why do I need an AR-15?

Why do I "need" an Ar-15?  That's an interesting question that has been posed to me several times in the past two weeks, so let me respond here, and hopefully put this question to rest.

Why do I "need" an Ar-15?  I don't "need" an AR-15.  I "want" an AR-15.

Why do other folks "need" the things they own (motorcycles, golf clubs, boats, luxury homes, fancy cameras, canvases and paints, books, giant televisions, jewelry, art, expensive cars, monster gaming computers, giant trucks, lake front property, tats, etc.)?  Other than certain cases, none of them "need" any of these items; they "want" them.  These things bring fun, excitement, personal fulfillment, relaxation, sense of accomplishment, stress reduction, yada yada, etc.!  People "want" the things they want, for their own
personal reasons, and they are welcome to them, at least as far as I'm concerned.

So let's ask the honest question, why do I "want" an AR-15?

I enjoy shooting.  It brings me fun, excitement, personal fulfillment, relaxation, sense of accomplishment, stress reduction, yada yada, etc..  I don't hunt, I shoot paper targets.  I love putting those tiny holes in pieces of paper, cardboard, cans, 2x4s, etc.  It is the thing that makes me happy.  It relaxes me, gives me an opportunity for skill improvement and accomplishment, can be shared with friends and family (most of my circle shoots).  I look forward to shooting, read about shooting, research shooting, take classes on shooting, talk about shooting; shooting is my hobby.  I use shooting as a way of helping others by teaching safety classes.  I have used my firearms skills, and may again in the future, to protect myself and others.  When I do take my AR-15 out of the safety cabinet, I take it to the range and have big fun.

The AR-15 is an excellent shooting platform.  It is a high quality, well built (in most cases), reliable, safe, easily maintained and repaired, easily customized, economical (in most cases) firearm.  Millions of Americans "want" and own AR-15s for the same reasons. 

 How about the  "why do you need an AR-15 to hunt?" question.  An AR-15 is a perfectly viable, and widely used, hunting rifle.  Millions of Americans hunt with these rifles as it is an accurate, well performing rifle, and is highly adaptable to numerous hunting types.  The calibers and ammunition choices are wide and appropriate for hunting most small to medium sized game, and some large game as well.

The ARMALITE RIFLE 15 (not "assault rifle", or "automatic rifle", or "army rifle") is a proven, effective, valued and treasured semi-automatic civilian sporting firearm.

I "wanted" an AR-15, I got an AR-15, and I value my AR-15.  "Need" has nothing to do with the equation.  Along with millions of other firearms owners, most of whom are NOT members of the NRA (although I wish they were) I enjoy my shooting past time.  It puts a smile on my face, doesn't hurt anyone, can protect me and others if needed, and gives me a venue for self improvement and relaxation.  Some folks like yard sales, antiquing, and metal detecting; I like gun shows.  Much like golf, softball, boating, macrame, bike riding, jogging, photography, mudding, gaming, swimming, skiing, sky diving, scuba diving, painting, and reading, shooting makes my day.  I don't get many days of shooting, but range day makes it!

If you're curious, I invite you to join me for a range day, or encourage you to ask one of your gun owner friends to take you out and see for your self what shooting an AR-15 is like.  You may like it, you may not, but at least you'll have an experienced, informed opinion of what an AR-15 actually is, and what it is not.

See ya at the range!

a fresh start

Happy New Year!

"It's Your Life"  Francesca Battistelli

"It's your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It's an open door
It's your life

Are you who you always said you would be?
With a sinking feeling in your chest
Always waiting for someone else to fix you
Tell me when did you forget

To live the way that you believe
This is your opportunity
To let your life be one that lights the way"

Every day we get a  fresh start.  Every day when we awake from sleep and put our feet onto the ground, we have a new opportunity to reboot our lives.  Every day we get to make a choice to move forward, to remain in place or to take steps back.

Each of the choices we make provide an oportunity for reflection, consideration and revision. Was it the right choice? Should I do it differently next time? Was it the best I could do? Did I hit the mark in front of me (the mark that honors God)?

"Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for"

We were created for a specific purpose or purposes, with a definite, designed and achievable target. God put us here for a reason. When we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit of God, we will find ourselves moving in the correct direction.

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, some recoverable and some not.  Some of the choices I made for myself and for my family were certainly not the wisest choices I could have made.  I'd like to go back and fix the outcomes of those unwise choices; sometimes we get that chance, sometimes not.  Choices that affect others may not always be fixable.  Our imprint on the lives of others tends to be indelible.  We can leave broken hearts, minds and bodies in our wake or we can bless others on the paths we cross or walk alongside.  I've done both.

"To live the way that you believe
This is your opportunity
To let your life be one that lights the way"

I want to be the "one that lights the way".  I want "to live the way that you believe".

Every day I get a new chance to make a fresh start putting yesterday behind me and moving forward.

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Phillipians 3:13-14 (NASB)

Guided by the Holy Spirit and God's Word, I can begin each day with a renewed purpose and push to achieve that which God has set before me.  I can step onto a renewed path, picking up dropped pieces, pressing forward. 

facted points

Our life is like a precious stone, containing many aspects, many facets.  These facets combine to produce the whole, and, like a precious stone, each facet produces a distinct point of light, a sparkle, when exposed to the light, radiance produced when the whole is moved and turned in its entirety, some producing brighter sparkles than others.

Upon reflection, I have seen my life, my gem, become dull, non-radient.  I have have allowed myself to de-evolve, working and sleeping and enjoying few of life's enjoyable moments.  Time for a change!

fac·et

   [fas-it]  Show IPA noun, verb, -et·ed, -et·ingor ( especially British ) -et·ted, -et·ting.

noun

1.

one of the small, polished plane surfaces of a cut gem.

2.

a similar surface cut on a fragment of rock by the action ofwater, windblown sand, etc.

3.

aspect; phase: They carefully examined every facet of theargument.

4.

Architecture . any of the faces of a column cut in a polygonalform.

5.

Zoology . one of the corneal lenses of a compound arthropodeye.

You can't legislate morality, but you sure as heck can elect moral people!

When an open  minded person hears something contrary to their personal belief system, they seek out the truth.  When a closed minded person hears something contrary to their personal belief system, they insult the messenger and proclaim their superiority.  Which are you?  Which am I?

With all the serious issues at hand in this country, people are seriously discussing the 2016 presidential campaign?  Really? 

It's time to stop playing, "What if ...?", and get serious about making some decisions affecting our nation NOW!

The one sided commentary and bias pretending to be factual news reports from ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and NBC "news" is disturbing.

History is a spectator sport, rarely understood by the casual observer.

delusional?

It's not uncommon to hear lost folks refer to saved folks as "delusional"; the irony does not escape us.

1Co 1:18  For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

So often I wish that I could easily explain the concepts of God, the reality of our world, the inescapable truths to those who can not begin to understand, as I also could not before, in a manner that would be quickly understood, believed and accepted.

Each time I watch "The Matrix" I ponder the similarities between this fictional "reality" and the same unreality that exists here for those who are not lined up with God's Holy Spirit.

How do you explain to the "Neo's" of this world, that there is another existence, more real than can be imagined, but not attainable until one lets go of "reality" and steps out in faith to receive the unimaginable existence that is God's grace unfolding?

How do we get them to "take the blue pill"?

We don't.  We just tell them what we know to be true, prayerfully and with tenderness, and allow the Holy Spirit do His job, warming the heart and mind of those who are called.  We know He will, because He did the same for each of us in His family.

Awakened, reborn, alive.

1Co 13:12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

the slim factor

I am looking forward to a day when ya'll  might call me "Slim".

Yes, I know its a long way off, but I've been called so many other things in my 57 years on this planet that I'm excited about the prospect! LOL!

I looked at Weight Watchers idea of my "healthy weight" of 174 pounds; a total loss of 137 pounds. WOW! That's a whole 'nuther person I'm walking around!

In six weeks I've lost 23.8 pounds for an average of about 4 pounds per weeks. If I can maintain this rate, I will reach 174 pounds in about 28 more weeks, the first week of September, just before my eldest daughter turns 18. I would love to give her the birthday gift of a streamlined Dad!

Even if I only average 2 pounds per week loss, by next April, at the age of 58, I will be in much better shape than I was at 48 and maybe even 38!  What a delightful thought!

Two things must happen for me to reach that goal.

I must stay focused on continuing my path to a "healthy eater" lifestyle and I must incorporate regular, meaningful exercise.

I know that some of you might think that I should just stay watchful of the short term goal; 5#, 10#, 20#, 30#, etc., and there's wisdom in that, but, I'm a dreamer!

I can already see myself running and jumping again, chasing kites, dancing the night away, shooting hoops, having all the fun of a stronger, enjoyable body. I get a big smile just thinking about it!

Yep, I'll surely trip up a few times on the way, but I'll make more positive steps than negative, I'm thinking.

God didn't me here to watch my feet disappear, He put me here to walk for Him, and walk with enthusiasm again I shall!  It's going to be a fun journey!

You're all gonna be with me at the end and we'll all celebrate together!

See ya,

Steve

frantic times balanced by graceful blessings

Yesterday was a strange day for my family.

The annual Dad and Daughter Dance was in the works for the evening and I had taken off work, looking forward to spending a special evening with Beka and Rachel.

Around 3:00 pm, I was woken by the frantic ringing of my phone (yes, it can ring frantically), hearing first Jan's personal ring tone, followed immediately by my Mother-in-law's.  From a sleepy state I knew something was wrong by the sequence of calls and leapt from bed to respond.

Calling the last number missed on the phone, I got Rachel, in a tearful panic, telling me that Beka was having a seizure and I needed to get over there.   Confirming that they had called 911, I was quickly dressed and out the door, racing to the house.

I arrived seconds ahead of the EMT's, met at the door by two of Jan's young sewing students,  to find Jan cradling Beka on the floor; Rachel and Nan fearfully standing by.  The house was rapidly filling with emergency workers (eight in all!) and I took Rachel to one room to console her, then alternated between rooms, watching over Beka and Jan, consoling Rachel and Nana, dancing and joking for the two students, and praying through it all.

After the  EMT's had evaluated Beka, ran their tests, and let us know it was not a seizure, but a combination of stress, hyperventilation and possible over stimulation from meds we began to relax and let the intensely stressfull event settle.

Putting Beka to bed, we decided to wait a while to see who, if anyone, was going to the dance, eventually deciding that Rachel and I would go and Beka would stay home and rest.

Rachel and I had an absolutely marvelous time at the dance, dancing almost every song, and it was for me, a memory I will cherish forever.  Rachel was like another person, closely attached, less than ever a giggly little girl and so much more a sensitive young woman on the brink of  stepping into young adulthood.  Perhaps led by the emotional intensity of the afternoon, Rachel was relaxing in her daddy's arms, feeling safe and letting fear and anxiety fade away.

I like to think that God had stepped in, a continuance of answered prayer, restoring Beka, comforting Rachel,  Jan and Nana, bringing peace to the family.  I like to think that our Father in heaven always knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I like to think that because I know it to be true.

He is a faithful Father, ever true and always, always, exactly on time.

"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."  ~ Matthew 6:8

Merry Christmas?

Was Jesus born on December 25th? No, probably sometime in September.

"That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep.   All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened.   But the angel said, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy.  This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.   You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay."  ~ Luke 2:8-12


Was Jesus visited in a manger by three wise men?  No; the Bible tells us they visited sometime after his birth, and that Herod had reason to believe he might be as old as two years.

"When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, "Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."   When King Herod heard about this, he was worried, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem.  Herod brought together the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses and asked them, "Where will the Messiah be born?"  They told him, "He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote,  'Bethlehem in the land of Judea, you are very important among the towns of Judea. From your town will come a leader, who will be like a shepherd for my people Israel.' "   Herod secretly called in the wise men and asked them when they had first seen the star.   He told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I want to go and worship him too."  The wise men listened to what the king said and then left. And the star they had seen in the east went on ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.   They were thrilled and excited to see the star.   When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they knelt down and worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him.   Later they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they went back home by another road.  After the wise men had gone, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Hurry and take the child and his mother to Egypt! Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is looking for the child and wants to kill him."   That night, Joseph got up and took his wife and the child to Egypt,   where they stayed until Herod died. So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, "I called my son out of Egypt."  When Herod found out that the wise men from the east had tricked him, he was very angry. He gave orders for his men to kill all the boys who lived in or near Bethlehem and were two years old and younger. This was based on what he had learned from the wise men."  ~  Matthew 2:1-16


Does exchanging gifts honor Jesus?  I think He would be more honored by giving the money we spend on the season to the poor and to those in need.

Do the trees, garlands, bright colors, tinsel, etc., have anything at all to do with the birth of our Lord?  No; these are just trappings of the tradition of the holiday; some even curse the Christmas holiday because of the pagan origin of all these things.

Should a Christian participate in all these traditions "in the name of Jesus"?  Not in His name, in my opinion, but I have no problem with the holiday tradition, the exchanging of gifts, Santa Claus, the tree and all the rest either.  I'm just not going to do it as a false tribute to Jesus.  I'm going to do it because it's fun!

So is it really a crime to say "Seasons Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas"?  That's up to you.  I'm going to say "Merry Christmas" because it's fun, it's tradition and because December 25th is "Christmas", not "Season".

Is there any real Jesus in the holiday at all?  I think that all believers and followers of Jesus' teachings should take every opportunity to proclaim the name of our Lord whenever and wherever possible.  I think we can come together as fellow believers and join in song, praise and worship and celebrate His birth with a sincere heart and honor Him in this way.  I think that it's wonderful that so many come together on this one time of the year and that we have an opportunity to share Jesus with those who remain in the dark.  Let us shine in our smile, in our greeting at the church door, in the warmth of our homes (decorated or not) and in the generosity of our giving.  I think we can take this annual opportunity to promote Him to the world as best we can.

So, let's make room in the pew for the "once a year church-goers" and greet them with a warm and inviting smile!  Let's drop those coins in the Salvation Army buckets!  Take a picture of your children with Santa and be as goofy as you can during this holiday!  Give richly and with a cheerful heart, forgetting NOT those outside the walls of your home!

And let's all enjoy a giddy and merry Christmas season and holiday!

"little pitchers (still) have big ears"

Racy Talk: Kids Are Listening (and Learning)


The following was originally posted on 05/02/09; seems to bear repeating today.


I'm sorry for some of the movies I have let my children watch.  I have spent a lifetime becoming anesthetized to violence and profanity in movies; I can't allow that numbness, however, to color my judgement of the movies I allow my minor children to watch.

But I have.

While condemning others for allowing their children to view movies I don't think are appropriate, I have been guilty of the same behavior; different movies, same lapse in judgment.

Girls, I'm sorry for allowing your minds to take on a perverse edge.  I'm sorry that you have witnessed events on the screen that no child, and few adults, should "enjoy".  I'm sorry for the bad dreams that so often accompanied your sleep.  I'm sorry for disturbing your precious minds.

Rom 1:28-32 "And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. Although they know full well God's just sentence--that those who practice such things deserve to die--they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them."

All of these things I have allowed my children to watch from time to time.  All of these things, I have allowed my children to "applaud others who practice them.".

I ask God to forgive me for my sin of accepting a "worthless mind" that does not belong with a follower of the Lord Jesus.  I ask my children for forgiveness in allowing them to be corrupted at my hand.  I ask my wife for forgiveness in leading her astray and in not standing against evil in my home.

I have just read the review of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a movie I was looking forward to watching, a sequel to the X-Men movies I have enjoyed.  I had heard a reviewer on the radio the other day compare this movie to the recent Dark Knight, a movie I rented for my daughter,  and was stunned at his comparison of violence and language.  Upon reading his review, I'm no longer ready to watch this new film and am disgusted that I allowed my baby girl to watch the other.  It was not so long ago that I never allowed my girls to watch anything without my wife or I pre-viewing it for them and making a judgement based upon biblical standards.  I can not lay claim to that standard in the recent past.  I have reviewed in my mind some of the movies and shows I have allowed the girls, myself and my wife to watch, and I am ashamed.

I can't erase the scenes played out before my children's eyes or the words spoken into their ears, but I can ask God for His mercy on them and make sure that I do not engage in such unrighteous stupidity in the future.

dodge, duck, parry and heal

I'm reminded of a scene from The Matrix; Neo is being fired upon by his enemy and has learned that he can move at super speed to dodge the bullets as they whiz in his direction.   Most miss him, but one brings him down; just one.  That bullet reminds Neo, that, while he can resist, he is not invulnerable.

Many of us are wrestle with a variety of difficult and challenging areas of our lives, while enjoying freedom and victory in others.  We have learned to deflect, parry, dodge and absorb many of the "bullets" flung in our direction, but occasionally one will bring us down, for a time, "for a season".  Depending on the proximity of that wounding to our "heart", the recovery time may be short or lengthy, and, if we allow it, it can be permanently crippling or even deadly to us.

 "Trust in Jehovah, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness.  Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart.   Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.   And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, And thy justice as the noon-day.   Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:"  ~ Psalm 37:3-8a

I have wounded people in my days; some have forgiven me, others have not, some use it as a bludgeon against me.  I can not undo my actions, only repent, attempt to reconcile and seek forgiveness.

I have allowed wounds to embitter me and to withhold that same forgiveness for others.  That's the crippling and deadly wound; the wound that alters the course of my demeanor, my heart.  That's the wound that not only hardens me against the person who "flung the bullet", but grows skeptical hardness against innocent bystanders.

And that's the wound that most needs to heal.

"And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"   ~ Luke 23:33-34a

Father, help me to forgive with the same heart that Jesus called upon, Yours.

Heal my wounded heart, Lord, and bring healing to the hearts of those I have wounded.

In Jesus name, I bring this prayer to you.

Amen

let the trouble simmer and die

"For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer contention quiets down." ~ Proverbs 26:20

Strife and contention pass our way constantly; wisdom demands that we allow it to pass harmlessly by.

Contention, gossip, the inevitable human conditional need to be "right", all cause harm, both to those engaged and to those in casual attendance.  A "glancing' blow" wounds innocent ears.

Proverbs 26 highlights the heart of a contentious fool and gives us a remedy for avoiding the conflict.

Avoid the fool; let the fire die alone.

And if you see yourself in the verses?  Prayer always helps.

"I said, "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence."" ~ Psalm 39:1

"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." ~ Psalm 141:3

submission

If I desire all the blessings our Lord has for me, I must submit to His input into my life.  In submission I open my life to be filled by Him, for His purposes and His glory.  My lack of submission to Him, my submission only to self, limits blessings to only those I can provide, not the best, to be sure.

I've been thinking about the act of submission and the results of that, whether to God, or to each other.  When my wife and children are submitting to my desires, I am inclined to pour blessings onto them.  When I am submitted to my wife's desires, she is inclined to bless me, and my children, when I am open the their personal needs and desires, are more loving and respectful to me.

Our submissions, one to another, opens doors and inclines us to each other; as in a team building exercise, when all are open, when all are trusting, when all are committed and submitted, we all win.

and isn't that a better way?

Wives, {be subject} to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself {being} the Savior of the body.  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives {ought to be} to their husbands in everything.   

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also {does} the church, because we are members of His body.  ~ Ephesians 5:22-30

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ~ James 4:7

ground zero mosque

Should they or shouldn't they?

If we look at it from the perspective of "Land of the Free", "Equal Opportunity" and "All men are created equal", then we must not even blink.

When I consider the "freedom of religion" aspect of this great nation, I think we must stand back and not begrudge them the same freedom we all enjoy as Americans.

When I look at it from the perspective of these Muslims, who are showing incredibly poor taste, a divisive "stick it in your eye" mentality and a "we could not care less what you think" attitude, then I start to simmer a bit.

When I consider that so many of our "Let's give America away" politicians are in support of it, my simmer starts to bubble.

When I come to the inevitable conclusion that there will not be one thing good to come of it and that the sidewalk in front of it will be populated by protesters for years to come, I start to settle a bit.

If they think they will be able to peaceably enjoy their new building, I think they will be in for an unwelcome welcome by the people of New York City and visitors to the area.

America, we thrive in adverse times and the bond of freedom brings us together when needed.

I believe there are millions of "paper" Americans who want this country destroyed, to look like all the other countries, to lose it's unique individualism, "for the good of mankind",  and I know there are millions more off our shores who are wringing their hands in gleeful anticipation of the potential signing of treaties that will make their laws our laws.  This too will come, so long as talking-sticks like President Obama, Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, nancy pelosi, Harry Reid,, and countless other anti-patriots are in positions of power and influence, preaching one sided messages of  "tolerance" for their one-sided views only.

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, however, I'm going to help my country by maintaining awareness, voting my positions and helping in any way I can to enlighten others to the blessings of One Nation, under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for ALL!.

Don't sit in the back of the bus, get up front and drive; watch the road unfold before you!

re-education education

      "A counseling student has filed suit against a university in Georgia because she claims the school is forcing her to abandon her Christian beliefs in order to receive a degree.

      Jennifer Keeton, 24, is pursuing her master's degree in counseling at Augusta State University. But after her professors learned of her biblical beliefs -- specifically her views on homosexual conduct -- from both classroom discussions and private conversations with other students, the school imposed a "remediation plan.""

Christian student fights for her beliefs


Those who stand against First Amendment  rights for all Americans, damage us all.  A government that allows this behavior, may soon be knocking on my door and yours.

For too many years we have allowed a liberal public agenda to dumb down our Constitution and whittle away at common sense and moral behavior in our society.  Our judicial system, instead of protecting the rights of the innocent, has become a beacon of hope to the most vocal, the most outrageous and litigious elements of our citizenry, and has made a mockery of the dreams of countless Patriots who have given all for this country.

I once held a hope for the future of my country and for prosperous lives for my grandchildren.  I now see that as a shimmering dream, misty and fleeting; no longer an American dream, but a nightmare born, insanity and lunacy prevailing.

I will continue to follow God and I will continue to hold dear the sacrifice that Jesus made for me on that wooden altar.  I will continue to read my Bible and I will continue to teach my children that the words given to us by our Almighty are true and are the way of Life.

I'll continue to work on my posture as a follower of Jesus' teachings and as the man God designed me to be.

Along the way, I'll stay aware, send an email or two, fax my stand and vote my convictions.  I encourage you to do likewise.

Action Link

little sin? big sin? greater sin?

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and Exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; {they are} gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things." ~ Romans 1:20 - 2:2

According to the passage above, who is more wicked; the homosexual or the liar? Who is more deserving of God's wrath; the glutton or the murderer? Who is more shameful; the gossip or the prideful? Are they not held in the same regard of failing HIM WHO IS?

Shall the disobedient child escape God's just reward any quicker than he who shows no mercy to others? Will God let the troublemaker walk while caging the closed minded? Are not each of these worthy of the same punishment?

Will she who berates her children be held in esteem instead of him who does not keep his word. Will the lesbian be punished more sternly than the greedy woman who fails to help her fellow man in need? Does not each of these warrant God's promise of judgment in equal portions?

Each of us has a struggle and none of us is any "better" in the eyes of God for the type of sin we are given to. Lest any of us attempt to hold a prideful or scornful demeanor against another, let each of us remember that ALL sin is sin and there are NO greater or lesser sins before God.

I ask you, the next time you encounter an adulterer, confront a liar, discover a disobedient child, catch a thief or see my fat, gluttonous body waddling toward you, that you show each of them (us) mercy and that you show that same mercy to the rest of the sinners who surround us and return our gaze in the mirror.

"Godly" people railing against the sin of "ungodly" people; like that pot and the kettle, are avoiding the fact that we are all in the same boat, the human condition.

"For God so loved (all) the world, that He Gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him (anyone, anywhere, any time)shall not perish, but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16

Those of us who have found forgiveness in Jesus should be about the Father's business, sharing that treasure with others.

"and He answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." ~ Luke 10:27 KJV