That one conversation provided her so much insight into her Dad’s heart and mind.  The light bulb came on now she could see clearly.  It all made so much more sense now.
     Blossom kept mumbling to herself, “I am the gift” over and over again.  What really amazed her about her Dad’s statement was also the fact that at fifteen, she was overwhelmed that her Dad still valued her.  After all of the rules she had broken.  After all of the things she had done that warranted groundings and punishments.  After missing the mark in school on a number of occasions, she was blown away that her Dad saw thought of her as a gift.
     “But how could that be,” she asked herself?  “A gift?  Me?  Yeah right,” she muttered alone in her room.  The fact that her Dad still preferred her over everything else he could have on those special days was too large a concept for her to grasp.  To boot, the fact that her Dad would rather spend time with his Princess every day was even more mind numbing.
     Blossom had grown to understand her Dad quite well in her brief fifteen years of life.  Yet the conversation she had with her Dad on that day forced her to realize that there was so much more to discover about this man called Dad.  There was so much more to learn about the makeup of men, she thought.  She wondered if this was just a “her Dad” kind of thing or was this the prevailing thought among men-all men.  In either case, she was convinced of one thing-she needed to know more.  She was now hungrier than ever to learn all she could about her Dad and the way he thought as her Dad but also as a man.  That night was a huge night for Blossom.  That night changed her life.  Her Dad’s few words prompted her to realize how important it was to not take him for granted.  It forced her to get to know her Dad more than ever.  Suddenly, she felt free.  She felt her Dad had given her the key to unlock the miserable feeling of having to find a gift for him on those special days.  For the first time as a daughter, she felt like she could really celebrate her Dad instead of being entangled in a web of preparations and last minute shopping trips.  For the first time in her life, she looked forward to honoring her Dad on those special days and each day.  Blossom was given a new lease on life-a new lease on her relationship with her Dad-a lease that didn’t have to wait for a certain day.  But a lease that could be reviewed every day, all the time.  Even as a young person, an adolescent girl, she realized this is what relationships should be about.  But then she also realized that everyone is different and that she would have to take time enough to really learn what family and friends preferred and to act accordingly.  So many things filled her young mind that day.
     “Me?  A gift,” she blurted out in uncontrollable laughter.  “I can only hope I find a man like my Dad,” she thought.

Join us for another installment of...The Daddy Pages in the next edition of Jubilee News.


TO MY CHILDREN
 
Though I was man long before I was a Father, it was not until I became a Father that I could really understand manhood.  For that revelation, I am thankful to my 4 Princess Daughters & 1 Princess God Daughter.  Through your eyes I have come to appreciate the smallest details of life and have been humbled to realize that there is still so much more to learn.  For it all, I thank the LORD for you.





May the blessing that was upon the Daughters of Job be yours:


And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. Job 42: 15.





To my Princess Daughters & Princess God Daughter (shown above) and to my Grandchildren (not shown here), I love you.


BROTHER TO BROTHER


There is a man on planet earth that epitomizes Fatherhood/manhood that I wish to publically honor.  His name is Michael L. Myles but I call him, “Big Bruh.”  You have been so much more than a brother to me before and especially after Mom and Dad passed on.  Thank you for the example of faithfulness and good work ethic that you have shown me.  Watching how you have lived has made me a believer that success develops from studiousness.  Thank you for being a big Brother to me.  And thank you for the love you and your household have shown me.  I love you Big Bruh!



 "Big Bruh"-My brother Michael





         Me & "Big Bruh"









FRATERNAL BROTHERHOOD

  



In honor of Fatherhood & Manhood, I wish to honor the Founders and all of my Fraternity Brothers of the noble clan of
Kappa Alpha Psi. 
I will forever be impressed as well as blessed to be counted among a group of men so noble and so distinguished.  Thank you for modeling manhood and mentorship.



WHAT A MAN LOOKS LIKE

Here's a poem that speaks to the way things should be. Enjoy!


WHAT A MAN LOOKS LIKE

Written by James W. Falcon, 6.5.2013

As I watched,
He appeared, fearless, disciplined, tearless,
In a category all his own, peerless
Confident, steady, unmoved
As if time and experience proved
I was captivated and I wondered who he was
As the wintery wind whipped, and tore as it typically does

He stood so stately
His movements sharp, deliberate, his every gesture a pose
He had a well groomed mustache, square jawline, and a chiseled nose

In a downpour of relentless rain, his raincoat flapped
Yet he weathered it so well, I could have clapped
I could tell the inclemency did not catch him off guard
Regardless of the rate of rainfall, no matter how hard

Yes, he appeared seasoned and highly organized
A gentleman for all occasions, civilized
A method man who is rarely criticized
A larger than life figure that revolutionizes

Just about everything he touches
A rescuer of persons in peril's clutches
Many times with death he's had brushes
His gallantry recognized by dukes and duchesses

He appeared to hold a key,
He has insight, vision into dimensions others cannot see
He definitely knows something the rest of us don't know
He was in possession of wisdom and the way things should go

As I watched,
He appeared, fearless, disciplined, tearless,
In a category all his own, peerless
Confident, stately, unmoved
As if time and experience proved
And, I wondered...I just wondered who that man was
As he stood anchored while the wintery wind whipped and tore as it typically does





FAMOUS FATHER'S DAY QUOTES

35 Famous Father's Day quotes - Inspirational and humorous sayings about dads
Examiner.com|Home & Living|June 19, 2010|By: Jace Shoemaker-Galloway

  • “Never raise your hand to kids. It leaves your groin unprotected.” - Celebrity Red Buttons
  • “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person – he believed in me.”      - Jim Valvano
  • “I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.” - Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford for television series M*A*S*H
  • “Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.” - Actor and comedian Bill Cosby
  • “It is much easier to become a father than to be one.” - Author Kent Nerburn
  • “Any man can be a Father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” - Photographer Anne Geddes
  • “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” - Henry Ward Beecher
  • “For rarely are sons similar to their fathers; most are worse, and a few are better than their fathers.” - Homer
  • “We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.” - Henry Ward Beecher
  • “My father taught me to work; he did not teach me to love it.” - President Abraham Lincoln
  • “By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.” - Charles Wadsworth
  • “It is a wise father that knows his own child.” - William Shakespeare
  • “A man knows he is growing old because he begins to look like his father.” - Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  • “Becoming a father is easy enough but being one can be very rough.” - Painter and poet Wilhelm Busch
  • “Nobody ever asks a father how he manages to combine marriage and a career.” - Sam Ewing
  • “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.” - Author Anthony Brandt
  • “To be a successful father there’s one absolute rule: when you have a kid, don’t look at it for the first two years.” - Novelist and Nobel Prize winner Earnest Hemingway
  • “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you.” - Desmond Tutu
  • “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it.” - Writer Clarence Budington Kelland
  • “Don’t make a baby if you can’t be a father.” - National Urban League slogan
  • “Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father.” - Lydia M. Child
  • “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” - Sigmund Freud
  • "You know, fathers just have a way of putting everything together." - Erika Cosby
  • “Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.” - Ruth E. Renkel
  • “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” - Mark Twain.
  • “Life was a lot simpler when what we honored was our father and mother rather than all major credit cards.” - Robert Orben
 Father’s Day Quotes from Unknown Authors
  • “The greatest gift I ever had came from God; I call him Dad.” - Author unknown
  • “Good fathers make good sons.” - Author unknown
  • “A father carries pictures where his money used to be.” - Author unknown
  • “A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.” - Author unknown

(Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/35-famous-father-s-day-quotes-inspirational-and-humorous-sayings-about-dads



ON SOCIAL ISSUES


From Dream to Drive: Life After Dr. King’s Dream
by James W. Falcon

I would like to take a moment to interject a very sobering thought:  On this the day we commemorate the word and works of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I am compelled to mention that hate, bigotry, racism, and every other maniacal display of division and of deceit were all authored by a force and a power that has conveniently worked through men to subjugate other men.  That force, that power has never nor will ever reside with a single group of people.  It first surfaced in Cain toward Able.  And it continued in the demented tyranny of Pharaoh toward the Israelites. History tells us that it was at work in the hearts and the minds of German peoples to all non Arian peoples as the prelude to World War II.  And, in one of the saddest displays of debauchery known to mankind, it seduced men to construct killing machines and house persons of Jewish descent in concentration camps to systematically kill them to advance their cause.  The result: 6 million people lost their lives in the name of racial purity.  It was (and still is to a large degree) present in the dealings of the English toward the Irish.  It raged on for centuries as it fueled the fire between the Chinese and Japanese.  It waxed on during the Spanish Inquisition.  It was a warden of weariness to Union soldiers at the confederate run prison camp called Andersonville. It attempted to enslave the people of India through excessive taxation.  It provoked the atrocities committed by the Romans to its neighboring countries throughout Europe and Asia.  It was the most horrible display of false pride executed by the early Catholic Church on its Protestants opposers.  It allowed the Aristocrats to turn their backs on the plight of the peasants.  In its name, colonists displaced, stripped and mangled Native Americans; bought, sold, traded, raped and dehumanized millions of Africans.  It has been responsible for the needless bloodshed in places like Uganda.  It reigned for years unchallenged in South Africa.  It has worn the hood of a Klansman and the suit of a politician.  It has assassinated United States Presidents.  And it has flown planes into Trade Centers.  It provided ropes for the lynching of many thousands of African Americans.  Yet for people like me-African Americans with darker skin- IT took the form of my classmates, my neighborhood playmates who were my racial colleagues, that venomously called me derogatory names in an attempt to scar my self esteem and to mar my outlook on life-exchanges that are known today as elements of colorism.

No, it does not belong to nor is it the characteristic behavior of a certain group of people, but of just about every people group on planet earth throughout history.  It is hate.  And it has been experienced by and promoted by many.  It is hell bent on devaluing the image of God that exists in each and every one of us.  And it will continue to have its way in the minds of hearts of the weak minded until it is faced with its only rival, it’s only opponent-the will to love.

On this day, we should commemorate Dr. King’s dream speech by acknowledging all of the brave souls that refused to bend a knee to hate and that chose to side with those who were being persecuted.  On this day, we should celebrate those who endured the anguish as well as those that dared to take a stand on behalf of those that suffered.   On this day, we should celebrate the hope and the progress of African Americans and as many people groups as we can.  On this day, we should celebrate the progress made as a race-the human race.  What was once the dream of one should now be the drive of many.



ON THE FUTURE

Where To From Here?

by James W. Falcon

Originally written for and published in the 3rd Edition



Blackness, darkness, soul-less…chain

Coldness, dampness, mindless…game

Senseless, tasteless, touchless…lame

Compassionless, lifeless, blackness…same

Nowhere to go-there’s nowhere to hide

Deeper and further in, on a slippery slope I slide

Blissless, meaningless, countless…days

Alcohol-less, drugless, pill-less…haze

You need help, a friend, a partner at least my dear

Would love to go with you, but where to from here?

Rankless, questionless, purposeless,…stank

Wisdomless? Thankless, harmless…prank

Heartless, courageless, visionless…gaze

Soundless, directionless, lightless…maze

There are only a few places to run, yet nowhere to hide

Deeper and further in, on a slippery slope I slide

Say you’d like to forge forward, without fear

Not like a crippled soldier bringing up the rear

But strong and confident is how you’d like to appear

“I hear ya,” said the cabbie, but…exactly…where to from here?


That concludes this edition of Jubilee News-A WHEN MEN SPEAK Publication.  Join us for the next edition and updates.  We thank you for your time. We look forward to your continued partnership as we fully intend to...spark a relationship revolution!!!  You made us popular.  Now, it's our turn to make you proud.  Take care in your travels.

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