SPERRY Laguna Style

Just ordered these little gems. Look out beach, here I come: in 6-7 days of course. Got to wait for shipping and handling. SPERRY Laguna style. Looked all over the Washington, DC area for these. But ended up buying them online at Shoe Carnival.

Thank a Police Officer Today

With all the hype this morning surrounding the manhunt for the Boston Bombers, it is easy to forget that a service man was killed – in the line of fire. He was protecting his community and murdered by the hands of hate. If you pass a police officer today, please – remember to thank him or her for their service. 

This event reminds us, even more so, that the first responders are the most courageous.There is also another police officer in the hospital. Pray for his recovery.

Lord, we pray for your healing hands to be on him. And, we pray that you guide the surgeon's hands and that he makes a full recovery. We pray his family feels your comfort and strength, and that your power prevails. Amen. 

West, Texas

So much suffering. When will it end? I just wrote a post about praying for the people of Boston – now, we learn of another tragedy – a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. My heart breaks for the people of this community. As a Baylor graduate, I spent lots of time in West – known to the Baylor students for their wonderful kolaches. The World Famous Czech Stop is open and running this morning – feeding the people and first responders in the area. 

World Famous Czech Stop

Let us lift up this community in our prayers today. I pray that God’s hands of healing and comfort will ease so many broken hearts and minds today. Tragedy happens, but we know – it will not triumph. Amen. 

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Standing with Boston by Kneeling in Prayer

When tragedy strikes, it’s easy to question God. Why did this happen? Why do innocent people and children have to die? Why is evil prevalent in this world? 

I find myself asking all these questions. I asked them when more than two thousand Americans perished in 2001 at the hands of hate. I asked them when beautiful children were murdered in Connecticut this year. I asked them just today – when a 15 year old boy committed suicide at a Texas high school. 

Evil is alive on this earth. And, it rears its ugly head every single day. 

As a Christian, I believe that evil originates from the “evil one.” And, we read in John that he, in fact, is the “ruler of this earth.” And, the only thing we can do to combat the evil one – is pray.

The posting on Gov. Mike Huckabee’s Facebook page, rings true –“Standing with Boston by kneeling in prayer.” Let us come together as one – in Christ – and lift up the people of Boston. 

Gov. Mike Huckabee posted this touching poster on his Facebook page.

As of right now, we only know two of the victims’ names: Eight year-old, Martin Richard and 29 year-old, Krystle Campbell. May the prayers of our hearts go up for their families and loved ones! We ask that God places his hands of comfort upon them during this time and the tough days ahead. 

Also – we must pray for the 170+ people who are dealing with serious injuries such as amputations, shrapnel wounds and much more. We pray that God will ease their pain. That he will guide the hands of the surgeons and sew up their lesions with little to no damage. We pray for full recoveries.

A verse that I cling to is Jeremiah 17:16. It states,

“I have not run away from being your shepherd; you know I have not desired the day of despair. What passes my lips is open before you.” 

God does not desire suffering. In fact, I know, he is weeping over all the pain in Boston. He loves mankind. He died not just for one, but all. He made Martin and Krystle. They were fashioned by his hands. 

May the hearts of the broken be comforted with God’s unfailing love! And may the evil hands who carried out such an act of malevolence be brought to justice!  

Who Lives Here?

"Should anyone knock at my heart and say, ‘Who lives here?’ I should reply, ‘Not Martin Luther, but the Lord Jesus Christ.’” 
- Martin Luther

Dancing in the Minefields

Supporters of Chick-fil-A: Haters?

I am sick and tired of people saying that if you support Chick-fil-A {you were among those participating the Mike Huckabee induced Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day} that you are somehow advocating “hate.” That’s not the case. The reason Americans showed up in mass numbers to buy chicken sandwiches and nuggets is because –we stand for free speech and freedom of religion {promised to us in the First Amendment.} How hard is that to digest? 

Dan Cathy, President  & CEO of Chick-fil-A, is being persecuted – and yes, I said persecuted by liberal media and LGBT groups for simply stating his viewpoint on traditional and Biblical marriage. It’s not a secret – Chick-fil-A is a Christian company. They are closed on Sundays – for heaven’s sake! Why should one statement incite such fury from critics?

These critics are the ones that want government mandated healthcare. These critics are the ones that want a nanny-state. These critics are the ones that don’t want to lift a finger and still collect an unemployment check. These critics are the ones that want to abort precious lives, while forcing Catholic and other religious groups to pay for contraceptives {even though, it opposes their core values.}  These critics are the ones that want to give amnesty to all – without making people who have broken the law and mooched off the economy legally become United States citizens. These critics are the ones that are destroying the American Dream as we know it. There is something very wrong with this picture. 

Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emmanuel, once Chief of Staff for America’s Commander-in-Chief {can you say scary!?} was among the scoffers that stated, 

“Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago’s values”

He also went so far as to say he does not regret his comments made about the fast food chain restaurant. Classy Mayor – very classy! 

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino fired off a letter to the Chick-fil-A president. He writes, 

"In recent days you said Chick-fil-A opposes same-sex marriage and said the generation that supports it has 'an arrogant attitude. Now—incredibly—your company says you are backing out of the same-sex marriage debate. I urge you to back out of your plans to locate in Boston."

I live in a land of bi-partisan nature {Washington, DC} – although these days it feels like more of a dictatorship ruled by our “Tyrant King.” It’s funny because I thought that’s the reason our ancestors sailed across an ocean – freedom of religion and to escape the hands of despotism? Yet, we now have elected officials trying to reverse this freedom our fathers fought so hard and died for?  

It all boils down to the fact that we have lost sight of who we are. Even some Christians have misplaced this truth. We feed into political correctness in order to “fit in.” However, Jesus told us – 

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” - John 15:18-19

More troubling to me is seeing notable Christians posting articles and statements on their social media accounts not advocating that marriage should be between a man and woman. Jesus called us “the light of the world.” Conforming to the pattern of this world should not be an option. We should not see ‘both sides of the issue’ regarding something that is a Biblical truth. God’s word is black and white. Just like the Ten Commandments – there is a right and wrong. 

One prominent Christian author notes, 

“Again, what concerns me the most in all of this is the drawing of unmovable lines between the Christian community and the LGBT community when these lines need not exist. As Christians, we should be working tirelessly to find common ground instead of drawing battle lines.”

This is not accurate. We are to draw a line in the sand – for what is holy and what is unholy. No, we should never carry out hate crimes or treat someone who holds different beliefs as a “second class citizen.” But, we should not be forced in to accepting something that is a sin – in the eyes of Christianity. 

It’s encouraging that newly elected Texas Senator Ted Cruz served Chick-fil-A at his victory party last night. This is an indication that Americans are not completely glazed over by the ideals of the “kooks” {as Monica Crowley would call them.} 

Let’s not allow America to forsake her godly heritage. It’s time to claim that phrase that hangs over the speaker’s diocese on the Floor of the United States Representatives, “In God We Trust.”And, let's not forget that our First Amendment rights are precious. Once these cease to exist, America as we know it, will.