May 2019 Murfreesboro Pulse by The Murfreesboro Pulse

IN MUSIC

Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News

ANNUAL MAIN STREET JAZZFEST RETURNS TO THE MURFREESBORO SQUARE, MAY 3–4  SCHEDULE ON PAGE 8!

FIND AUTHENTIC TACOS, BURRITOS AND MORE AT SO-CALI TACO SHOP

Americana Celebration ✪

Mandy Barnett Joins Lee Roy Parnell, Jason Ringenberg, McCrary Sisters, Rodney Crowell at Inaugural 895 Fest at Hop Springs

'BORO BITES AND BREWS BENEFITS BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

Contents

12 FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

5 Events

MAIN STREET JAZZ FEST

Annual May festival includes Jennifer Bruce and DejaNu, Cosmic Collective, high school bands, food and fun.

895 FEST

Americana celebration brings Rodney Crowell, Mandy Barnett, Jason Ringenberg, Lee Roy Parnell to Hop Springs.

THE LAST BLUES PREACHER

Murfreesboro resident Zach Mills tells story of Rev. Clay Evans.

ROCKVALE WRITERS COLONY

New writers retreat offers quiet place to focus on projects without outside interruptions.

BORO BITES AND BREWS

June 1 beer and food sampling festival at MMC to benefit Business Education Partnership.

CALENDAR Bark in the Park, Sunset Paddle Boarding, Barfield Beach Party, Victim Assailant, Turtle Searches and more!

8 Sounds

CONCERTS Sail On (Beach Boys tribute), Americana Sunday Jam, Hunter Girl and more

EVENTS Poetry in the Boro Sculpture exhibit at Acorn Haven Studio Ashley Buchanan at Washington Gallery THEATER Hello Dolly! at TPAC Spelling Bee at Center for the Arts Othello at Murfreesboro Little Theater

MUSIC NOTES Christiana Spring Fest, Nashville Boogie, Hillbilly Casino, Exit 111 Festival, Junior’s Farm

28 Food

ALBUM REVIEWS The Cosmic Collective; Myles Mynatt

32 Movies

18 Living

GARDENING Try intercropping to get the most out of you garden space; May gardening classes

Advertising: Don Clark, Leslie Russell-Yost Art Director: Sarah Mayo Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

22 Art

Copy Editor: Steve Morley

RESTAURANT So-Cali Taco Shop

REVIEWS Booksmart; The Curse of La Llorona NEW RELEASES Detective Pikachu; A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon; A Dog’s Journey

Contributors: Jennifer Durand, Addisyn Eggar, Jordan Hall, Joseph Kathmann, Tony Lehew, Laura Lindsay, Zach Maxfield, Liane Ojito, Edwina Shannon, Mike Sparks, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Ladiah Marche Thomas, Phil Valentine, Kory Wells, Andrew Wigdor, Michelle Willard

34 News

SIEGEL SOCCER COMPLEX $14.5M enhancement expected to boost tourism BUSINESS BUZZ Juicy’s, Jocelyn Ann’s, Para Treks, Tom’s Smoky Mountain Tea, Light Up Local Awards

42 Opinion

REP. MIKE SPARKS Democracy dies in the darkness PHIL VALENTINE Our best days are ahead LIVE . . . WELL! Stillness SPIRITUAL MATTERS Water’s reflection READING Ecce Deus SPORTS TALK Titans go defensive tackle, wide receiver in first two rounds of draft.

Copyright © 2019, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Pulse is a free publication funded by advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

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THERE ARE SOME SELF-CENTERED PEOPLE out there. Most everyone probably has an individual or two in their life who always dominates the conversation, going on and on about themselves, their past, their problems, their health, their accomplishments, their wants, their activities, their meetings and their own lives. While it is a great characteristic of being a good friend, sales agents or journalist to make the other person comfortable in opening up about themselves and what they are going through, these self-centered individuals do not always make the best friends, family members or co-workers. In the street we see a community of takers, panhandlers and beggars out every day, expecting those who make better life choices to hand over some dollars. Often in the business world a profitable operation may present a deal to another organization that may only genuinely benefit one party. We hear often that the founders of the great United States acted upon Christian values and goodwill, and certainly giving to the less fortunate is part of that tradition. Another component to that is that the founders also based the new nation upon the concept of free-market capitalism, private property rights and individual responsibility. Adam Smith wrote of a society where, when everyone specializes in what they are good at and seeks to act in their own self-interest—to acquire the most value they can in exchange for their goods and services for personal benefit—that the entire society’s standard of living and production could rise and that everyone would have a free opportunity to succeed and make a living for themselves. While Jesus absolutely said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,” and to “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you,” he also spoke that, “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them,” warning people of the consequences of making foolish choices. The Apostle Paul wrote later in the New Testament: “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Consider the idea that we should all sacrifice and work hard so that we have an abundance for others to enjoy, but that it is morally right to stay focused on what you are good at and what draws profit to your business and family. It is responsible and just to act in your own self-interest. Give back when you can, help those in need. That is an admirable thing to do as well. But it is unethical to allow someone else’s laziness, negativity, stress, failure to take care of themselves or poor choices to negatively impact your family, your business or your joyful spirit. Giving to foolish men at the expense of the righteous is not a good idea. So, love your neighbor, be respectful, give gifts and compliments and time, but do not feel bad about standing up for yourself, your vision, your values, your family, your business, your own desires. Take some personal responsibility. Act in your own self-interest towards your household’s personal benefit and everything will balance. Stand up for yourself and your own well-being, it’s the patriotic, Christian thing to do.

Peace, BRACKEN MAYO Publisher/Editor in Chief

A Big Hair, Big Hearts Storytelling Event

June 20th

6:30PM

The Walnut House VIP Preshow + Silent Auction — 5:30PM

Info & Tickets — YourLocalUW.org

Read more about local music at

MUSIC NOTES

boropulse.com/category/music

McCartney and Wings Member Due to Get Back to Junior’s Farm

BY STEVE MORLEY

piece of Middle Tennessee history involving former Beatle Paul McCartney is due to come full circle next month as a one-time member of McCartney’s 1970s band Wings returns to revisit the area where he rehearsed and recorded with the famed musician. Drummer Geoff Britton was a new member of Wings in June of 1974, when leader McCartney brought his family and band for an extended stay on the Lebanon farm of hit country songwriter Claude “Curly” Putman Jr. Putman and his rural spread were later immortalized in Wings’ late-1974 hit single, “Junior’s Farm,” featuring Britton on drums. Through a friendship struck up at that time with Cookeville resident Dan Ealey, a Beatles fan who spent time getting to know the Wings members during their stay, arrangements have been made for a concert and rare public appearance by the English-born musician. Billed as the Junior’s Farm 45th anniversary featuring Wings drummer Geoff Britton, the event is

slated for 3 p.m. on June 2 at the Cookeville Community Center. On an internet phone connection with Britton, with whom Ealey had reestablished contact late last year, he mentioned that June of 2019 marked the 45th anniversary of Wings’ extended Tennessee stay. “When I told him that if he came over we could go back and visit it together, he was in.” Britton’s return will also mark the first time the two men have seen one another since Wings flew out of Nashville in midJuly of ’74. Ealey, still amazed by his McCartney and Wings adventure more than four decades ago, is equally astonished that Britton agreed to play drums for a one-off reunion of Ealey’s Beatles-inspired rock band, MerseySide. Britton will also meet fans for photos and autographs, and reminisce with Ealey during a Q&A session open to audience members. Tickets, $20 in advance and $25 at the door, can be obtained by searching for the event at eventbrite.com.

Geoff Britton and Dan Ealey

Paul McCartney and Wings (drummer Geoff Britton, far right)

COHEED & CAMBRIA

NEW ROCK FESTIVAL AT BONNAROO PROPERTY DRAWS GNR, SKYNYRD, DEF LEPPARD, ZZ TOP GREAT STAGE PARK, the property off of I-24 exit 111 in Manchester, Tennessee, where Bonnaroo takes place each summer, will host a classic rock and metal event this fall. The new large-scale, weekend-long Exit 111 Festival, coming up Oct. 11–13, will feature Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Slayer, ZZ Top, Deftones, Megadeth, Mastodon, Black Label Society, Coheed and Cambria and many others. Tickets for the three-day event start at $189. For more details, visit exit111festival.com. 16 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

ZZ TOP

 BOOK REV. CLAY EVANS

Murfreesboro Resident Tells the Story of Legend Clay Evans in The Last Blues Preacher BY ANDREW WIGDOR MUSIC, SPIRITUALITY AND CIVIL rights converge in the biography of Chicago legend Clay Evans, written by Murfreesboro resident Zach Mills. The book, titled The Last Blues Preacher and telling Evans’ story, was released in May 2018 by Fortress Press. Evans was born in Brownsville, Tennessee, and is known as the “godfather of Chicago’s black preachers.” He founded Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago in 1958 and worked with prominent civil rights activist Jesse Jackson Sr. to advance the civil rights movement in the city. Together, they founded Operation PUSH, which worked to advance the economic situation of African Americans in the area. Evans was also a singer and songwriter, releasing several albums that made the gospel charts in the ’80s and ’90s. Evans was born into a sharecropping family in Tennessee, and, according to Mills, describes that time in his life as “slavery.” “When they would be out in the field, working all day, they would sing,” Mills said. “Music for them, was a great release. . . . Music played a really great role in expressing a lot of emotions.” Mills was approached by two friends of Evans at Hyde Park Union Church in Chicago after a service about eight years

ago and was asked if he would be interested in writing Evans’ biography. From there, Mills set a meeting with Evans and decided to pursue the story. “It was kind of serendipitous because a few years before I moved to Chicago, I was a graduate student at Vanderbilt, and I needed money to finish the degree. They sent me to do research in a little area called Brownsville, Tennessee, which happens to be [Evans’] hometown.” Once Mills began to hear more about who Evans was, he became more excited about sharing his story. “He was one of the few people who stood with Dr. King, when lots of people, including black pastors, didn’t want Dr. King in Chicago starting a movement in 1966. So, when I heard these stories, I said, ‘My goodness, this sounds like a really great project to be a part of.’” Mills said that he also felt drawn to the project at a spiritual level. “There’s this feeling that God and the universe were bringing us together to tell this story,” Mills said. “The nation is kind of polarized, racially and politically. So, as we started this story, it did feel like the universe was saying, ‘You guys need to tell this story because a lot of people need to hear it.’” Mills began interviewing Evans once a

week for a couple of hours in 2011 and conducted research in libraries, leafing through books and ’60s publications from Chicago. “I had some background in journalism, but I had no experience writing a biography,” Mills said. “So, the whole project was intimidating. And talking to [Evans], who worked

with Dr. King and mentored Jesse Jackson . . . was incredibly intimidating, but he was incredibly humble. He always made me feel at ease.” Mills said that Evans noticed his fears and told the writer that he should be concerned but not worried. “He said, ‘If you’re concerned, that means you’re going to take this project seriously, but don’t be worried, because whatever you do, I’ll be pleased with. Full speed ahead.’” Mills eventually overcame his fears and indeed moved full speed ahead, completing the book in 2018. He said the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “Everybody who has read the book has said the same thing,” Mills said. “They appreciate it being a underdog story. Reverend Clay wasn’t a good student in school. He got bullied by pastors after he started working with Dr. King. It’s the theme of the underdog that people really have enjoyed.” Mills is currently a public speaking instructor at Daymar College in Murfreesboro.

Living

ROCKVALE Writers’ COLONY A quiet place to focus on writing projects without interruptions BY LAURA LINDSAY

ockvale Writers’ Colony, just outside of the town of College Grove, is a picturesque spot with its rolling landscape and distinct rooms, where writers have solitude to write and the company of fellow writers in the evenings. The writers’ colony is a not-for-profit organization designed to support, promote and educate writers of all genres. The writers who stay at the colony are “writers in residence” working on writing projects. “Our location is secluded and in the country, but still [only] 45 minutes into Nashville,” said Sandy Coomer, who owns the property with her husband, Tim. “It’s the perfect location. We lucked out.” Writers can stay in The Farmhouse, which has an original reading room, library and hall from 1853. Some of the cedar beams, wood floors and front windows are original as well. In 1993, The Farmhouse was expanded to create a country inn, with care taken to preserve the original parts of the house and create a subtle transition to the modern rooms. Now, it contains rooms for five writers. There is also a writing porch, which is really nice in the mornings, Coomer said. Also unique are The Rockvale Cabin and The Ogilvie Granary. The cabin is 150 years old and was originally a smokehouse. It has been converted into two floors with a bedroom, bathroom and reading/writing room. 18 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

It has the feel and the smell of a classic log cabin. The Granary was a storehouse for grain when the property was used as a cattle and dairy farm. It is now an apartment with a bedroom, bathroom, sitting area and kitchen. It is a good place for musicians to stay when they are writing music because they can also play their music. “Writers come to work on a project, usually,” Coomer said. “One is working on a translation of a French novel; a musician is writing music in the Granary right now. So for anybody who writes creatively in any form, we provide a place for them to come out of their normal life that has all the interruptions, distractions and responsibilities.” “At the writers’ colony you just write—the only responsibility is to write. So the amount of work that is done is amazing. That dayto-day focus through the weeks is rare and important.” Novelist Jennie Fields finished her fifth novel, Atomic Love, at the colony. “With a new novel in hand, I had just signed on with a new agent,” she said. “My agent requested a reasonable, but daunting, rewrite and wanted me to complete it before the London Book Fair in just six weeks! With that sort of pressure, I needed to get away from all distractions and ‘live’ in the world of my book. So Rockvale was the perfect place to escape. Though it was only 45 minutes from

Nashville, it felt a world away: rural, peaceful, focused. Rockvale’s rooms are incredibly comfortable, with enchanting views of the hills and fields from every window.” During the evenings, after a day of work, the writers tend to gather together to socialize and talk about their work. “Everybody brings their own food and people can eat at different times, but usually by the end of the day they’ve worked so hard that they get together for down time and conversation and a bottle of wine or big salad,” Coomer said. At the end of three hardworking weeks, Fields completed her novel. “When I wasn’t writing, I appreciated the company of other writers equally immersed in their work,” she said. “I also enjoyed long contemplative walks past cows and horses, streams and farmhouses.” During the day, Coomer and assistant director Heather Meek are usually in the office at the writers’ colony or doing something around the property. “We are always accessible if the writers need anything,” said Coomer, who writes poetry herself and has recently released her first full-length collection of poetry, Available Light. Writers apply to stay at Rockvale Writers’ Colony, and if accepted, most visits last for one to four weeks. The application fee is $35 and the cost for a six-night, seven-day stay is $350,

plus taxes and cleaning fee. The colony prefers writers stay for at least a week, but because not everyone can, they offer mini-residencies. The colony also offers workshops and retreats. In July, they will have two full-week workshop retreats called Residency Experience, with one week for poets and another for fiction writers. “We have a lot of things that we are thinking about, too,” Coomer said. “Like a womens’ writing retreat, a veterans’ retreat and one for bookmaking.” They are also looking at how to build a hiking trail around the perimeter of the 65-acre property, which already includes a swimming pool, whirlpool spa, tennis courts and horse stables. There are no televisions and there is poor phone reception. A landline is available for local calls, there is Wi-Fi and writers can listen to music through earphones. “I like the peace and quiet there,” said board member, creative writing professor and MTSU Write Director Jennifer Kates. “It’s important for writers to get a place away that puts them at rest,” she said. “We used to have a place like that at Sewanee, but it’s not there anymore. This came along at the right place and time.” For more information, visit rockvalewriterscolony.org.

Living BEAUTIFUL SPRING. This is a great time of year to dig holes and plant. Plant. Could be vegetables, fruit trees, shade trees, bushes, flowers, grass. Anything that grows in the ground could go in now. As you select a plant for your yard, please choose a plant that is not invasive to the area. Landscaping with native plants promotes diversity for our woodlands. These plants are easier to maintain, as they have the genetics to live in the Middle Tennessee environment. Some invasives love this environment and take over. They offer nothing to the wildlife. Stay away from planting the Kudzu vine, Purple Loosestrife, Japanese Honeysuckle, Shrub honey suckle, Autumn olive, Privet, Common Privet, climbing euonymous, burning bush, tree of heaven, multiflora rose, vinca, English ivy, lespedeza or crown vetch. This is only a partial list of invasives. Try to remove and destroy whatever invasives you can. If there is a question as to the plant’s invasiveness, check with the nursery people or research it. Do yourself and the wildlife a favor and aim to stay with natives. Here’s another challenge: can you select the right plant for the right spot? Doing so will make you and the plant happiest. Read the labels. What type of growing conditions does the plant want? How tall does it grow? How wide? Do their watering needs agree with plants already in the area? Select carefully. You’ll be happier. The summer plants are generally going into the gardens around Mother’s Day. If you started your plants from seed, “harden” your plants to outside conditions before putting them in the ground. Reduce your watering schedule. Allow the seedlings to be subject to greater fluctuations in temperature. If you decide to buy your seedlings, here is the opportunity to ask your local nursery about their practices and the practices of their suppliers and the products that they carry. Then, of course, you would have to trust your nurseryman. Go with reputable people. If you planted in the same location before, remember to rotate your crops. Rotation of your crops occurs when you plant a vegetable from a crop group in the different area from one year to the next. Rotation is the first line of defense against pests and diseases, as it minimizes problems from insects attracted to a specific plant group.

Crop Groups:

Cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin, 20 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Farmers Market Education Series BY EDWINA SHANNON

Try Intercropping to Get the Most Out of Your Space Pole beans – Corn and radish Potato – Beans, corn, cole family, marigolds and horseradish Pumpkins – Beans, corn and marigold Radish – Carrots, nasturtiums, lettuce and cucumber Spinach – Beans Squash – Nasturtiums, corn and marigold squash and watermelon are in one group. Group B is comprised of Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, lettuce, mustard, radish, rutabaga, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip. Eggplant, Irish potatoes, okra, pepper and tomatoes are similar to one another. Beets, carrots, garlic, shallot and sweet potatoes comprise Group D. Sweet corn is in its own group. The final group is comprised of beans, cowpeas and peas. The area in your garden for annual plants should have a different vegetable each year. In addition to rotation, intercrop the current plantings. Raising two or more crops in the same area at the same time has several advantages. The growth of each does not interfere with the other; in fact, it often is beneficial. Insects are deterred from interplanted vegetables; they prefer rows of the same crop. Disease spread is also slowed down. There are several ways to intercrop: Grow vertically when possible with squash, beans, cucumbers, peas, melons and tomatoes. Large fruits can be supported with mesh slings. Growing upward frees space at the base of the plants for another crop. Insert narrow leaf vegetables such as onions and leeks between leafy vegetables like kale or lettuce. Taller, sun-loving plants can extend the

growing season of beans, beets, chard, leeks, lettuce, peas, radishes and turnips. The shade from the taller plants will extend the season of the cooler season crops. Plants that have large structures or leaves provide shelter for vines, such as beans. Small, fast-growing vegetables like radish and lettuce can be planted near tomatoes and peppers. The tomatoes and peppers will grow large enough to need their space, too, but only after the small ones are finished producing. Plant corn earlier in the planting season to avoid an abundance of pests, as many do more damage when the corn is planted late in the season.

Intercropping Combinations: Asparagus – Tomato, parsley and basil Bush beans – Potato, cucumber and corn Cabbage (Cole) – Aromatic herbs, celery, beets, onion family, chamomile, spinach and chard. Carrots – Radishes, lettuce, rosemary, onion, sage and tomato Corn – potato, beans, pumpkin, cucumber and squash Eggplant – Beans and marigold Lettuce – Carrots, radish, strawberry and cucumber Onion – Beets, carrots, lettuce and cole family Parsley – Tomato and asparagus

Tomato – Onion family, nasturtiums, marigold, asparagus, carrots, parsley and cucumber Turnips – Aromatic herbs, celery, beets, onion family, chamomile, spinach and chard Before you use any fertilizer, chemical or pesticide, do your research. What do you know about that product? First, read the label. What is its purpose? What do the supporters and detractors say about it? Second, read the directions. More is not better. More can be a killer or a poison. Be responsible for its usage and storage. Thirdly, do you need it or is it routine application? If you use pesticides, it very important that directions be carefully followed, including recognizing the days to harvest that should pass before consumption. Herbicides are not recommended for home gardens. You are what you eat. Select wisely.

Activities in May FRIDAYS, MAY 3, 10, 17, 24 Master Food Volunteer Training Program The goal is to expand Extension education towards safe food handling, nutrition, food prep and food preservation. 30 hours of training followed by 30 hours of volunteering. $120. To register, call 615-898-7710. SATURDAY, MAY 4 Growing Vegetables Linebaugh Library, upstairs boardroom at 9 a.m. Join this free class taught by

Master Gardeners on soil prep, sun and water needs, garden structures, typical and “wow” vegetables. Register by calling 615-893-4131.

MAY 14 4-H Steam

FRIDAY, MAY 10 Opening Day of Rutherford County Farmers Market Lane Agri-Park Community Center producer-only market, 7 a.m.–noon

MAY 21 STEM, 4–6 grades

MAY 17 Container Gardening

SATURDAY, MAY 11 Master Gardener Plant Swap 9 a.m.–noon in the Community Center Bring your extra vegetable plants, flowering plants, bulbs, corms, trees or houseplants. 1 plant = 1 swap. Plants need to be labeled with plant name and growth habits. No small seedlings, seeds or invasive plants. WEEKLY Market Classes FREE Classes are held at the Community Center Classroom each day the Rutherford County Farmers Market is open. They start at 9 a.m. and last about one hour. May 10 Backyard Chickens

MAY 24 Promoting and Protecting Pollinators MAY 28 Seasonal Eating MAY 31 Fermentation (Bread/Vinegar) JUNE 4 4-H Stem Build a Boat

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* MAY 2019 * 21

Art

 POETRY

BY KORY WELLS

MLT to Host Storytelling, Shakespeare and Local Poets in May OH I MUST PASS NOTHING BY Without loving it much, poet Sara Teasdale wrote of the the month of May in her poem “The Dark Cup.” Almost 100 years later, as the school year ends and summer begins, this time of year still invites us to slow down and appreciate life. If you appreciate words, you’ll find several ways to enjoy them, both outdoors and in, at Murfreesboro Little Theatre, 702 Ewing Blvd., this month. BEGINNING MAY 10 Othello Outdoors For three weekends, MLT hosts its ninth annual “Backyard Bard” festival, this year featuring the tragedy Othello, set in the Wild West. This is an outdoor performance, so bring a folding chair or blanket. Admission is free with donations accepted. Performances are at 7 p.m. May 10–12, 17–19 and 24–26. MAY 16 “Cornbreads and Casseroles” Show Celebrates Mothers Local creative KJ (Kara) Kemp is making it official: Her multigenre shows incorporating storytelling, poetry, music and art will now be produced quarterly under the name Bloom, representing “a stage where stories of any medium can grow together.” Following on the heels of the lovethemed “Defibrillator” show in February, Bloom’s next show, “Cornbread and Casseroles,” will be a collaboration with Poetry in the Boro that celebrates mothers. Set for Thursday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at MLT, the show’s lineup includes stories by Angela Braach, Kara Kemp, Gary Parker, Jennifer Levi and Cindy Phiffer; poetry by C A Williams and Denise Satterfield Wilson; music by Tara Syester; artwork by Abby Hirsch Reish; and live art by Gregory Lannom. Donations are requested. MAY 23 Poetry in the Boro Features Poets, Open Mic One week after Cornbread and Casseroles, Poetry in the Boro will hold its May event on Thursday evening, May 23, at MLT. Preceding an hour of open mic, featured poets 22 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Sherry Paige and Ashley Trabue will read. Sherry Paige is a Middle Tennessee native and Vanderbilt graduate whose chapbook To Find a Stone was recently released by Finishing Line Press. Ashley Trabue is an artist, poet, and author of the chapbook Vertebrae from Dancing Girl Press. Her poetry has appeared in Nashville Review, Hobart, Rockvale Review and elsewhere. Her artwork has appeared in juried exhibitions, literary magazines, local brand campaigns, on the runway and is held in private collections around the world. This free event will be held outdoors on the Othello set at MLT, weather permitting, so bring a chair or blanket. The event will be inside in case of rain. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and features begin at 7. Open mic time follows. For more details, including this month’s word challenge, see Poetry in the Boro on Facebook.

WILLIAMS

Excerpt from “Cause and Effect” by spoken word artist C A Williams, who’ll be appearing in the “Cornbread and Casseroles” show on Thursday, May 16, at Murfreesboro Little Theatre: So tonight I will feast on cornbread and casserole I will not worry about weight gains and fat rolls I will not worry about the empty cup and dry mouth Tomorrow may bring regret or doubt But as for tonight There will be joy in knowing I lived in the moment

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Art

 EXHIBITS

Dawna Magliacano’s Acorn Haven Studio Hosts May 18 Sculpture Show BY JORDAN HALL

by Chelsea Zachary

by Nelson Grice

by Dawna Magliacano

DAWNA MAGLIACANO WILL HOST A SPECIAL sculpture art show on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Acorn Haven, Magliacano’s home studio, will be the venue for a hand-picked selection of clay ceramic artwork, featuring eight artists with various styles. Magliacano plans on showcasing a full debut of her own work as well. Additionally, she’s chosen Nelson Grice as her special guest; Grice will lead a special sculpture workshop on Sunday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Until recently, Magliacano didn’t consider selling or showcasing her clay art. For seven years, she reserved that area of her artistic endeavors for relaxation and peace of mind. “Clay seems to be all I want to work on these days. I may have finally landed somewhere in my art explorations that really feels like home,” says Magliacano. She has a fondness for storytelling and incorporating animals and nature together in a style all her own. Magliacano is particularly fascinated by the relationships humans share with nature, and says she gains simple satisfaction in the craft itself. Friends and peers began showing interest in buying sculptures displayed on shelves in Magliacano’s home. About a year ago she opened her own clay studio

Washington Theatre Gallery Hosts Work of Ashley Buchanan THE WASHINGTON THEATRE at Patterson Park Community Center will host its second exhibition, Under the Streetlight, a collection of artwork by 2019 Murfreesboro Painter Laureate Ashley Buchanan from May 2 through June 5. The public is invited to the opening reception on Thursday, May 2, from 6–8 p.m. at the new art gallery and community project space in the lobby of the Washington Theatre. “I imagine that my creations, whether it’s a painting or film, gives you and me a chance to understand different perspectives by creating our own personal experiences, an internal journey that provokes thought and inspiration,” Buchanan said of her work. “I take something like a streetlight and learn from it. I want to be a citizen of the world that creates art to promote equality, empowerment, contemplation and love for all.” Born in Nashville, Buchanan moved frequently with her mother and siblings, living in shelters, missions and cars in three different states and attending 18 different schools. She now owns a production company, Creative Movements, and as a fashion designer will direct another “Murfreesboro Fashion Week” in September. “Ashley is a creative that knows no bounds or limits when it comes to creative expression,” said Susan Hicks, Performing Arts Coordinator with Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation. “She’s an artist, filmmaker, photographer, 3D animator, director and writer.” For more information, contact Susan Hicks at shicks@murfreesborotn.gov. 24 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

in Lascassas, where she also produces her multimedia work, she says. It’s the same location that will house the “unearthed” show. Featured artists from the Middle Tennessee area include Kay Currie, Kaitlin Savage, Crystal Shade, Chelsea Zachary, Robert Harvey, Gwen Copeland and James Carson. Grice will travel from Birmingham, Alabama, to show off his work and teach a workshop on how to design a sculpture similar to his personal style. To register for the workshop, visit facebook.com/unearthedartshow. Space may be limited. Every artist, including Grice, approaches their craft in interesting ways. Magliacano chose each artist because of their unique styles. She also handpicked pieces to feature. Diversity is a major aspect she hopes to portray at the “unearthed” art show. “This will not be typical of what you might see at a craft festival,” she said. For example, Currie incorporates her deep knowledge and appreciation for animal science into her art. Shade also uses animals as subjects, but often uses porcelain and vivid color patterns instead. Magliacano describes Harvey and Carson as similar in method, but different in style. All of these subtle differences are what will help Magliacano create the tasteful sense of diversity she’s looking for. Ultimately, she hopes her debut will result in more shows in the future. In fact, if all goes well, she is looking into the possibility of organizing annual clay ceramic showcases. The studio, Acorn Haven, is located at 8265 Lascassas Pike. For more information, visit facebook.com/unearthedartshow or email dkmagarts@gmail.com.

 THEATER

THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS the Tony Award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee through May 5. Come cheer on these unforgettable characters in a story of socially awkward adolescents who find both joy and heartache while vying for the regional spelling bee title. The cast of nine actors includes three MTSU students as “spellers,” as well as three Belmont University students. Spelling Bee centers around six mid-pubescents, portrayed by adults, as they compete for the first-place trophy and a $200 cash prize while dealing with personal dilemmas and sharing about their lives outside of the spelling bee. Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Virginia Tipps) has two overbearing fathers that stress her out. Leaf Coneybear (Brooks Bennett), believes he’s dumb because that’s what his family always tells him. Olive Ostrovsky (Melissa Tormene), is shy and reserved as a result of her largely absent parents. William Barfée (Josh Smith) is extremely confident in his spelling abilities and uses an unusual technique to spell out words. Marcy Park (Tori Peterson) is a brilliant, overachieving contestant who is tired of always being good at everything. Chip Tolentino (Riley Henderson) is easily distracted by an attractive audience member which leads to an unfortunate circumstance. The spelling bee tweens work their way through a series of words and do everything they can to avoid hearing the dreaded “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter but only one speller wins! This musical, complete with audience members chosen to join the spelling bee, is a charming story of fun, heartbreak and triumph.

PHOTO BY JULIETA CERVANTES

Art

Spelling Bee Musical Continues at Center for the Arts

Murfreesboro native Analisa Leaming, who has starred on Broadway in shows like School of Rock and The King and I, will return home to portray Irene Molloy in the national tour of Hello, Dolly! starring Betty Buckley. Analisa attended Bellwood Middle School, Riverdale High School and Tennessee’s Governor School at MTSU before traveling to New York to understudy the role of Irene Molloy on Broadway, where she got to work with Bernadette Peters and Bette Midler when they starred in the show. The Hello, Dolly! touring production will make a stop in Nashville at TPAC from April 30 through May 5. The iconic musical, which follows matchmaker Dolly Levi, is based on the TonyAward winning best musical revival that closed on Broadway last August. That Broadway run broke the record for the best first day of ticket sales in Broadway history when it opened in Spring 2017. The touring production stars Broadway legend Betty Buckley in a musical the Los Angeles Times says “distills the mood-elevating properties of the American musical at its giddy best.” This tour of Hello, Dolly! pays tribute to the 26 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

original work of legendary director and choreographer Gower Champion—hailed both then and now as one of the greatest stagings in musical theater history. Leaming took a moment before the show opened in Nashville to share some of her experience with the Murfreesboro Pulse: MURFREESBORO PULSE: When did you first develop an interest in theater? ANALISA LEAMING: I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to perform. My parents met doing professional theater and while they both pursued other careers it was a part of my life from the beginning. My mother would tell me I was singing before I could speak. What are some of the productions in Murfreesboro that you were involved in as a student? I did Bye Bye Birdie at the Murfreesboro Center for the Arts. It was a wonderful experience. At Riverdale I did Dracula, Fame, Wizard of Oz, Dearly Departed and Bye Bye Birdie. I also did the Tennessee All-State Choir all through high school, winning first chair my senior year. What do you like most about performing on stage? Becoming engrossed in another world and living in that reality. Also, the feeling of music coming through me is unparalleled. Lastly, the energetic exchange with the audience. It’s an honor! For tickets to Hello, Dolly! Visit tpac.org or call 615-782-4040; for more information on the tour, visit hellodollyonbroadway.com.

Tickets are currently on sale at boroarts.org, by calling 615-904-ARTS (2787) or at the Center for the Arts Box Office, 110 W. College St., Murfreesboro. This production is rated PG-13. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5.

MLT Puts Wild West Twist on Shakespeare’s Othello MURFREESBORO LITTLE THEATRE’S BACKYARD BARD presents a special outdoor showing of William Shakespeare’s Othello in May. Othello has secretly married Desdemona, the daughter of Brabantio. When he finds out, he is outraged, and promptly disowns her. Iago harbors a secret jealousy and resentment towards Othello. Intent on revenge, Iago hatches a devious plan to plant suspicions in Othello’s mind that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio.

PHOTO BY JESSICA MAY THEISS

Musical's Week at TPAC Marks Middle Tennessee Homecoming for Analisa Leaming

Directed by Shane Lowery and Emma Hawkins, Othello will play at 7 p.m. for three weeks, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, May 10–12, 17–19 and 24–26. Set in the Wild West, this performance will be outdoors, so bring camping chairs or a blanket to sit on. Admission is free for the community, though MLT will accept donations. MLT is located at 702 Ewing Blvd., Murfreesboro.

Food

Read more about local restaurants at

BoroPulse.com/Category/Food

BORO BITES AND BREWS

Fourth annual craft beer and food truck festival set for June 1 ’BORO BITES AND BREWS IS BACK! The Business Education Partnership Foundation will hold its fourth annual ’Boro Bites and Brews craft beer and food truck festival on Saturday, June 1, from 6–9 p.m. at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic. Sponsored by Stones River Total Beverages and Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, ’Boro Bites and Brews will feature a vast array of beer flavors and varieties from local home brewers, larger-scale craft breweries and microbrewery startups. The event will also include live music, food trucks and assorted vendors. Proceeds from ’Boro Bites and Brews will support BEP’s programs that prepare local students for the workforce by connecting classroom lessons to careers. BEP is perhaps best known in the community for its tuition-free summer career exploration camps for students. “BEP’s mission to help connect the businesses in Rutherford County with the students is something that I believe in,” said Stones River Total Beverages’ owner Charlie Patel. “Their mission to help students to begin to explore the types of jobs that exist for them upon graduation and teaching the skills that are valuable in the business world are a great asset to both the students and the community.” ’Boro Bites and Brews will be held out-

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doors at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic. “We strive to direct our involvement towards programs that better the quality of life for those in our community, and the BEP is an organization that closely aligns with that mission,” according to Murfreesboro Medical Clinic CEO Joseph A. Peay. Information on event sponsorships is available at borobitesandbrews.com/sponsor. To participate as a brewer, as a food truck operator or as a vendor, visit borobitesandbrews.com/vendors. ’Boro Bites and Brews is a 21-and-up event. General admission tickets are $35 in advance, and $40 at the door. Designated driver tickets are $15. For more information on the event or to purchase tickets, visit borobitesandbrews.com or call 615-278-2012. The Business Education Partnership is an education nonprofit based at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. BEP is the only organization created to serve students, teachers, school counselors and administrators in both the Murfreesboro City Schools and the Rutherford County Schools. To support or to learn more about the BEP, email Amelia Bozeman at abozeman@rutherfordchamber.org or call 615-278-2008.

Movies

REVIEWS

as they realize there’s more to life than just schoolwork. This film is well worth a watch with your best friend just for some quality bonding time. Just be prepared for the raunchiness . . . because there’s a lot of it. But I know I found myself laughing more times than I could count and I had a blast watching this film. That said, these two aren’t onscreen together the entire time, and when they’re not together the film’s power recedes

slightly. I still enjoyed it, but some of the story lines felt rushed and messy. Amy has a romantic subplot that, while fresh in its originality, resolves itself in a rather clichéd way while the duo goes through a very overused “events separate them but they get back together because of X” trope you see in a lot of modern American comedies (all of them). Formulaic is the word. The film gets formulaic in its third act. Still, being formulaic isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? I just wish a film with this much originality didn’t have such a cookie-cutter conclusion. Booksmart was a hit at Sundance, and I can see why—it’s a trailblazing film, despite some of its faults, from a beloved indie actress making her anticipated directorial debut. Olivia Wilde’s mumblecore roots can be felt throughout the film (I’m sure there will even be some comparisons to Drinking Buddies), and it is wildly refreshing to see a premise we hardly ever see being put forth in a modern American comedy. It’s exactly what we need in a modern American comedy in 2019. — JOSEPH KATHMANN

and go kill Anna’s kids. I hate to say that last part is basically a spoiler, because you don’t find that out until halfway through the film’s mercifully short 93 minute runtime, but it is, because not much else happens besides people walking alone through shadowy rooms (mostly children—where are your parents?!) as la Llorona makes creaky noises and cuts the lights. After a few fake-out scares, the ghost lady will pop up, literally out of nowhere, and then you

jump because it’s really loud. First-time director Michael Chaves does the best he can with the bare-bones script. There’s a kinetic tracking shot through the house to introduce Anna and her children as they frantically get ready for school, as well as a few other notable shots that show some promise for his next feature (can you guess what it is? It’s a third Conjuring). But the writers—a duo whose only other credit is some movie in theaters right now called Five Feet Apart—seemed to crib every trope from every haunting movie with no real endgame in mind. The majority of this movie is painfully dull, and that’s not for lack of Linda Cardellini trying to inject some passion as she protects her kids (screaming “get out of my house!” while shaking a baseball bat at a ghost), or Raymond Cruz (Breaking Bad’s Tuco) bringing just a pinch of charisma to his otherwise morose, excommunicated exorcist. These bright spots are far too little for what ends up being a very boring movie. I wish I could say this movie was so bad it’s good, but unfortunately The Curse of La Llorona ain’t no “lol-o-rama.” — JAY SPIGHT

BOOKSMART DIRECTOR Olivia Wilde STARRING Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever, Lisa Kudrow, Jason Sudeikis, Billie Catherine Lourd RATED R

Booksmart is 2019’s Blockers, a raunchy, over-the-top buddy comedy that’s actually about something and makes you feel things (even in your cold, cold heart) by film’s end. And I love it. We’ve had a surprisingly decent run of American comedies between surprise hits like Blockers, Game Night and now (currently Sundance darling) Booksmart. I am starting to have hope that directors like Kay Cannon (Blockers) and newcomer Olivia Wilde (Booksmart, in her directorial debut) may actually be able to bring the genre back from the hopeless abyss in which it’s been languishing for the last decade or so. At this film’s core is a wonderful, genu-

ine, charming relationship between its two main characters, Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever). Seeing two wellwritten, strong, intricate female high school characters lead a film like this is totally invigorating. Every time the two are paired onscreen together, Booksmart shines. There’s a palpable chemistry between them. From the opening scene featuring the hilarious monologue in the trailer, you can’t help but root for each of these girls

THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA DIRECTOR Michael Chaves STARRING Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velasquez RATED R

The new horror film The Curse of La Llorona is part of what has become one of the most popular cinematic universes of this decade, a universe filled with instantly recognizable characters and spanning multiple sequels and spinoffs. Of course I’m referring to the cinematic offspring of the hit film The Conjuring (what else?). The surprise horror hit of 2013 has spawned such marvelous movie monsters as Annabelle, a nun, another conjuring, and now the instantly iconic Macarena, uh . . . my Sharona, no, no, wait, la Llorona. Yeah, that’s it! La Llorona is a Mexican folk tale about a woman who drowned her own children

and then felt bad about it. Also called “the weeping woman,” her calling cards are weeping and water; if you hear a woman weeping or see some water on the ground, time to skedaddle. The very thin plot revolves around la Llorona wanting to kill children, and when Anna (Linda Cardellini) accidentally, and only with the best of intentions, kind of sort of gets another woman’s kids killed by the ghost, that woman prays to la Llarona to avenge her

A CLASSIC

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OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

OPENING IN MAY PLAYING THIS MONTH

MAY 10 Detective Pikachu

MAY 15 A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

MAY 17 A Dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey

MAY 24 Aladdin MAY 31 Godzilla: King of the Monsters

News

14.5 Million Enhancement to Siegel Soccer Complex Expected to Bring Increased Tourism Revenue

BY ANDREW WIGDOR ON APRIL 4, the Murfreesboro City Council approved a $14.5 million enhancement of the city’s Richard Siegel Soccer Complex as a part of a 20-year Cooperative Use Agreement with the Tennessee State Soccer Association. The agreement came after TSSA voted in December to designate Murfreesboro as the site of its new facility. After construction, the new and improved Siegel complex will serve as the TSSA’s headquarters for regional tournament play and statewide operation. The enhancements to the facility will be funded through debt financing in the FY2019–20 Capital Improvement Program. However, debt service for upgrades is planned to be offset by increased tourism revenue, according to Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland. McFarland called the agreement a “win-win” in a recent interview with the Murfreesboro Pulse. Among the enhancements to the complex are nine new synthetic turf fields that can be used after it rains, an indoor soccer training facility and increased seating at the Championship Field in addition to improved lighting and added restrooms for the Jordan Farm Practice Fields. “The soccer fields stay closed four or five months out of the year because of weather,” McFarland said. “This will give us the ability to have a soccer complex open year round.” The city will also retain revenue associated with the rental and usage of the facil34 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

ity and expects to see an additional 20,000 hotel room bookings per year due to future regional and national tournaments. “We’ve hosted state cups,” McFarland said. “We’ve hosted lots of different tournaments that bring in significant economic impact. This will allow us to expand on that and to grow that.” McFarland said that the city expects 100 percent completion of the project by mid to late-2020. Nashville was officially designated as a site for a future Major League Soccer franchise in December 2017, and McFarland played a part in that effort. The Murfreesboro mayor served on the 22-member Nashville MLS Organizing Committee, which pushed for MLS to come to Music City. McFarland said that Murfreesboro’s new agreement will help to build on the soccer excitement and culture in Middle Tennessee. “One of the reasons that the [Nashville MLS Organizing Committee] wanted Murfreesboro represented is that there is a large soccer community in Murfreesboro,” McFarland said. “With this model with TSSA, we’re gonna have one of the nicest facilities in the country. With the new MLS incoming, we have the ability to partner and do some exciting things with the facility.” Murfreesboro’s Richard Siegel Soccer Complex is located at 515 Cherry Lane Dr.

Your Nashville Symphony

Live at the Schermerhorn

CARMINA BURANA

W I T H T H E N A S H V I L L E SY M P H O N Y & NASHVILLE BALLET

May 23 to 26

maY 31 to june 3

June 20 & 21

july 6 & 7

615.687.6400 NashvilleSymphony.org

WITH SUPPORT FROM

AROUND TOWN ’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

Juicy’s, Jocelyn Ann’s, Para Treks, My 4 Dogs, Wellness Emporium, NashBoro Chic, Tom’s Smoky Mountain Tea

offer patients health and beauty services from its new location. This building at the Fountains will feature almost 18,000 square feet of exquisitely-designed space for these growing departments. This will include 6,000 square feet on the first floor for the aesthetics services and the boutique retail space and another 12,000 square feet on the second floor for plastic surgery and dermatology.

BY MICHELLE WILLARD It may not be Halloween, but, in my opinion, it’s always time for a ghost story. John McKinney must agree, because PARA TREKS starts giving historical ghost tours of downtown Murfreesboro on Friday, May 3. The monthly tours are given by “Experienced Certified Paranormal Investigators,” McKinney said. The hosts will guide groups on a 90-minute tour of downtown, providing a mixture of folk tales, history and ghost stories. The tours are given on the first Friday of the month, rain or shine. All participants must pre-purchase tickets at paratreks.com. Be prepared to walk. Murfreesboro is again home to an all-vegan restaurant. JUICY’S WELLNESS CAFE offers smoothies, fresh squeezed juices and a vegetarian/vegan menu. The restaurant opened in mid-April to positive reviews for its plant-based menu. For more information, find Juicy’s Wellness Cafe on Facebook. COWGIRL CHOCOLATES has hitched up

the wagon and headed east to Murfreesboro. Slated to open this summer, the confectioner offers mail order and in-store sweets. The new treat shop will be located at 175 Mall Circle Drive near Home Depot and across the street from Stones River Town Centre. SPOOKY’S PIZZA & GRILL is scaring up some good food using seitan, a high-protein meat substitute made from wheat gluten. Spooky’s specializes in hand-tossed and thin-crust pizza, along with burgers, subs, chicken wings and salads. Now the Walter Hill restaurant has added a vegan menu. Learn more at spookyspizzatn.com.

The St. Andrew’s area has a new coffee shop. Called JOCELYN ANN’S, the shop offers the regular coffee stuff, sandwiches and pastries at 490 St. Andrews Dr. Suite 107. View the menu at facebook.com/jocelynanns. A new veterinarian office opened in the Blackman community. Called CREEKWOOD, the staff will offer a wide variety of services like preventive medicine, 38 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

The CBD trend has arrived on the Murfreesboro Public Square. BORO CBD—CBD AMERICAN SHAMAN opened in April at 105 N. Maple St. and sells various products derived from the healing herb hemp for people and pets. NASHBORO CHIC opened a location

This much-anticipated new business involves both animals and food, and should be purrfect for Murfreesboro. CATFEINE CAT CAFE opened in early April at 1602 W. Northfield Blvd. in Murfreesboro. Reservations are suggested to enter the cat lounge, but you can gobble up pastries from the Frothy Monkey and drink coffee as you wait. orthopedic surgeries, dental cleanings and boarding for dogs and cats. CreekWood is operated by Dr. Michael Lawrence, Dr. Lisa Tepp and Dr. Grey Barker. Find more at creekwoodvethospital.com. MY 4 DOGS ACADEMY & SPA has been re-homed. The locally owned and operated dog day academy, boarding, training and grooming facility has found a new forever home at 1404 W. College St. in Murfreesboro. For more information, call 615-8697343 or visit my4dogs.net.

MTSU graduate and certified organic farmer Christian Grantham is expanding his health and wellness empire with a third “Wellness Emporium.” Half Hill Farm, owned and operated by Grantham and Vince Oropesa,

is building out WELLNESS EMPORIUMMURFREESBORO where they will sell kombucha, extracts and CBD. In addition to the new location, located in the former Smoke and Mirrors space in between The Boulevard and Jimmy John’s at 2136 Middle Tennessee Blvd., Grantham and Oropesa operate emporiums in Woodbury and Bell Buckle. Half Hill Farm produces kombucha, botanical extracts, apple cider vinegar tonics, tinctures, teas and more from its facility on High Street in Woodbury. MURFREESBORO MEDICAL CLINIC AND SURGICENTER opened a new loca-

tion on April 8 at Fountains at Gateway. MMC’s Plastic Surgery and Dermatology & Aesthetics Departments as well as the boutique (formally known as U MediSpa)

Another healthy spot, TOM’S SMOKY MOUNTAIN TEA opened at 1509 E. Main St. in Murfreesboro. Tom’s specializes in kratom, a herb used in Chinese medicine. Kratom is native to Southeast Asia and is used to treat pain relief, as a mood enhancer, to increase focus, to treat anxiety, to treat depression, as an energy boost, to aid sleep, as a treatment for opioid addiction, and for an overall sense of well-being. Learn more at kratom-by-toms-smoky-mountaintea.business.site.

just before Easter. The “multi-generational boutique” offers women’s clothing, handbags, accessories and gifts. It’s located on the second floor of Tarola Plastic Surgery, at 1216 N. Maple St.

CLOSINGS CORNER JUG CREEK DISTILLERY closed at the

end of March. Heath Frazier, one of the founders of Jug Creek Distillery in Lascassas was severely injured by a car wreck in August, leaving him unconscious and on a ventilator. He and his family hope he will return to distilling soon. Follow Heath’s progress on his Instagram page @itsheathfromjugcreek. As they build a new standalone shop in Murfreesboro’s Gateway, KRISPY KREME permanently closed its Smyrna location March 31. Never fear, you’ll be able to pick up hot and ready doughnuts on Medical Center Parkway by summer’s end. The retail apocalypse continues to claim the lives of once-loved, well-known names. This month it’s FRED’S. Selling off its pharmacy division (and inadvertently killing ReevesSain Drug Store) wasn’t enough to save the discount retail chain; in mid-April it was announced that 159 locations will be closed. This included the location at 1664 Middle Tennessee Blvd., the Memphis-based store announced. Other locations slated for liquidation are in Gallatin, Lebanon and Woodbury. Just a few days after National Record Store Day, a day to celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store, WAXFACE RECORDS announced it was closing for good. No reason was given but everything was for sale, even the posters on the walls.

City Cafe, Gil’s Ace Hardware Honored as Legacy Businesses at 2019 Light Up Local Firefly Awards LOCALLY OWNED MURFREESBORO and Smyrna Independent Merchants Association honored a full slate of deserving businesses on April 23 at the 2019 Light Up Local Firefly Awards. “Even as large as Murfreesboro and Smyrna have gotten, the people here still want to feel a sense of community, which is what this night is about,” said Mary Esther Reed, Smyrna mayor and master of ceremonies for the event. The Firefly Awards is a people’s choice awards celebration of independent businesses. LOM and SiMA took nominations in 10 categories for independent businesses in Smyrna and Murfreesboro during February. The businesses with the most nominations won their respective category. AND THE 2019 WINNERS ARE: WGNS Good Neighbor of the Year Presented to a locally owned business or business owner who has given of themselves to the community, not just financially, but with time and effort and never wants recognition. MURFREESBORO: Garage Barre SMYRNA: Aaron Lovett Realty

Best Social Media Presented to a locally owned business that positively uses social media. MURFREESBORO: Re-Invintage SMYRNA: Senior Activity Center

SMYRNA: Hickory Falls Wood-Fired Grille

and Bar Best New Business Presented to a locally owned business that has been around for less than four years. MURFREESBORO: P’s and Q’s Pickup SMYRNA: Janarty’s Homemade Ice Cream

Best Event Presented to a local business or organization that puts on an amazing event that gives back to or creates an opportunity for community. MURFREESBORO: Bro Barre SMYRNA: Depot Days

Murfreesboro Pulse Best Night Out Presented to a locally owned business that provides a fun, entertaining and inviting place for a night out, a business that provides a service or experience that you want to tell your friends about. MURFREESBORO: Mayday Brewery SMYRNA: Smyrna Bowling Center

Dempsey, Dilling and Associates Business of the Year Award Presented to a locally owned business that goes above and beyond for the community, known for its outstanding customer service and leadership. MURFREESBORO: The Alley on Main

Lube Pro’s Best Customer Service Award Presented to the locally owned business that ensures customer requirements are handled quickly and efficiently. Day after day, they are answering questions, finding information and providing assistance.

SMYRNA: Front Street Signs

MURFREESBORO: P’s and Q’s Pickup

Volunteer State Bank Local Legacy Presented to a locally owned business that has been at the core of writing our city’s story for at least 20 years and continues their legacy of providing a needed service.

SMYRNA: Carpe Cafe

MURFREESBORO: The City Cafe

NowTech Productions Best Nonprofit Presented to a local nonprofit organization that strives to strengthen our community by giving back and making the area better through service, kindness and charitable acts throughout our county. MURFREESBORO: Special Kids SMYRNA: Senior Activity Center

Best Restaurant Presented to a locally owned restaurant that exceeds expectations through food quality, customer service and overall atmosphere. MURFREESBORO:

Dallas and Jane Restaurant 40 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

SMYRNA: Gil’s Hardware

Food at the awards event was provided by The Alley on Main, Simply Pure Sweets, Tasty Table, The Blue Porch, Carpe Cafe and Jo’s Custom Catering. Drinks were provided by Corelife Eatery, Mayday Brewery, The Casual Pint and Short Mountain Distillery. Music was provided by DJ Big Bad Boogie. Floral arrangements and plants were provided by The Flower Pot II, Primrose Flower Truck and Red Wagon Nursery. Both Locally Owned Murfreesboro and Smyrna Independent Merchants Association work to support independent businesses in the community, build a stronger local economy and raise awareness about the benefits of doing business locally.

Opinion Democracy Dies in the Darkness

few years ago I decided to go back to MTSU and take the remaining few hours to complete my college degree. After attending a few semesters part-time, I needed one additional class, and I decided to complete a Maymester course. I was searching the MTSU online platform and came across a class titled Free Expression. The class at first really didn’t interest me until I met the professor, Dr. Larry Burriss. With a course titled Free Expression, I was expecting the class to be taught by someone in a tiedyed shirt and wearing sandals. On the contrary, the professor was a tough former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force who had served active duty in various parts of the world, even at the Pentagon. Dr. Burriss held a wealth of knowledge and was well experienced in the many facets in the school of journalism, including serving as the former director of the School

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BY STATE REP. MIKE SPARKS of Journalism and dean of the College of Mass Communications. The subject of the class was in regard to the expression of free speech and the First Amendment. His Free Expression class and his lectures about the importance of the First Amendment piqued my interest, and I would often listen to Dr. Burriss’s commentary on WGNS Radio, enjoying his insight and opinions. The subject of free expression encouraged me to take a few other journalism courses at the MTSU School of Journalism located in the John Bragg Building, named in honor of the former Tennessee State representative. All the MTSU journalism professors were thought-provoking and very helpful. I especially enjoyed completing former WTVF-TV legendary anchorman Chris Clark’s broadcasting class. Just hearing the sound of Professor Clark’s voice took me back to my

younger years; having him come into our home via television was a huge part of our family life, as we listened to him deliver the news every evening. During Professor Clark’s first day of class, he handed each student a small card with the First Amendment written on it. As he handed it to me, I quoted Voltaire: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” I keep his First Amendment card with me each day. It reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Serving in and around politics for many years, I have personally witnessed false narratives used to attack those who a particular media outlet disagreed with or who didn’t line up with its political persuasion. Often times I have witnessed a headline that seems like it is being used to shed a negative light on an elected official with his or her words twisted and taken out of context. One experience I witnessed that violated the First Amendment was that of an African-American church, Word of Life. Members were not allowed to worship in their own church. The irony is that a white church, Giles Creek Baptist Church, helped build that congregation’s church building by donating all the labor. The small church of little means was not allowed to hold services for two years due to an easement dispute with the city. The church was out of pocket in excess of $56,000 on building payments, a considerable sum, yet members couldn’t worship in their

own church. I recall sitting in the Tennessee General Assembly just after a session a few years ago, asking Pastor Wellington Johnson to update me on the situation. He said, “Brother Sparks, I don’t know what else to do but to let it go.” I responded, “Pastor, you can’t let the church go.” To my surprise, when I mentioned this to a few local reporters, no one seemed to be concerned. Finally, Mikal Lewis, a former reporter with Fox 17, returned my call and reported on it. (To view the news report, search Word of Life La Vergne on YouTube). I have also personally experienced a reporter calling me to ask for an interview. I asked, “What is the issue?” The reporter, who I knew and thought very highly of, responded, “There was a prayer said at the opening ceremony of Stewarts Creek High School.” I asked, “Who complained and why is this newsworthy?” He said, “No one complained, but I have to cover what my producers want me to cover.” Needless to say, I was rather surprised that WSMV-TV Channel 4 thought this was even newsworthy. Ironically, the reporter couldn’t find anyone in our community who complained, so he contacted a “separation of church and state” group in Washington, D.C., to get a comment. I have also witnessed an African-American church, Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, a beautiful old church much like the one in Little House on the Prairie, suffer vandalism. It was heavily reported, but the kindness of Smyrna’s Parkway Baptist and a few other churches who donated to them afterward was not reported. In my opinion, often the media is more about drama and more interested in “clickbait headlines” and ad revenue than helping to find solutions to problems. Naturally, many in the newsroom will not like or agree with my thoughts or experiences. I have found that many of them are good people, and I

consider them friends of mine. Edmund Burke, the Irish-born British statesman, parliamentary orator, and political thinker said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Today it seems that many are very reluctant to do something, take a stand and voice their opinion for what they believe is right. Bob Dylan wrote, “the times they are a-changin’.” The times they are indeed a-changin’, especially in the newspaper industry. Newsrooms have been hit very hard with over 1,800 newspapers shutting down since 2004, over 32,000 news personnel losing their jobs, and many rural areas becoming “news deserts” due to lack of reporting. Earlier this year I was proud to see my colleagues, both Republican and Democrats, pass my House Bill 0899, which would exempt the state sales taxes off monthly periodical newspapers. The effort may be a small one for our mom-and-pop newspapers, but it is a step that could save them a few hundred dollars each month to pay a reporter to cover their local government, potential solutions to an overcrowded landfill, local sports and business and other important issues facing ones community. The First Amendment should be a vital concern for all American citizens, both Republican and Democrat, rich and poor, black and white, conservative or liberal, and others. Freedom of expression, no doubt, is the cornerstone of a free democratic society. Without it our society will suffer and Democracy dies in the darkness. Rep. Mike Sparks (R) serves the 49th House District in the Tennessee General Assembly, which includes areas of Smyrna, La Vergne, Almaville and north Murfreesboro. Feel free to contact Mike at rep. mike.sparks@capitol.tn.gov or at 615-741-6829.

Times Change, But Our Best Days Still Lie Ahead

read an article in The National, a publication from the United Arab Emirates, about an Emirati woman who awakened from a coma after nearly 30 years. Can you imagine that? It got me to thinking whether someone in that situation would find the world a better, or worse, place after 30 years. Just think of what has transpired over the past 30 years. There was no such thing as a smartphone. The plus side is there was also no such thing as a selfie. “Friend” was not yet a verb. Not only was there no Facebook, but Mark Zuckerberg was only four years old. You didn’t have to take your shoes off to fly. You could still smoke on an airline flight longer than two hours as well as in most restaurants. There was no such thing as iTunes or downloadable music. CDs had pretty much overtaken vinyl. You never saw 20-somethings with their ubiquitous water bottle. Somehow we made it through the day without constantly staying hydrated. You got your phone messages on an answering machine. If you had a cellphone you were excited because it had just been transformed from the brick to the first ‘pocket size’ phone. That ‘pocket’ was a jacket pocket. It could be yours for the mere price of $3,000. There was no internet dating. You actually had to engage in a conversation with someone in person. No texting. No OMG or LOL or the dreaded LMAO. You also had to know how to spell, or have a dictionary in book form handy. Oh, and if you wanted to read a book you had to carry a real one. If you wanted to get somewhere new you needed a map. Yeah, one of those things that folded up like an accordion and tucked away in your glove compartment. If you wanted to see a movie other than what was on HBO and Showtime you had to rent it. On

VIEWS OF A

CONSERVATIVE

PHIL VALENTINE

philvalentine.com

VHS. That was this plastic rectangular thingamajig with video tape in it that . . . oh, never mind. Bingewatching wasn’t a thing. If you wanted to hear a radio show you had to actually listen to the radio. We still had something called the incandescent light bulb. I really miss those. Only sailors and bikers had tattoos. Only men went to the men’s room. And only ladies went to the ladies’ room. To pay your bills you had to buy envelopes and stamps. The Twin Towers still stood proudly in New York. Al-Qaeda was only a year old. ISIS was still 10 years away. It was the Russians we were scared of. If we’d only known. Over the past 30 years the world has become a much scarier place. It’s also become a much more exciting place. Life is easier for hundreds of millions more people. Thirty years ago about 20 percent of the world’s population was undernourished. Today that figure is around 10 percent. Things like instantly finding information, staying in constant contact with friends and family, and being perpetually entertained are all taken for granted. There was no Amazon. You actually had to go to a store. Yeah, I know. We like to talk about the good old days as if things were better. They were, if only because we edit out the bad parts. For the young, these are the good old days. We may endure recessions and terror attacks and natural disasters, but one thing has always been true for America. Its brightest days always lie ahead, not behind. Remember yesterday. Live for today. But always dream of tomorrow.

“Over the past 30 years the world has become a much scarier place. It has also become a much more exciting place. Life is easier for hundreds of millions more people. Thirty years ago about 20 percent of the world’s population was undernourished.”

Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.

Opinion The Fight Against Irritating Robocalls and Spoofed Telemarketing Calls Rages On BY TONY LEHEW OKAY, I’M GONNA GO OUT on a limb here and say that absolutely no one enjoys robocalls. If you do, we are of a very different mindset and you probably won’t have any interest in the rest of this article. On the other hand, if you are like most of the planet and do not enjoy these rude, irritating and often infuriating multiple and daily intrusions into your life . . . read on. My sense of reality tells me that those involved in the business of telemarketing are most likely just people trying to make a living. My sense of outrage, on the other hand, sees them more as demonic imps, eating raw flesh, drinking blood out of a human skull and lighting bad-smelling cigars off of

money they stole from a little old lady, on a fixed income. You may have picked up on the idea that I do not like telemarketing. So, I have decided to be proactive and see what I can do to eliminate this annoying, either illegal or barely legal (and never successful) attempt to pick my pocket via telephone. I pose this question: Has telemarketing ever worked on you? For me personally, if I needed lifesaving aid that could only be obtained through a telemarketer, I would be doomed. I would get mad and hang up as soon as I realized it was a damn robocall, missing my chance at rescue. If you feel as I do—take heart, there are legal movements to either further restrict or outlaw predatory telemarketing.

In April, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill that would increase the penalty to $25,000 per call for committing the offense of caller identification spoofing, making an out-of-state area code to appear to be a local one. U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, who is fighting against robocalls on the national level, recently stated that now more than 40 percent of cellphone calls are robocalls. Unwanted calls, including illegal and spoofed robocalls, are now the Federal Communications Commission’s top consumer complaint. The FCC offers these useful tips on its website: Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer such a call, hang up immediately. You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Be aware: Caller ID showing a “local” number does not necessarily mean it is a local caller. If you answer the phone and the caller—or a recording—asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets. Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with “Yes.” Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious. If you get an inquiry from some-

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“Talk to your phone company about call blocking tools they may have and check into apps that you can download to your mobile device to block unwanted calls.” one who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company’s or government agency’s website to verify the authenticity of the request. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is asking for a payment. Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately. If you have a voicemail account with your phone service, set a password for it. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access if you call in from your own phone number. A hacker could spoof your home phone number and gain access to your voicemail if you do not set a password. Talk to your phone company about call-blocking tools they may have and check into apps that you can download to your mobile device to block unwanted calls. If you use robocall-blocking technology already, it often helps

to let that company know which numbers are producing unwanted calls so they can help block those calls for you and others. To block telemarketing calls, register your number on the Do Not Call List. Legitimate telemarketers consult the list to avoid calling both landline and wireless phone numbers on the list. The website fcc.gov goes on to answer many questions about complaints and ways to further deter telemarketing/robocalls. The biggest tool, although not completely effective, is the National Do Not Call List; register at donotcall.gov. Lastly, I have found a way to personally come to peace with these infuriating intrusions, I simply block every telemarketing call that comes in. No, it is not so much a way to stop them, but it feels good to block the call. And if enough calls get blocked, it will eventually cost the telemarketers money. And I like the idea of costing them money. So, register your phone, read the tips and take satisfaction in blocking the a-holes.

Live Exceptionally...Well! BY JENNIFER DURAND

Inside the Stillness THE WORD STILLNESS, or variations thereof, has been used to invoke a change of behavior—“stop that, be still,” “the crowd grows still, unmoving when watching parts of the tennis match or golf tournament”—or when one receives dramatic news and the momentary awe of silence occurs before the display of emotions is released—the pause that is felt when the national anthem is being played. Stillness is requisite to absorb the enormity or simplicity of a moment—a moment to stop and see what the significance of the moment means. Have you ever dived deeper into the meaning of stillness? It’s not just about being quiet. It’s an opportunity to see what lives inside this state of being. A friend recently shared the 23rd Psalm and pointed out that part of the passage, “He leadeth me beside the still waters,” symbolizes great significance and is reflective of the Webster’s Dictionary meaning, describing still as a) Not moving or in motion, b) Free from disturbance, agitation or commotion. 1) To make quiet; silence 2) To allay or calm. “In the space between your thoughts, there is your truth.” – Reuben Lowe When silence is present we can actually hear our own thoughts. When we are “free from disturbance” of others’ opinions, ideals or views, we can listen more earnestly to what is speaking to us from within. You always have the answers you need, provided you are shutting out the commotion of all the noise around you. “To thine own self be true” resonates here. When you are honest with yourself, true to what you believe in and value, you will walk your own path by making decisions that support your core beliefs. “He leadeth me beside the still waters” makes me think of a smooth surface that bids you to dive in with grace and feel the calm effect. The calm center allays fears and creates space for truth to surface. When we let go of agitation and feel the quiet calm emerge, our body eases, discomfort fades and the truth that surfaces is easier to see.

When I have been personally troubled, or in some of my darker moments—moments I couldn’t see through my tears—one practice has always worked for me: to become very quiet and still. I would envision an incredibly bright light shining down on me like many rays of light combined. The power and intensity of this light literally would reach down and pull me up with a gentle strength that literally made anything I was thinking or feeling immediately fade. It felt like nothing else existed but this light of knowledge, power and existence. All my problems were completely insignificant compared to the feeling this light created. That is what exists inside the stillness. Answers, resolutions, confirmations, commitments, freedom. “Seek out a tree and let it teach you stillness.” — Elkhart Tolle Stillness can be scary for some. It forces us to look inside and sometimes that can be overwhelming. Many people carry around a lot of unresolved hurts or fears. If they succeed in being still, there is a chance that these will surface. Then they’d have to relive the pain or discomfort, and it can be difficult to face these again. So people busy themselves or use vices to avoid going inside the stillness. If freedom or happiness are something you seek, it would be good to start with being still. What is it that needs to be emotionally cleaned out or released? Whatever it is, give it a chance to surface. Give pause and sit with these thoughts and choose how you’d rather feel. See them for what they were in your life. Then give them wings and send them on their way. Complication doesn’t exist inside the stillness. Only calm, quiet, controlled peace. And that peace exists inside of you! “Being still does not mean don’t move. It means, move in Peace.” — Eyen A. Gardner Jennifer Durand is the owner and operator of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe. Learn more by calling (615) 896-7110 or visiting nurturenook.com.

 SPIRITUAL MATTERS

Water’s Ref lection

I would like to feature a guest author in this month’s column. She is a 17-yearold aspiring writer named Addisyn Eggar. I believe you will agree with me that she has some very meaningful thoughts about God and life. — Rick Malone BY ADDISYN EGGAR “IN THE BEGINNING, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1–2, ESV). From the beginning, God and water have been closely intertwined, mysteriously described and exhibited throughout Holy Scripture. Water is integral to the story of Scripture and therefore to humanity, for Scripture is our story, even before time. Yet, water is one of the greatest paradoxes in all of creation. Water is what energizes and sustains the body, and yet it is feared for the destructive chaos and unknown element it brings into the world. Water is life-giving and life-seizing, refreshing and razing, cleansing and consuming, soothing and subduing. Water is unknown, yet vital to all things living. The power of this mysterious element in the hands of God as a cleanser, sustainer and destroyer has always been used to show His character and control over all of creation. God shows His might and character in floods, purifying His own, and refreshing those who are His, all using water. Water is an element of reflection God has given 46 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

humanity so that we may better understand Him, and a medium which He uses to cleanse His children from their sins. Jesus performs many miracles with water throughout the gospels, but the story that first came to mind when I thought of water in the Bible was not a miracle at all—at least, not one like Lazarus being raised from the dead or Jesus banishing demons and sending them to inhabit a herd of pigs. No, this story is one where the reader sees Jesus on His knees washing the feet of his disciples. The powerful story, told in John 13, of the Lord of all creation cleaning the fouled and odorous feet of His disciples exhibits water’s refreshing power and significance. The Son of God works water so that His own may be purified. The mystery of God’s character is also present as seen when Peter asks, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” (John 13:6, ESV), and Jesus replies, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand” (John 13:7 ESV). Through the cleansing power of water, the mystery of God’s power is exhibited, and its necessity is made clear when Jesus goes on to

say, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (John 13:8 ESV). Maybe then, the scene is a miracle, as water, in the hands of Jesus, gains a saving and cleansing power. This story, however, is not the only and by no means the first story to showcase the power of water when used by God. One of the earliest times God used water as a cleanser was not quite as gentle as Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Genesis 6–8 tells of a flood sent by God to destroy the unrighteous and cleanse His world. Water is a tool of cleansing in this story as well, but by way of destruction. Water reflects God’s nature, and God, loving and omnipotent as He is, is not tame. He is slow to anger, but when angry, He is a force of righteous indignation upon those who have offended Him. Water is the perfect representation of that force. Water can erode slowly at a rock, it can be a steady drip that shapes and forms, or it can come in a tsunami that clears away everything in its path. And yet God, amidst the flood of His anger, was faithful to His own. He brought all who listened to His words and boarded Noah’s Ark safely through the storm and onto dry land, but for those who mocked Him, the ark became their judgment. Water is saving, as seen in Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet, but also deadly, as exhibited in the flood. Water, however, is God’s medium and reflection in both. It is mysterious, capable of utter destruction, cleansing and saving, just as God is. Another way water can be seen as a medium and representation of God’s character is in the story of the woman at the well in John chapter 4. First, Jesus asks for a drink from the well, which again points to the sustaining nature of water. But then, after the woman inquires as to why a Jew would ask for water from a Samaritan such as herself, Jesus states, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (John

“Water is one of the greatest paradoxes in all of creation. Water is what energizes and sustains the body, and yet it is feared for the destructive chaos and unknown element it brings into the world. Water is life-giving and life-seizing, refreshing and razing . . .”

4:10 ESV). It is in this encounter that we are able to see who Jesus truly is and what it means for us that Jesus is the living water. The water that reflects God’s character is just that—a reflection. Water sustains man temporarily, cleanses us temporarily, but Jesus, the living water, is, “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14 ESV). The thirst we experience as human beings is to point us to our ultimate thirst for Christ, which is why water is the medium through which we can be cleansed and quenched or destroyed. Joseph J. Breunig wrote in a poem titled “Rooted and Grounded” that he is, “Planted by the river of Living Waters . . . rooted and grounded in Christ.” As Christians, we are to be cross-shaped trees sustained by Him who is the living water. We are to feed on the assurance that God is a sustaining and steadfast God above all, though powerful and capable of destruction. But that is the nature of water. That is the nature of living water. It is the truth that Jesus is the living water that makes His outpouring of blood and water from His pierced side on the cross so vitally important to the story of salvation. Water and blood, life and death, resurrection. The outpouring of Jesus’ Spirit, the Spirit of God, who was hovering over the face of the waters in Genesis, now spillled for all of humanity, communion and baptism flowing from Christ’s body. The best way water is seen as God’s medium is in the institution of baptism. Water becomes the mode by which we enter into God’s kingdom and begin to understand the God we serve. Water, with its healing, cleansing, calming, destructive, erosive and mysterious qualities points us to living water—water, which we fear, love and need. From the destructive cleansing of the flood in Genesis and salvation of God’s people, to Jesus purifying His disciples’ feet, to Him revealing Himself as the living water to the lowly Samaritan woman at the well, water is the medium through which we see God. It is only natural then, that water is what sets Christians apart and names us children of God in Baptism. Baptism is a naming ceremony where God moves through water to make us His own. Baptism is the culmination of all that God uses water for. He floods over our sin, cleanses our being, and sustains us with water that reflects His character transformed into living water by the life-changing words, “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.” myspiritualmatters@gmail.com

 RECOMMENDED READING “This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America. Within the U.S., you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.” — books.google.com

Ecce Deus

Essays on the Life and Doctrine of Jesus Christ BY JOSEPH PARKER (1867)

Ch. XIV

Christ As An Interlocutor [Interlocutor: (noun) one who takes part in a dialogue or conversation]. The preceding chapter treats mainly of the formal “sayings” of Christ; it is now proposed to look at “sayings” which were uttered without the possibility of preparation, and which, for that reason, must afford valuable incidental evidence of the quality of Christ’s mind. We should shrink from applying such a test to any merely human speaker; for as “great Homer sometimes nods,” so the most careful student may occasionally make slips in extemporaneous conversation which contrast broadly with the exactness of his formal preparations. He might properly protest against being taken at a disadvantage, and would certainly claim the right of revising his opinions before finally committing himself to them. Jesus Christ never claimed any such right; he never protects himself by a saving clause; he never hints at possible modifications of his opinions; but immediately and unchangeably affirms his judgment of every case that is brought before him. He was opposed not only by his disciples, but by the stronger and craftiest of the learned sects, who to the sharpness of the ripest cultivation added the sting of the bitterest malignity. Under such circumstances the real power and quality of Christ’s mind would be shown, and the measure of the influence of provocation upon his intellectual processes be disclosed. It is proposed, then, to look at his common talk, and to inquire whether there is anything on the face of the answers themselves to explain the supremacy of Jesus Christ as an interlocutor? If his supremacy was functional, then it was arbitrary; if it was personal, then it was rational. Is it the man’s office, or the man’s quality, that makes him supreme? A few instances will show the respective positions occupied by Jesus Christ and his opponents. We may begin with collisions of opinion which occurred between him and the disciples.

When the people were in a desert place, Jesus Christ commanded them to be fed. The disciples pronounced the command impracticable, and apparently they had reason on their side. Here was the point of difference. Who spoke the magnanimous and generous word—Jesus Christ or the disciples? On another occasion children were being intruded on Christ’s attention; the disciples protested against the annoyance, but Jesus said, “Forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Who spoke the magnanimous and generous word—Jesus Christ or the disciples? When the Samaritan villagers did not receive Christ, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem, James and John proposed to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them; but Jesus rebuked them, and said, “Ye know not what manner of spirits ye are of.” Here is a direct collision of opinion: who spoke the magnanimous and generous word—Jesus Christ or the disciples? On another occasion John showed what the disciples would have done with collateral and unrecognized workers; he said, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbade him, because he followed not with us.” Was not this a reason strong enough to carry the judgment of all men of order? Yet Jesus said, “Forbid him not, for he that is not against us is for us.” Who spoke the magnanimous and generous word—Jesus Christ or the disciples? When Peter asked him how often he was to forgive his brother, Peter suggested seven times; Christ answered, “Not only until seen times, but until seventy times seven.” Who spoke the magnanimous and generous word—Jesus Christ or the disciples? The remarkable point in such instances is that the disciples themselves (the corrected men, not the correcting Man) are the narrators. Men are not prone to publish their own ignorance or expose their own errors, yet this is literally what the disciples did. In every instance they show that they were wrong and that their Master was right. They never seek, though they had the pen in their own hands, to modify Christ’s opinion, or to interpose afterthoughts which would throw doubt of Christ’s judgment. As impostors, they need not have set Christ up as being always right; they might have paid an occasional tribute to their own sagacity; they might have outvoted him sometimes; yet they concur (without one another’s knowledge) in stating that in all disputed or misunderstood cases they were always wrong and he was always right. Nor do they state this in summary

terms; they report the cases in detail; and it is evident upon the face of the answers themselves that Jesus Christ’s supremacy was not an arbitrary lordship, but the legitimate influence which attaches to great intellectual and moral elevation. Sometimes in human relations, reasoning comes into collision with authority, but in such cases authority overrides all opposition: the reasoning of soldiers, for example, may oppose the authority of commanders, but it is— “Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die;” They are “men under authority”—it may be an authority with reason, or an authority against reason, but the determining fact is authority. In the case of Jesus Christ’s answers, the authority is the reason, and the reason is the authority; the authority and the reason are coincident and identical. The foregoing instances of collision occurred between Christ and his disciples; we have now to look at those between Christ and his avowed opponents. His disciples might have been disposed to yield readily, but his enemies would maintain the dispute obstinately. On one occasion the Pharisees, despairing of a casual victory, actually “took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk”; they approached the attack deliberately, and by so much had the advantage of the interlocutor who was expected to give an instant answer. The force of the Pharisees was in the “counsel” which they took; the weakness of Christ, viewed from a purely human point, was in his want of opportunity for preparation. A number of resolute partisans, comprising disciples of the Pharisees, with the Herodians, addressed Jesus Christ in terms which were intended to elicit an answer from his vanity rather than his judgment; they told him that he was true, that he taught the way of God in truth, and that he cared not for any man, nor regarded the person of men (deceitful words, which would have victimized an unbalanced mind), and then they put their case before him. Instantly, as if he had been specially prepared for that particular mode of attack, he turned upon them, and said, “Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?” Then he told them to render what was due alike to God and to man. On the same day another deputation, this time Sadducean, waited upon him, and endeavored to bring him into collision with Moses, upon what they had conceived as a practical difficulty in the resurrection; but he told them that they erred, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God; for “in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” Upon hearing that “he had put the Sadducees to silence,” the Pharisees resolved to make another attempt; one of their lawyers put a question concerning the Law, which Jesus Christ answered as clearly and

fully as if he had had specific notice of the inquiry. These cases occurred in succession, and the general opinion showed that in none of them was Jesus Christ worsted. The general opinion is expressed thus: in the case of the tribute money, “they marveled, and left him, and went their way;” in the case of the resurrection, “they were astonished at his doctrine”; in the case of the lawyer and the subsequent discourse, “no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” The basis of argument will be complete, if to instances of opposition between Christ and his disciples, and Christ and his enemies, be added an instance or two of Christ’s method of meeting those who were immediately concerned in his judgment and death. When he was brought before Caiaphas, it was with extreme difficulty that the high priest could prevail upon him to speak; not, indeed, until he had adjured him by the living God; then the answer was, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” In other cases, neither Pilate or any of the officers could break his silence: “Jesus held his peace”; “he answered nothing”; “he answered him to never a word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.” At last this great speaker was silent, and his interrogators knew not the difference between the silence of obstinacy and the silence of a lamb brought to the slaughter. What storms of the heart were covered by that silence! The great purpose of God had now passed beyond the region of debate and clamor; words were of no further use; the Man was not on his defense as a criminal, he was on his trial as a Sacrifice! Already he had prayed that the cup might pass, but in a second prayer he had been strengthened to say, “Thy will be done!” After such agony how could he talk to men, whose questions were technical, and whose share in the work was a mystery which no explanation could simplify? He must now speak by suffering, and by dying as no other man had ever died. With all these examples to guide our judgment, it may now be asked, is there anything on the face of the answers themselves to account for Christ’s supremacy? Setting aside all theological tenets and prejudices, it cannot be denied that, viewed simply as answers between man and man, the answers of Jesus Christ are superior in completeness to those of his interlocutors. But what is the value of completeness as an argument? Obviously, not in theology only, but in all subjects of human inquiry, completeness is the final test of wisdom and accuracy. He who approaches completeness approaches the absolute: he who approaches the Absolute approaches God. When Newton proved that the force which preserves planetary order is identical with the force by which an CONTINUED ON PAGE 49 BOROPULSE.COM

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SPORTS

TALK

COLUMN BY “Z-TRAIN”

titanman1984@gmail.com

Titans Address Defensive Line, Wide Receiver by Drafting Jeffery Simmons, A.J. Brown THE TRAIN DADDY is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! Summer is upon us and life is good! Let’s talk Titans football, since we just wrapped up the 2019 NFL draft. But first, let me do a rare opening, a political rant. We as Americans should be very thankful and, more importantly, humble. America is the greatest nation since Rome. We have abundance in food and football. Even the poor class in America is statistically overweight. How bad can things be? There is no such thing as discrimination when it comes to football. We are all equal under one game. It’s an amazing thing! The United States economy just exceeded economist projections and hit a 3.2% growth rate this first quarter. With each successive quarter the left will make up more lies and predictions of future doom-and-gloom. A successful America is bad for the Democrats. Think about that statement for a moment. Why mention any of this, Mr. Train? With a crazy 2020 election just around the corner, the idea of a very real, very farleft socialist candidate should frighten many Americans. The left claims Trump is a threat to our democracy, but I can’t help but feel it’s the other way around. If you want the government to be in control of your everyday life, vote Democrat. If you want the government taking money from the working class to give away to the lazy, vote Democrat. If you want the govern48 * MAY 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

ment to be the reason the economy falters, vote Democrat. Are Americans stupid? I don’t think so, I hope not. I hope most will look at the numbers, because socialism has failed 100% of the time. If you want America to be like Venezuela, Cuba, the Soviet Union or modern-day France, vote Democrat. High taxes for ridiculous programs have all but destroyed France’s economy, created high unemployment and divided the population. I don’t personally like Trump, but I respect what he has done so far for this country. That’s my opening rant and I hope this message will spread faster than the idea of introducing democratic socialism to modern-day America. Right now, America is great, but don’t take it for granted. It could only take one moron with radical ideas like Bernie or AOC to do some serious harm. Socialist principles scare me. If you agree or disagree, please let me know: email titanman1984@gmail.com. I will reply!

LET’S TALK TITANS!

How did the Titans do in the draft, who did they take and what can we expect in the future? The league recently announced that Nashville set a record for NFL Draft attendance with more than 600,000 fans at this year’s event in Music City. Can I get a yee-haw!? The original predictions expected only around 300,000, showing that Nashville is a promising destination for all kinds of future events.

The Titans selected six players in the 2019 draft and I will name them all, but I really want to break down the first three picks. The most important players are generally your first- and second-rounders. You should expect immediate production from players taken that early. In the first round at No. 19 overall the Titans selected  Jeffery Simmons, a defensive lineman out of Mississippi State. First off let me say Simmons is a great player and a great addition to the Titans. Simmons also has history, as in being caught on camera punching a woman who was fighting with his sister. Simmons also tore his ACL in pre-draft preparations. Sounds like a lot of baggage, right? No doubt Simmons made a horrible decision as a high schooler, yet years later he has done all that’s been asked of him and by all accounts has become a great man. His past coaches and teachers all claim he is a stand-up person and, most importantly, Simmons owns up to his actions and blames only himself. That didn’t stop ESPN from tainting his glory. After the Titans drafted Simmons, they showed the fight clip on live TV and rather than talk about his play-making abilities they lambasted him as a possible problem for the Titans as a women beater. Simmons made a serious mistake and will always be followed by it, and ESPN should be ashamed of being a douchebag. The Titans got a steal in the first round. Simmons was a beast in college who collapsed the pocket, dominated the run and has Hulk Smash power! His only weakness is lack of sacks, but hopefully that will improve as the young man progresses. Simmons looks like a future defensive star for the Titans. In the second round of the draft at No. 51 overall, the Titans made Marcus Mariota happy and selected a play-making wide receiver. They say as route-runners go, A.J. Brown may be the best in the class, coming out of Ole Miss. Mr. Brown was the all-time leading receiver in Ole Miss history with nearly 3,000 total yards. I am sure the Titans were surprised he was still available. He looks like a first-round talent at receiver. This pick improves the receiving corps immediately. The Titans’ big three receivers are now Corey Davis, Adam Humphries and A.J. Brown. No excuses, Marcus! Brown excels at route running and is very elusive in the open field. Many have compared Brown to Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster, and if that’s the case, the Titans have a great player in Brown, someone who may help turn a boring Titans team (2019 schedule, coughcough, where is the love, NFL?) into an exciting offensive team.

With its third pick in the draft at No. 82 overall the Titans selected  Nate Davis, a guard out of Charlotte. The Titans have a hole in the interior of their offensive line, and they believe Nate can win the job. Davis made it clear, he plans to win a starting spot and show off his work ethic. Davis already commented on his desire and passion to block for a talent like Derrick Henry. Davis is powerful and he creates a lot of movement. He is athletic, has the proper size and, best of all, is only 22 years old and can be developed specifically for this team. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be a Tennessee Titan, and I just can’t wait,” Davis stated. Sounds good to me. The Titans selected with overall pick No. 116 Amani Hooker, a DB out of Iowa. I like Hooker’s chance to become a real player in the Titans secondary. Titans GM Jon Robinson likes this kid and even traded up to make sure he got him. The Titans also selected D’Andre Walker, an OLB out of Georgia and maybe their greatest value. Walker was projected as a third-round talent that dropped to the Titans in the fifth round. He creates pressure and could address a serious need for the Titans. With the Titans’ final pick in the draft, the team selected David Long Jr., an LB out of West Virginia. Let’s be honest, Long, you were the last Titan pick, so you get no love from me until you make the 53-man roster. Good luck! I think we all can agree Jon Robinson is a genius and has made this team better. He addressed a little bit of every need the Titans had going into the Draft. He addressed the defensive line, edge rusher, interior offensive line and wide receiver. This team is in Marcus Mariota’s hands now, and it’s up to him to work with what has been put around him. I believe he must perform and succeed this year, or bye-bye! It truly won’t matter if he plays bad or gets injured, either way this season is a tryout for Marcus and his future in Tennessee. I hope he succeeds. I like Marcus and he has the potential, but he can’t be a franchise quarterback if he can’t stay on the field and make plays. That’s it—thanks to all my loyal readers and to all you loyal Titan fans. Remember that socialism destroys all that is good; tell your friends! The Train’s rolling into the station. Choo-choo!

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 apple falls to the ground, he was, by that discovery, so much nearer God, because so much nearer a complete idea of the universe than any inferior discoverer had ever been. Now, in all the disputes between Christ and his contemporaries, it will be found that the tendency, at least, towards completeness is invariable on the side of Christ—a completeness alike mental and moral. Christ never speaks the narrow or intolerant word; never does the mean or

selfish deed; never resorts to the reactionary or inexpensive tradition. He is willing to feed the multitude, to bless little children, to protect collateral though unbaptized workers, to walk two miles instead of one, to give his cloak as well as his coat, to give Caesar his due as well as God, and to trust his truth to persuasion rather than to the sword. In all this, interpreted by common sense alone, not by the canons of sectarian science, Christ is the great man, the magnanimous man, the complete man; and even in the

awful silence referred to he would have been less silent if his view had been less complete; it was because he saw all that he said nothing. The word “tendency” just employed must not be misunderstood. The reason of its use is, that Jesus Christ on some occasions purposely refrained from giving complete answers; but on those occasions he generally intimated that the incompleteness was either temporary, or designed in the special interest of his hearers: for example, “What thou know not thou

shalt know hereafter;” there the incompleteness was temporary—and in another place, “I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now,” the incompleteness was studiously adapted to the capacity and condition of the disciples. In addition to such special instances, there is the great promise of completeness; “When he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.”

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* MAY 2019 * 49

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