To get the most out of this devotion, set aside time to read the scriptures referenced throughout.
Church
should be a place where Christians shed the world’s competitive spirit.
But instead, it’s sometimes yet another arena where people strive for
personal glory.
When we treat our sanctuaries like stages, chasing
the spotlight, we end up building our own kingdoms instead of God’s.
And our brothers and sisters in Christ can become stepping stones or,
worse, collateral damage.
This problem isn’t new, nor is its
solution. What Jesus taught the disciples to abandon was not the pursuit
of excellence but the path of self-exaltation. In other words, if we’re
competing for anything, it should be for last place—so that we might
all triumph together in becoming a true reflection of Christ.
Do
you see something of yourself in these descriptions? If so, ask the Holy
Spirit for help correcting course and aligning your heart with His.
Think about it
• Read Romans 12:10-21 and Matthew 20:1-15.
Are there any specific areas of your life that need to be reoriented so
that they align with these verses? With whom are you competing? How can
you shift toward honoring and serving them instead?
·BOWIE, Md. — The
Bowie State men's and women's basketball
teams will host its final home game of the 2022-23 regular season
against Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) foe Lincoln
(PA) on Saturday, Feb. 18 inside A.C. Jordan Arena. The Bulldogs will
recognize 15 seniors at the conclusion of the men's
game.
Tip-off for the men's game is set for 12 noon and will air live on the
CW Network powered by Black College Sports Broadcasting Network (BCSBN).
The women's game is scheduled to follow at 3 p.m. on the Bulldog Sports
Network.
Last Outing
The Bulldogs (13-11, 9-6 CIAA) fell to Virginia State Wednesday, 50-41
in Ettrick, Va. The loss dropped Bowie State to third in the Northern
Division standings - tying with Elizabeth City State and Shaw with a 5-4
record.
As for men's hoops, the Bulldogs dropped its third straight with the
loss to Virginia State, 85-69 last timeout. Bowie State (6-21,
4-11 CIAA, 2-7 North) is sixth in the Northern Division.
Last Matchup
The win against Lincoln (PA) back on Jan. 18 was the first division win
for Bowie State this season. The Bulldogs came away with a 57-56 edge
over the Lions after taking a 32-25 lead at halftime. It was junior Joel
Webb's last second free throw that willed BSU
to the victory. Bowe State was responsible for 43 rebounds, turning 15
offensive rebounds into 13 second chance points. Sophomore Kyree
Freeman-Davis finished with 14 points while junior Anthony Carpenter tacked
on 14 points and senior Quinton Drayton chipped in as well with 11 points,
respectively.
As for the women's squad. Bowie State faced a 42-29 deficit at halftime
and was never able to find its offensive groove in the contest. The
Bulldogs deficit grew to 26 at the end of the third before outscoring
the Lady Lions 22-17. However, the closest BSU
would get to Lincoln (PA) (18-7, 12-3 CIAA, 7-2 North) was 20 points in
the second half before ultimately falling, 83-62. Sophomore Anii
Harris scored 22 points and junior Robyn Howard added
13 points.
How to Watch on CW Network
The men's game between Bowie State and Lincoln (PA) (14-13, 8-7 CIAA,
5-4 North) will be nationally televised on the CW Network through Black
College Sports Broadcasting Network (BCSBN). This will be Bowie State's
fifth game on the network this season.
Up Next
Both the Bulldog men's and women's teams will await the seeding of the
2023 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament which is scheduled to
begin on Feb. 21-25 at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md.
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Caffeine is considered to be one of the most frequently used supplement ingredients all across the world in many different products, and for a good reason – it works. One of the most common uses of caffeine is in the form of coffee. There are many people who rely on the caffeine content found in coffee to get them through their day and even workout. Some can get away with low doses, while others need incredibly high doses. However, many people do not know that there are different sources of caffeine, which is why we are going to discuss the two types of caffeine – natural caffeine and synthetic caffeine.
Caffeine is a common ingredient found in drinks such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, and soft drinks like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc. There are many sources of caffeine that can be utilized, and they all don’t have the same effects on people. Some sources are natural, plant-based, and some are even synthetically produced.
Let’s take a look at what natural caffeine is as well as what synthetic caffeine is to get a better understanding of how they differ.
Natural Caffeine
If we go back to its roots, caffeine was first found in naturally occurring plants such as guarana, cacao, yerba mate, and berries. In present times, it can be found in over 60 various types of plants.
While natural caffeine can be found and sold as a standalone supplement, it’s generally not the most commonly found product on the shelves and online. Instead, natural caffeine can be found in many different supplement profiles from fat-burners, to pre-workouts, to straight-up energy products.
You may also find caffeine in vitamins and methylxanthines, which balance the up and down of energy from caffeine in your system and help deliver it to your body in a stable manner. Essentially, natural caffeine provides a more sustainable and cleaner boost of energy in comparison to synthetic caffeine, and it also allows for heightened focus and cognition. If you’ve ever used different forms of caffeine, you may have noticed and experienced a quick jolt of energy but then an abrupt crash that soon follows.
Unlike synthetic caffeine, natural caffeine generally does not have any side effects such as insomnia, nervousness, and anxiety, to name a few. It is because of the gradual release of natural caffeine into your system that many of the side effects associated with synthetic caffeine are nonexistent. There is no sudden release that can cause jitters or uneasiness.
You can take a glance at the nutritional panel of a product to see if it has natural caffeine or synthetic caffeine, as many of them will break down what source of caffeine is used.
Synthetic Caffeine
Synthetic caffeine is widely used in soft drinks and energy drinks. Synthetic caffeine is quickly absorbed in your system and gives you a sudden boost of energy, which is much faster than natural caffeine. Interestingly enough, and a little history lesson for you, synthetic caffeine was first discovered by the Nazis during World War II. With increasing demand, synthetic caffeine started becoming the norm.
Additionally, synthetic caffeine (such as caffeine anhydrous) is a very inexpensive ingredient to produce. Natural caffeine is something that would need to be sourced, and because of this, synthetic caffeine has become the most widely used form of caffeine. Big companies such as Coca-Cola are highly dependent on synthetic caffeine for their products. Unfortunately, synthetic caffeine has some drawbacks and side effects that could become quite harmful to your body.
There have been some instances and cases where individuals got their supplements mixed up and took two teaspoons or more of synthetic caffeine and, unfortunately, died because of ingesting a lethal dose.
Because synthetic caffeine is absorbed into your body much faster than natural caffeine, it provides a quick spike of energy that many people enjoy but then an equivalent crash as if you hit a wall going 100mph. Although synthetic caffeine and natural caffeine are almost non-distinguishable on a molecular level, the method of how synthetic caffeine is made can trigger significant health concerns, which you need to take into consideration before you decide if you want to supplement with it or not.
Natural Caffeine vs. Synthetic Caffeine
Here are some key points and takeaways from both sources of caffeine.
Natural caffeine and synthetic caffeine are chemically identical. The big difference is that synthetic caffeine is made from chloroacetic acid and urea, whereas natural caffeine is produced from various plants.
The most surprising part is that both sources of caffeine affect the body in similar ways.
Naturally sourced caffeine tends to be harder to source and relatively expensive, which is why labs have started making synthetic caffeine.
Due to the lower cost associated with synthetic caffeine, many supplement companies prefer to use it over natural caffeine due to the cost-savings advantage.
Synthetic caffeine undergoes numerous steps to be converted from its initial form, which is ammonia. It is usually exposed to harsh chemicals during the conversion, such as ethyl acetate, carbon dioxide, and methylene chloride. In addition, synthetic caffeine has somewhat of a “glowing” factor. This is removed by cleaning the caffeine with acetic acid, sodium nitrate, chloroform, and sodium bicarbonate.
It should be noted that not all synthetic caffeine is harmful when consumed in a small amount. But the thing to keep in mind is, you have probably had it this week or even today, unknowingly, as several products have them as one of their ingredients. Because of this, it is recommended that you take a look at the ingredient list of the product you are looking to purchase.
Which Source of Caffeine Is Right for You?
The most significant takeaway when differentiating natural caffeine and synthetic caffeine is that synthetic caffeine can work faster and provide you with a sudden boost of energy. Still, when you are coming down from that rollercoaster ride, and you have a sudden crash in energy, it will be much worse than what you’ll experience through natural caffeine.
It’s beneficial to understand what you are reading on many supplement labels out there. If you see the word “caffeine” on the ingredient list of a product, it is very like that it is synthetic caffeine (caffeine anhydrous). If it is a natural source, you will see the actual name of the plant products used, such as green tea extract, green coffee beans, or guarana, to name a few.
Now that you know the basics of the varying sources of caffeine, you can make a more informed decision on whether you prefer to use a natural caffeine source or a synthetic caffeine source to help provide you with the results you want and need to achieve your goals.
WASHINGTON (February 16, 2023) – Howard University women's and men’s tennis teams have a full weekend ahead of them as each squad returns home to host a pair of nonconference matchups at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation's East Capitol Campus in Southeast D.C.
Friday (Feb.17), the women’s team squares off against Johns Hopkins, a first-time opponent, then face Villanova the following day (Feb. 18). The Bison have not faced off against the Villanova Wildcats since 2011, which they won the previous matchup.
As for the men, they are also facing a first-time opponent in dual competition, Bucknell, Saturday (Feb. 18) and will be looking to break their five-match losing streak against Mount St. Mary’s Sunday (Feb. 19).
MATCHUP PREVIEW
HOWARD WOMEN
The Lady Bison started this week off strong with multiple team members receiving accolades from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
Freshman Selah Stubbins (Minneapolis) earned the title, MEAC Rookie of the Week, and sophomore Sifa Butcher (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was named women’s MEAC Player of the Week.
JOHNS HOPKINS
A pair of Johns Hopkins freshman singles players are ranked in the top 50 nationally in the ITA Polls, sponsored by Tennis-Point. Jay Xiao is ranked 27th in the nation and seventh in the Atlantic South. Kamila Wong is ranked 36th in the nation and ninth in the region.
VILLANOVA
The Villanova Wildcats enter with a 1-3 record and fell short to the Bison during their last matchup in 2011.
HOWARD MEN
Sophomore Marcel Dawson (Columbus, Ga.) was named the MEAC Men’s Player of the Week earlier this week, and won his singles and doubles matches last Friday (Feb. 10) against UDC. The men are seeking a bounce back from their loss on the road last week at Lehigh.
BUCKNELL
Bucknell enters this weekend’s contest with a two-match winning streak. Bucknell competed in five fall tournaments, resulting in a combined 42-37 singles record and a 21-15 doubles ledger.
MOUNT ST MARYS
Mount St. Mary’s enters this weekend’s match with a three-match losing streak.
LAST TIMEOUT
Sunday (Feb. 12), both squads fell on the road at Lehigh.
The men's team fell, 4-0, while the women came up short against the Mountain Hawks, 4-3, in Bethlehem, Pa.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
On Feb. 25, the Lady Bison are set to host Georgetown at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation's East Capitol Campus in Southeast D.C. Match time has not yet been determined.
For the men, they travel to Cary, N.C., for the annual MEAC Round Up (March 16-18), hosted by North Carolina Central.
Paul was a confident man. Before his salvation, the apostle’s self-assured attitude came from trusting in his credentials, background, education, and position. However, his encounter with the Lord led him to realize these things were of little worth (Phil. 3:4-8). So, what was then the source of his boldness?
Paul’s relationship with Jesus formed the new foundation for his very existence (vv. 8-10). He not only recognized the inadequacy of everything he had previously relied upon—his knowledge, achievement, and authority; he also relinquished any notion of living independently of the Lord. The apostle lived his life through reliance upon God (Galatians 2:20).
Because of Paul’s unwavering trust in the Lord, He believed God’s promises to strengthen and equip him, guide him in every situation, meet all his needs, and never leave him. Paul took the Lord at His word and was empowered to meet adversity with boldness. His confidence was not in himself but in God’s presence, provision, and power; therefore, it remained strong.
Do you see why we can be confident followers of Christ? It isn’t who we are, what we believe about ourselves, or what strengths and abilities we have that matter. Developing a wholehearted trust and reliance on Jesus is what brings about confidence. How much do you trust Him?
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Many healthy individuals will ask why waste the time, money, or energy on going to see a doctor when nothing appears to be wrong. If you feel great, then you don’t necessarily need to get a full examination every year. However, you may want to join the estimated 44 million people who do get them each year, and here is why (1). An annual exam is a low cost investment into your future health span.
Here are some of the benefits of getting an annual exam. You can establish a relationship with a medical professional, so they can be your first line of defense when something goes wrong. Before, during, or after your appointment, you have the opportunity to ask about any serious or non-serious health related issues. A trained professional can perform a physical examination to identify any areas of concern. You can receive diagnostic tests and health screenings to provide you with an evaluation of your current overall health. These screenings could catch possible health concerns early, allowing for more effective and cost-efficient treatment. Many individuals have undiagnosed high cholesterol, high blood pressure, colon cancer, breast cancer, and/or kidney disease that can be caught earlier with proper screening (2). Lastly, a yearly exam can give you and your loved ones the peace of mind that you are in fact healthy (3).
When you’re ready to get your next screening, be sure to ask the following five questions.
#1: What Changes To My Lifestyle Can I Make To Improve My Overall Health And Well-Being?
Before your appointment, take a moment to consider any questions you have for the medical practitioner. Ask yourself how each of your body parts are feeling: head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, neck, shoulders, back, stomach, arms, hands, fingers, hips, thighs, knees, shins, ankles, feet, and toes. Ask yourself how your internal organs feel: brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach, bowels, and sex organs. Ask yourself how you could improve your lifestyle through diet, exercise, sleep or stress. Make sure you actually disclose anything that is bothering you or ask your healthcare practitioner about how you can improve your overall health. Your doctor isn’t there to judge you in any way. They’re there to help you.
#2: What Should I Get Screened For?
This is a highly individualized question since your age, gender, and your medical history can greatly vary your priorities. To narrow down your inquiries, you should first ask yourself about any underlying health concerns that you or your family members have, in order to get properly screened. Here is an noncomprehensive list that you may want to ask your physician about: lipid testing for cholesterol levels, hemoglobin A1c for diabetes, basic blood count to check red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin, colonoscopy check for abnormalities in the large intestine, colon, and rectum, pap test screening for cervical cancer, mammogram screening for breast cancer, iron and ferritin test for anemia, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test for a functioning metabolism, basic metabolic panel for kidney and liver function as well as electrolytes levels, urinalysis to check for diabetes, urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
#3: What Additional Tests Should I Take To Optimize My Health-Span Or Athletic Performance?
There are plenty of additional tests that you may want to ask for if it's appropriate for you. A comprehensive cardiac assessment can include an electrocardiogram or treadmill stress test to evaluate the strength and durability of your heart for both health and aerobic fitness (4). A complete lipid panel can provide you with your total cholesterol, hdl, ldl, triglycerides, and/or c-reactive protein to evaluate how your body is storing and using fat (5). Additional fitness assessments can include visceral fat analysis, muscle mass evaluation, DEXA bone density scanning, micronutrient vitamin testing, food sensitivity testing, resting metabolic rate testing, genomic fitness profiling, or home sleep apnea testing, all to further optimize your athletic performance.
#4: What Should I Expect During This Physical?
The medical facility should start with taking your vital signs: temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and your body mass index (height & weight). The doctor should review your medical history with you. Then, the doctor should observe your eyes, ears, nose, and throat for any concerns. The doctor should feel your body for any lumps or abnormalities. The doctor should listen to your heart and lungs using a stethoscope. The doctor should allow you to ask questions about anything you are concerned or curious about (6). If you are already on medication, make sure to ask if your prescription is still relevant. Ask if your dose is the optimal amount. Ask if that drug is still the most effective on the market. Ask if there are any new drugs or drug alternatives that could be more beneficial.
#5: What Are My Numbers?
After your visit, you should be contacted by the medical facility with all of your medical information, which should include your vitals as well as your test results. Make sure to call, email, text, or chat with your doctor to understand what your numbers mean for you. For example, if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and/or high blood sugar, it can indicate an increase of risk for developing conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, and/or diabetes. After you get your explanation, ask for next steps.
An annual physical exam is an important step for staying healthy, by addressing future health risks and maintaining a vibrant lifestyle through proper exercise, nutrition, supplementation, and sleep. Make sure you ask the above questions to stay on top of your health and keep your body functioning its best.
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