Rev. Dr. Clinton Lewis

BAC '15

Built to Stand!

Brothers, we live in a world that constantly tests our footing. 

We face pressures in our homes, on our jobs, in our communities, 

and sometimes even in our own minds. 

The expectations are high, the obstacles are real, and the burdens can be heavy. Yet Paul tells us plainly in 1 Corinthians 16:13: Be watchful. Stand firm. Act like men. Be strong.  That’s not a suggestion—that’s a summons.

1. Be Watchful – Stay Spiritually Alert! 

The Greek word implies staying awake, being vigilant.  A man who sleeps through spiritual battles will wake up in spiritual defeat. The enemy doesn’t always announce himself. Sometimes he comes through: 

• Subtle compromise, 

• Silent discouragement, 

• Slow spiritual drift. 

The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion…”A security guard doesn’t sleep on the job. If he does, the whole building becomes vulnerable. In the same way, when a man stops praying, stops reading the Word, stops guarding his heart—his family and future become vulnerable. As men, we carry influence.  Whether you realize it or not, somebody is watching you—your children, your nephews, your community.

Stay alert!

Stand Firm – Stay Spiritually Anchored! 

To stand firm means to refuse to be pushed off your foundation. 

Rooted, Resolved, and Resilient! 

Rooted in the Word! 

Resolved in your convictions! 

Resilient in adversity! 

Ephesians 6:13 says: “Having done all, to stand.” After you’ve prayed, fasted, trusted, worked, forgiven—stand.  

Think about a tree planted by water. Storms bend it, winds shake it, but because its roots go deep, it doesn’t fall. Psalm 1:3 says the righteous man is: “Like a tree planted by streams of water…”

Brothers, we’ve endured storms historically—slavery, segregation, systemic injustice, personal setbacks. But we are still standing. Why? Because somewhere along the line, our grandfathers and grandmothers planted roots in Jesus. 

Now it’s our turn to stand firm in faith so the next generation has something solid to lean on!

Act Like Men – Stay Spiritually Mature! 

This isn’t about machismo. It’s about maturity. 

Biblical manhood means: 

Courage like Joshua (Joshua 1:9), 

Character like Joseph (Genesis 39), 

Consistency like Daniel (Daniel 6). 

Here it is…..A boy reacts, but a man responds.  A boy blames, but a man builds. When a child falls off a bike, he may cry and quit. But when a grown man falls in life—he gets back up, learns ,adjusts, and keeps moving.  Proverbs 24:16 says: “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again.” Manhood isn’t about never falling—it’s about always rising.

Be Strong – Stay Spiritually Empowered!

But notice—Paul doesn’t say be strong in yourself. Elsewhere in Ephesians 6:10 he clarifies: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”  Real strength is not arrogance—it’s dependence on God. Samson had physical strength but lacked spiritual discipline. David wasn’t the biggest man on the battlefield, but he had spiritual power because he trusted God. 

A phone with no charge looks powerful but is useless. You can have muscles, money, and reputation—but without spiritual power, you’ll run empty. Prayer is your charger. The Word is your current. The Holy Spirit is your power source. Isaiah 40:31 says: “They who wait for theLord shall renew their strength…”  Not replace—renew. That means you will get tired. But God will refill you.

Brothers, we are leaders in our homes, examples in our communities, and carriers of legacy. Our sons need to see faith modeled. Our daughters need to see strength with tenderness. Our communities need men who are stable, not just strong. 

You are built to stand: 

When culture shifts! 

When finances fluctuate! 

When friends fall away! 

When fear tries to creep in! 

You are built to stand, because you are anchored in Christ. Stand when it’s unpopular. Stand when it’s uncomfortable. Stand when you’re misunderstood. Stand when you’re tired. And if you’ve fallen—get back up.  Micah 7:8 declares: “Though I fall, I will rise.”

Brother, you are not defined by your past mistakes. You are not limited by society’s labels. You are not confined by yesterday’s failures. You are built by God – bought by Jesus – empowered by the Spirit – so be watchful and stand firm!!!

The Brentwood Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc in line with our Senior Kappa initiative is: To recruit, reclaim, and retain members of the Fraternity who are 60 years. of age and older as active, contributing , fully financial brothers, to encourage implementation of that will facilitate their involvement that will-being! 

We also encourage our local chapter committees to involve themselves in community service initiatives that are geared toward senior citizens in their respective service area! Senior Brothers! Nupes, we welcome you to get involved and help promote the ideals of our Noble Klan! 

In 2026 "Good Brothers" know that you can become involved and come back home to Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Brentwood Alumni - The National Award Winning  Brentwood Alumni Chapter is a great place to start! 

Look forward to Konnecting Senior Kappa Brothers! 

Yo! Yo!

Brother Ronald "Five O" Ruffin

Delta Pi

Kaduceus Korner

Brother Ryan D. Mire, MD

March is colon cancer awareness month!

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related fatalities in the United States. Over the past two decades, the incidence of colon cancer cases has declined due to heightened awareness and

screening measures. Consequently, there is overwhelming evidence demonstrating that screening for colon cancer is an effective modality for maintaining health and mitigating the risk of colon cancer

development.

Colon cancer originates from polyps, which are growths within the colon’s lining that possess the potential to transform into cancer. If these polyps are removed during a colonoscopy procedure (the

primary screening modality), the likelihood of polyps developing into cancer is significantly reduced.

Common symptoms of colon cancer include alterations in bowel habits, the presence of blood in the stool, thin caliber stools, abdominal cramping, and unintentional weight loss.

The most recent guideline recommends colon cancer screening for individuals aged 45 and above. However, earlier screening may be initiated for individuals with a family history of a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with colon cancer. 

Several screening modalities are available, withthe gold standard being colonoscopy.  Colonoscopy provides direct visualization within the colon and facilitates the removal of polyps. Other acceptable screening modalities include stool testing for microscopic blood, stool testing for genetic DNA mutations within the stool, barium enema for indirect

visualization by an X-ray, and a relative recently approved blood test for colon cancer screening.

It is important to note that while a blood test has been approved, it has not been endorsed by preventive screening guidelines due its low detection rate of advanced pre-cancerous polyps. Consequently, many insurance companies do not cover this test.  Similar limitations exist for stool-based testing options, which is the primary advantage of a colonoscopy as the gold standard screening modality.

Therefore, I strongly urge Brothers aged 45 and older to schedule a colon cancer screening test with your physician or healthcare professional for colon cancer prevention!

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