But Seriously

Remembering Echo

Summer is almost over and a lot has changed in our lives.  We left the house where we were robbed and we are in the process of buying a new house to start life in a new place.  We will miss our church family and our friends, but we are enjoying this new beginning.  Sadly, as the summer began, we said goodbye to one of our dogs.  Echo, our chihuahua, suffered from encephalitis and passed away in May.  I would like to tell you what a sweet little dog he was, but in reality, he was a stinker.  He had an attitude and he wanted a lot of attention (don't we all).

We went through a lot with that dog.  He was about 6 months old when we were robbed in our home.  He went from being a very mellow chihuahua to (almost) that twitchy, paranoid chi stereotype.  After the home invasion, we had to watch his diet carefully--he was prone to low blood sugar.  We had him almost 4 years.  It wasn't quite enough.  The encephalitis came on quickly and severly.  Unfortunately, we were unable to save him.

We are sad to lose little Echo.  After the loss, we looked through our pictures to find what we could of him for my son.  I made a slide show of all the pictures and videos I could find.  You can watch it below.

 
I still miss the little guy. 

Open Letter to President Obama

via www.thebravest.com

If you are confused, disappointed, disillusioned, or outraged about the so-called Justice Department taking over the trials of terrorists and bringing them to New York as the centerpiece of a three-ring media circus, I urge you to click the link above. Read the Open Letter of Protest to President Obama and add your signature if you agree.

Planned Parenthood Director's Conversion Draws National Attention

The day Abby Johnson witnessed an abortion with an ultrasound was the day her life changed.  Johnson spent 8 years of her life working for Planned Parenthood--an organization that provides family planning services as well as abortions.  She says she thought she was helping women, but when she saw through an ultrasound how a baby in utero reacted to the abortion, she could not be a part of it anymore.  PP was not a family planning organization that occasionally did abortions, it was an organization that survived on the slaughter of the unborn.  An article on lifesitenews.com (linked below) reveals that Planned Parenthood's abortion profits carry the weight of the companies other endeavors:

The latest financial report Planned Parenthood, for the year 2006-2007, shows that the abortion behemoth increased the number of abortions it committed from 264,943 in 2005 to 289,650 in 2006.  Total revenue amounted to over $1 billion dollars, with the organization's profit margin - "excess of revenue over expenses" - soaring from $55.7 million in 2005 to $112 million in 2006. The organization typically receives over $300 million in taxpayer funds every year.

Johnson said she became involved with the clinic "to help women and ... [do] the right thing."  The idea of increasing abortion numbers to increase revenue was repugnant to her. She said that ideally the facility's director would provide "so much family planning and so much education that there is not a demand for abortion."

But this ideal was not shared by the rest of Planned Parenthood, she said, because "abortion is the most lucrative part of Planned Parenthood's operations."

"With the family planning corporation really suffering," Johnson said, "they depend on the abortion corporation to balance their budget, help get them out of the hole and help make income for the company."

She continued, "They really wanted to increase the number of abortions so that they could increase their income."

via www.lifesitenews.com

Having now spoken out against the abortion giant, Johnson is under attack. Planned Parenthood has obtained a court order to keep her from talking. At the same time, leftist websites like Salon.com claim to have inside information from unnamed "confidential informants" who claim Johnson did not really have a conversion, and that she quit her job for the money. (Really!?!) That does not sound like such a good plan to me--but even if it is true, does it matter?  If she is speaking out against the abortion giant for money, does that discredit her witness?  Does it make her worse than the company that aborts babies for money?

Forgiveness

It takes great faith to forgive.  

I don't know if someone famous has already said that, but I do know that I have been through the fire and I have just begun to plumb the depths of forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a concept wrapped in humility.  We must be humble if we ask for forgiveness, and we must humble ourselves to forgive others.   Who is humbled more: the man who says he is sorry and wishes the event never happened or the man who says you are forgiven and I release my personal claims against you? When we engage with forgiveness, we appropriate our faith to act in humility.  Either man runs the risk of being trampled--either by punishment, or by being offended again.

Yes, it takes great faith to forgive.  I have learned to forgive things I never thought possible two years ago.  God, however, has extended grace to me and in response, I want to extend grace to others.  That grace of forgiveness does not necessarily interrupt justice and it is no guarantee that I won't be hurt again, but for today and today's circumstances, I have forgiven and I am not required to carry the chains of a hardened heart.  Ancient hurts and recent trauma's--in forgiving both, I find myself living a better life.

With faith, I also have hope.  I hope for better circumstances -- stronger families with better men to lead as fathers, husbands, and citizens.  Ultimately, my hope on earth is a pale reflection of my greater hope in heaven -- where today's trials purchase eternal glory.

It takes great faith to forgive and I exercised that faith today.

Remembering 911

Today, I found a few blog postings by people who were in New York on 9/11/01.  They recount that day in their own words and in their own way.  While reading these accounts, my memories of that day returned with crystal clarity.

Reading these words refreshed my anger at the 911 tragedy.  It also gave me a new perspective--an eyes on the ground perspective of that horrible day.

The stories are tragic and touching.  They are real-life in the face of unspeakable terror.  I hope you will take time to read them too; and not just the post, but the comments that follow.

Live from New York, that Unforgettable Day

Remembering the World Trade Center  Chris Sciabarra has written a tribute every year . . . 

I remember September 11

9/11 Islam Delcares War on US the pictures made me cry.  The comments made me mad.

One Liberty Plaza, 9/11/2006

Never Forget please be sure to view his 9/14/01 photo slideshow, linked in the posting

Stiff Upper Lip

Project 2,996 -- Remembering the Slain

Quotes of the Day: Remembering 09/11/01

Blood of Heroes

The Jihad Against America Begins

Five Years Later

If you know of more links, please add them in comments.

A Tribute to Danielle Delie

This year, in memory of the 9/11 attacks on America, I am writing a tribute to Danielle Delie.  Danielle was 47 when she was taken from us.

I am sad to say that I did not have a long time to research Danielle.  I found out about the opportunity to write a tribute on Wednesday night.  Given more time, I would have liked to speak to her family.  I was not able to put it all together with personal interviews.  In my research, though, I did learn the following things about this beautiful woman:

Danielle was known for her joyful disposition and her ever-present smile.  Even friends who had not seen her in 30 years remembered her golden smile.

Danielle was the kind of friend who inspired trust.  She valued relationships and her friends knew they were loved.

She was not just personable, she was genuine.  Known for her warm heart, Danielle Delie was the kind fo person you would want to be around.  On her Legacy.com tribute page (linked below) Raymond Brown, of New York, said this of her:

She possessed the rare talent of combining poise and elegance with a complete lack of pretension and true generosity of spirit. A simple conversation among friends was one of her greatest delights, and it became something special when she took part.

Danielle was smart and strong. She spoke two languages fluently, English and French.  She had a talent for eloquent writing and would complete the NYT crossword puzzle in ink.

As I looked for information about her, I wondered what Danielle would be doing today.  Some things probably would not change:  She would encourage and support her family and friends, she would care for her pets.  Would she still be working?  If so, at the same job?  Would she still live in the city or would she have moved to the country, or even to France?  With her mastery of words, would she have written a book?

We don't know, because she was taken from us on September 11th, 2001.  

I have plenty of questions and curiosities, but there is something I know for sure:  She would have continued to have a great impact on the lives around her.  In finding tributes about her and reading what others said, I found a lot to admire about this woman.  If you knew Danielle, I encourage you to add a comment to this post.  If you did not know her, read the links below--you will find, like me, that you wish you had known her.

Other tributes to Danielle:

MMC Memorial

Terrorist Attack.com

9-11 Heroes

Legacy.com

Seraphim's Journal of Muses

New Serving Kennedycare

Democrats, never willing to let a crisis go to waste, are seizing the opportunity to capitalize on the death of one of their own.  Like hyenas, they have turned a sad loss into a political feast.  With Senator Kennedy's tragic passing, they have redirected their efforts from open debate in town-hall forums to emotional appeals in memory of the "lion of the Senate."  Having realized that they will never win the healthcare debate as long as pesky facts get in the way, they are now asking Americans to forget all those things we have learned about the healthcare bill and just support it, because that's what Teddy would have wanted.  

(September 17, 2007 - Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News)

I am in complete agreement with James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal in his article today; Congress' Death Cult.  I find it disgusting that they can not even let the man be laid to rest before they try to earn political capital off of his passing.  I also find it insulting that the Democratic Elite think we should let them get away with this healthcare farce just because they change the name to honor Senator Kennedy.  

That the senator would support the bill is not in question.  That they would use his death as a springboard is utterly distasteful.  House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi is among the worst.  Within hours of the announcement of Senator Kennedy's death, she issued a statement for healthcare reform.  Given the late hour and the rapid response, it would appear to me that she had been rehearsing her prepared statement for days--just waiting for the opportunity to use it.

Here are just a few press releases to illustrate my point:

NPR--Healthcare Kennedy's Final Fight

ABC News--Win One for Teddy

Senator Byrd's statement on Kennedy's death

"Inconvenient" Al Gore's statement on Kennedy's death

Of course, I can't be a good right-wing nutcase without invoking Fox News.

Right now, today, as his family mourns his loss, his friends and colleagues should be paying tribute to what he did in his life instead of pushing their personal agendas.  By all means, let his family grieve and bury him before resuming political games.

Obama to Vets: We're Better Off Without You

I thought I was outraged by the concept of "End of Life Counseling" as part of healthcare reform but I had not seen the depths of my rage until I heard about a Wall Street Journal article that exposes EOL counseling for our courageous veterans.  Bad enough that the Commander and Chief advocates suicide for veterans, but VA Secretary, General (ret.) Eric Shinseki is also culpable as he fully supports the "death book" for U.S. Veterans.    

I can't say I am surprised about the Obama administration.  I truly believe Obama's concept of sacrifice is "something other people do for me."  I don't think he has the capacity to empathize with our soldiers and their self-sacrifice.  Shinseki?  He is another matter entirely.

Shinseki by Reuters; Obama by AP

I served in the Army when Shinseki was active duty and even got to hear him speak at Fort Carson, CO.  At that time, he spoke of our soldiers with pride.  Today, he treats them as disposable parts.  I don't know if he is putting political ambitions above his duty to his soldiers, but making this book mandatory is beyond disgusting; it is tantamount to fratricide.  Regardless of the outcome of this "death book" mandate, Shinseki needs to go.

Our veterans need to be met with dignity and appreciation for their great sacrifices.  Their lives are inspirational and many of them claw through the depression that comes with severe injury to overcome their circumstances and give hope to the injured, ill, and wounded.

Here is an excerpt from the WSJ article by Jim Towey:

Who is the primary author of this workbook? Dr. Robert Pearlman, chief of ethics evaluation for the center, a man who in 1996 advocated for physician-assisted suicide in Vacco v. Quill before the U.S. Supreme Court and is known for his support of health-care rationing.

"Your Life, Your Choices" presents end-of-life choices in a way aimed at steering users toward predetermined conclusions, much like a political "push poll." For example, a worksheet on page 21 lists various scenarios and asks users to then decide whether their own life would be "not worth living."

The circumstances listed include ones common among the elderly and disabled: living in a nursing home, being in a wheelchair and not being able to "shake the blues." There is a section which provocatively asks, "Have you ever heard anyone say, 'If I'm a vegetable, pull the plug'?" There also are guilt-inducing scenarios such as "I can no longer contribute to my family's well being," "I am a severe financial burden on my family" and that the vet's situation "causes severe emotional burden for my family."

When the government can steer vulnerable individuals to conclude for themselves that life is not worth living, who needs a death panel?

Stolen Innocence

Cho-Mos.  That's what they call them in prison; cho-mos.

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  John 3:19 NASB

He lived a tough life.  Childhood saw him bounced from one foster-home to another.  Who knows how many abuses he sufferred as he descended into a life of drug and alcohol dependence.  He was a hard worker and a nice guy, but he always had a cloud over him.

She didn't have it easy.  As a young adult, she found herself in trouble with the law--a small mistake with big consequences.  She wanted to get on the right path.  She worked hard and kept herself out of trouble.

They became friends.  When she had her baby, he stood by her and helped when he could.  She got a night job and he offered to babysit.

The baby became a toddler, barely able to speak when it happened.  The abuse was terrifying.  The wounds were horrible.  The situation was a nightmare.  He was trusted, but he betrayed--both her and the baby.  Nobody imagined it could be true, but the shocking evidence defied their disbelief.  Babies aren't designed for this kind of mistreatment.

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.  Romans 1:22-27 NASB

Some of her friends had served time.  They talked about what they did to child molesters--cho-mos.  That's what they call them in prison; cho-mos.  They have no tolerance for cho-mos.   

In the midst of all of the angst and anger, the natural reaction of the family and friends is to want to find him and avenge the baby.   That vengence, however, can not undo what happened.  Circumventing the law only creates more trouble.  She has enough grief already.  She is already swimming in "what ifs".

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 12:19 NASB

The story is one of thousands that happen every day.  Children abused by adults they trust.  Some of the abusers are men, some are women.  Too few are the warning signs.  Understanding comes too late--a picture of life at it's most cruel and unfair.  My heart broke as I listened to the nurse.  I could empathize with her friends and family; angry and grieving the loss of innocence for one so young.   

These kinds of crimes are happening more frequently in our permissive society when they should be happening less.  Without a moral compass, people committ unspeakable atrocities.  So how do we protect our children?  Who do we know we can trust?  She had known him over a decade and never saw signs of this kind of behavior.

1st, Don't leave your child with a teenage or adult male who seems eager to babysit.  Frankly, most men would rather do anything else than babysit.  While some men are genuinely nice and love children in an innocent way, you can not tell for sure until after the abuse has occured.  The genuinely nice guy should understand that this protective measure is not an indictment against him.  Most sexual abuse is perpetrated by men.  As a matter of fact, a forensic nurse I spoke with said that most abuse is done by a boyfriend of the mom or trusted male friend.

2nd, Never trust a stranger.  Although not a factor in this situation, I am shocked to hear that children have been entrusted to the care of strangers who their parents had met only the night before.

3rd, Look for a licenced, reputable daycare or a responsible married couple.  Having two or more adults supervising the child offers accountability and decreases privacy, thereby decreasing the likelihood of an abusive incident.  If the need for a baby sitter is outside day-care hours, a responsible married couple may offer a reasonable option.  Some indicators of responsibility include having a steady job, displaying wisdom and discernment, raising well balanced children of their own, and not using alcohol or drugs.

4th, Never trust your child with an adult who gets drunk or high.  Alcohol and drugs affect judgement even before the user demonstrates a physical response to the chemicals.  Alcohol and chemical impairment are a significant factor in the commission of crimes.  According to the Bureau of Justice:  In the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 32% of state prisoners and 26% of federal prisoners said they had committed their current offense while under the influence of drugs. Among state prisoners, drug offenders (44%) and property offenders (39%) reported the highest incidence of drug use at the time of the offense. Among federal prisoners, drug offenders (32%) and violent offenders (24%) were the most likely to report drug use at the time of their crimes.

What if you think your child has been abused?  Older children display different signs than infants and toddlers.  Here are some links:

Warning signs of toddler abuse.

Warning signs of abuse in older children.

PreventChildAbuse.org has resources for new parents as well as information to help recognize signs of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Phillipians 2:3-4 NASB

Maybe you have a friend who has been a victim.  What can you do to help?

1.  Pray for the victim's restoration and the abuser's salvation.

2.  Meet basic needs for the victim like meals, a safe place to spend a night, assistance with rent, a change of clothes.

3.  Be a shoulder to cry-on.  Listen.  Refrain from offering advice.  Sometimes just being a sounding board is more valuable.

4.  Encourage your friend to get counseling.  A Pastoral Care Ministry can greatly facilitate the healing process.  Often it is beneficial for close friends and relatives to seek counseling as well.

5.  Call in professional help.  You can report abuse to Safe²Tell either online or by phone at 

877-542-SAFE (877-542-7233)

An Empty Red Envelope

I like supporting good ideas.  In my opinion, a good idea accomplishes a clear purpose and it is easy to communicate.

Today I got an e-mail from Diane, a friend who got an idea from a friend.  The idea is to send a pro-life message to people who otherwise won't hear one--in the white house.  I hope you will join along.

Psalm 139: 13-16

  13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
  and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
  14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
  15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
  as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
  16 You saw me before I was born.
  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
  Every moment was laid out
  before a single day had passed.

 Here are the details:

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Dear Friends and Intercessors:
 
  This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. I have been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal.
 
  As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear.
 
  Here is what I would like you to do:
 
  Get a red envelope. From a party supply store or office supplies. On the front, address it to
 
  President Barack Obama
  The White House
  1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
  Washington , D.C. 20500
 
  On the back, write the following or similar message.
 
  This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.
  It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world.
  Responsibility begins with conception.
 
  Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this email to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president. Or a some staff people…..

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Join the Empty Red Envelope facebook group.