Chicago Mayor Rahm Emannuel tried to pressure Bank of America to stop doing business with firearms companies. Viewed as perfectly acceptable behavior by a large portion of America, firearms manufacturers copied the tactic and returned the favor.

Larue Tactical, Olympic Arms, Templar Custom, Extreme Firepower, Barrett Arms and now RAM Arms have vocalized that they will not sell their products to government agencies that support the President’s position on gun rights.

The President believes that ordinary citizens do not need shotguns with more than 5 rounds, pistols with more than 10 or rifles with more than 10. The math is a bit fuzzy as most murders are committed with handguns containing relatively few rounds. The number of rounds is actually irrelevant. In fact, the gun is irrelevant – apparently, when someone decides to kill someone else, they prefer baseball bats or choking the life out of them over guns.

The number of gun crimes committed by lawful gun owners is infinitesimal - yeah, like, near non-existent compared to the total. I know, who wants facts when emotion can lead us to a final decision?

Oddly, criminals get guns that the lawmakers in Chicago, New York and LA have banned.  How is that possible? They made the law, certainly that means everyone will follow it?

Sarcasm aside, many firearms manufacturers have decided to answer the government’s unconstitutional overreach by refusing to sell government agencies arms or ammunition. As the President says, the people should come first – and so they shall.

The firearms and ammunition manufacturers have been clear that they will sell to law enforcement officers who need equipment and support citizen’s ability to defend themselves during the several minutes (10+ on average) that it would take police to get there. Think about what an assailant could do to you or your family  in 10 minutes…

If government departments or law enforcement officers believe that the President has the best answers to violent crime, they may find themselves without anyone to supply them.

RAM Arms is a manufacturer of firearms and a retail sporting goods outlet. RAM’s CEO Richard Mitchell said in a Facebook post:

“While RAM Arms supports our Deputies and Police Officers with every ounce of our hearts, we will not be selling patrol shotguns, ARs or other equipment or ammo to government agencies that support the President’s version of violent crime prevention. As Chicago has proven – his plan doesn’t work and only disarms the innocents.

Individual LEOs that support a citizen’s right to defend themselves with arms are always welcome.

If you haven’t actually thought through your gun rights position, we cannot ethically sell you much of anything.”

Fives states were involved in the investigation– Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and Texas.

May God bless, protect and keep our soldiers and their families. Without their sacrifices, we would not know the freedoms we know today. May we never forget that they hold the freedom we take for granted every day in their very hands!

When A Soldier Comes Home

When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard…

…to listen to his son whine about being bored.

… to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.

… to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassles of getting ready for work.

… to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night’s sleep.

… to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.

… to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.

… to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.

… to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they’re afraid to send their kids off to summer camp.

… to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.

… to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold.

… to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.

… to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.

… to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year.

… to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.

The only thing harder than being a Soldier…

Is loving one.

I am not one for going to the movie theater, preferring instead to watch movies from the comfort of my own couch. It just makes logical sense to me. It does not cost a drop in the bucket what the cost of going to a movie theater costs these days. I can have all the snacks I want at a mere fraction of the cost, and most importantly, I can actually pause the movie and go to the powder room when necessary!

I’m sure it came as quite a surprise to my husband when he received an email from me telling him that I wanted to go see this movie! I knew we had an upcoming trip out of town, away from the kids, and knowing how much he loves going to the movie theater, I thought this would be a great surprise for him to have me actually say I want to go to a movie theater.

I had seen the preview several times, but did not read any movie reviews. I have found that so often, the movies I like are given bad reviews by other reviewers. Knowing this movie is a wholesome movie made me stay away from reviews even more.

I have visited the main page of the website, but did not want to go any deeper until after I saw the movie. Needless to say, I was completely surprised by the entire plot.

This is just a blurb from the actual synopsis of the Courageous website:

From the writers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants comes a story about four law enforcement officers whose lives are deeply tested as they embrace their calling to serve and to protect. As crime fighters, they must face danger every day. Yet when tragedy hits close to home, they are left wrestling with their hopes, their faith, and their priorities as men. 

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they face danger every day. Yet when tragedy strikes close to home, these fathers are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, and their faith. From this struggle will come a decision that changes all of their lives. With action, drama, and humor, the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures embraces God’s promise to "turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers." Souls will be stirred, and hearts will be challenged to be … courageous!

Having seen all of the movies that have been produced by Sherwood Church in Albany, Georgia, I thought I knew what to expect. A heart-felt movie that dealt with real life, but not with quite the same depth and reality as Hollywood. This movie provides very little distinction between the production quality of professionals and those who are called by God for the purpose of bringing Him glory in their movies. That is- with the major exception of the foul language that seems to be a "necessity" in every Hollywood movie.

Please do not get me wrong- unfortunately, I have grown accustomed to the harsh language that peppers our world today, and in fact, at times have been known to speak in a way not so becoming of a lady. Sadly, I’ve grown so accustomed to this reality that there are very few times I’m actually phased by foul language. However, in many movies that come out of Hollywood today, it’s as if they just stuck a four-letter word here and there to seem cool and acceptable to their audience. 

There were times in this movie that I was literally hanging on to the edge of my seat, anticipating what was coming next! There was a moment of actual fear, as I became so lost in the story that it was almost reality for me. There were times I laughed. And there were many times I cried. It hit home for me because of past experiences in my life.

I was not aware of the fact that the movie deals with the tragic death of a loved one. The raw emotion portrayed by the family members who lost their loved one struck a cord in me that cannot be explained. Only those who have lost a loved one in a horrible tragedy know that raw emotion. Only those who have clung to the hem of His garment in the aftermath of the tragic death can know exactly what I’m talking about.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this movie! Support a Christian movie that has a lot to offer- entertainment, wisdom, knowledge, strength, comfort, laughter, tears, action, romance, and challenges. I specifically challenge any man who is a father to go see this movie. It very well could change your life, and how you view the calling on your life.

While it is a very well made movie, technically, in my opinion, it is a movie made from the talents and gifts of many every day, ordinary people. It is not a movie made by the Hollywood stars and starlets who see millions of dollars per movie. The real-life quaintness was refreshing to me.

If you go to the movies to critique the camera angles, lighting and video technique, this may not be the movie for you. However, I still recommend it to you. I simply challenge you look through the eyes of your heart rather than the eyes of the technical critic in you. 

".. honor begins at home."

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  
Joshua 1:9

"True remorse is never just a regret over consequence; it is a regret over motive."
Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic’s Notebook, 1960

All too often these days, we hear that a person has demanded an apology from another person. It happens on all sides of the political aisle, and in general, in all areas of our lives.

There is a question that has not been asked of this new fad of apology seekers.

What happens if the person who has the demand put on them is not truly sorry, but just gives an apology because one was demanded? Does that make the situation right? Does that truly make you feel better?

As with many things in today’s society, authentic apologies are rare. It is a character trait that seems to have been lost in this new and improved "enlightened" society we have created with the onset of political correctness. All too often, when we hear someone apologizing, it is not an apology for their actions, but instead, an apology that they were caught. The sincerity of their heart in the apology is missing.

When my children get into squabbles, I do not "demand" they apologize to the offended sibling. Nor do I tell them to tell someone they are sorry. Instead, I talk to them about their actions; I ask them questions about whether or not their actions were right or wrong; I ask them how they think the offended person feels about what happened; and then finally, I ask them how it makes them feel personally to know they were the cause of the other person’s feelings being hurt. 

"A stiff apology is a second insult…The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt."
Gilbert K. Chesterton

I do not want empty words, when I am given an apology. If it is not felt from the heart, I would rather not have it. If it is a situation where the person is more sorry they got caught than they are their actions, an apology means absolutely nothing. I want to teach my children this concept. If you are not sorry for your actions, do not give the apology. Yes, there are still consequences for not being sorry. Proverbs 16:18 says it plainly:

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

An apology is an effort to "make things right."

The official Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of an apology is:

an admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret

 There is a qualifier right there in the definition. "…accompanied by an expression of regret."

In researching this article, I found an excellent website: Perfect Apology. From this website, on the "Regret and Remorse" section, it says:  

We’ll begin here by describing important distinctions between mistakes and actions that elicit feelings of regret and those that expose stronger feelings of remorse.  

Regret is a rational, intelligent and, on occasion, emotional reaction to some unexpected, unintended and often costly consequence of some event or action.

Remorse, on the other hand, takes on a bitter, deeper form that elicits much stronger personal and emotional reactions to personal guilt, societal shame, humiliation, resentment and often anger.

There is a noticeable difference in regret and remorse, however, they are both an emotional reaction. If there is no emotion- there is no sincerity. Without sincerity, an apology means nothing.

If you do not truly regret your actions, you should not apologize. Your pride and haughty spirit will bring you very painful consequences, but lying about being sorry for your actions just heaps more bad consequences on you. If you are not truly interested in making things right, but instead still believe that you are right, and you are simply seeking to appease the other person, your words mean nothing.

"It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one’s heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and valuesin order to genuinely apologize."
Stephan Covey

There are great rewards for having a heart of humility, and acknowledging when you are wrong, and truly seeking to make things right with the person or people you have wronged.

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16

There is healing with an apology from the heart- a true apology. It is a healing of the relationship and circumstances of the offense to begin with. In many situations, there are other situations that are healed as a result of an apology.

Oftentimes, those who demand an apology fail to take a look in their own backyard.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

We all have faults. However, if we focus on the faults of others, demanding that they owe us an apology, we must then look at how we have wronged other people and apologize to them. It is wrong to demand something of someone when you are not willing to do the same for those you have offended.

The true test of character comes from your actions in the future. If you apologize for something, but continue to do the same thing, you have clearly shown your apology was just empty words. 

"Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past."
Tryon Edwards

__________
Sources:

Merriam-Webster.com 
PerfectApology.com
 

As we all know, political correctness run amok has become commonplace in today’s society – particularly when it comes to religious expression. It has obviously reached the point that those who seek to purge religion from the public arena in all forms have totally abandoned subtlety in their modus operandi.

Steve Cuckovich, a health teacher in California has decided the common colloquialism “God bless you” is no longer acceptable to him in his classroom. According to Cuckovich, “it’s not got anything to do with religion, it’s got to do with an interruption of class time.”

Really??!

So when someone sneezes in Mr. Cuckovich’s class, the century’s old courteous response “God bless you” is evidently off the table (ironically in a health class) because it…. “disrupts class?”

REALLY??!!

I was a classroom teacher for 15 years, elementary through high school, and had my share of sneezing kids. Not once did someone saying “God bless you” after a mighty rushing wind cause a disciplinary meltdown. Not once did it throw me off my lesson plan, cause any of the students to break out into a spontaneous riot – no alarms went off – it was even a point of levity when someone’s sneezing style sounded somewhat humorous!

As a person who has not only run several successful classrooms, but also has taught several classroom management workshops to other teachers, I can comfortably say that if your disciplinary skills are so fragile that you have to ban the commonly unsolicited, yet expected retort from a student’s sneezing like, “bless you”, then perhaps you need to seek out a good workshop on classroom management (I know of a good one) or perhaps you may need to seek out a new profession.

OF COURSE this has to do with religion!

Cuckovich went on to explain that the out of date “blessing” was first used when it was assumed that people who were sick were demon possessed. Now that modern medicine has disproved that with their infinite wisdom (the same ones who killed off the father of our country by “bleeding” all the bad blood out), there is no longer the need for the words to be uttered.

So if we are to follow the true meaning behind the ban, that this is not allowed because it may have religious implications – and that violates the first amendment – then I suppose that a 9th grader in California saying “bless you” when someone sneezes, is equivalent to Congress passing a law establishing an official religion?!!

HEY! Our problems are solved!! Let’s just get these kids to balance the budget, fix Social Security, repeal Obamacare, the works!! Tissues for everyone!!

Why am I so worked up about this? One phrase comes to mind – death by a thousand pin pricks. This is another small, yet stupid example of how politically correct we have become. A Jewish carpenter turned Savior once said, “you strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.” Can someone rescue common sense from its exile? Please?

A little girl doesn’t get a do-over once she gets the vaccination.

While this statement is true, there is also the opposite argument that can be made.

If a little girl does not get the vaccination, and contacts the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), there is no do-over either.

I am in no way advocating the government mandate of the vaccine, and believe that Governor Perry made the right decision when he signed into law a bill that would undo his executive order. However, this is an issue that is very close to home for me, and I can honestly say I understand why Governor Perry made the decision he made.

Yes, I know there are those who believe as Michele Bachmann misrepresented, when she implied that Governor Perry’s decision was politically motivated due to the fact that the maker of the vaccine was a donor of Perry’s. Governor Perry responded by saying:

“I raise about $30 million, and if you’re saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I’m offended.”

Michele Bachmann responded with:

“I’m offended for all the little girls and the parents that didn’t have a choice. That’s what I’m offended for.”

Well, Congresswoman Bachmann, the fact of the matter is you are wrong! Even when the mandate was in effect, there was always the option to opt-out! If the parents did not choose to inform themselves on their rights, that is their fault! Parents always had a choice to opt-out of the mandate!

While Governor Perry was indeed wrong by making this a law by executive order, it is the parents’ responsibility to inform themselves, not the government!

Whether or not Governor Perry’s decision was politically motivated is not the issue. Personal responsibility is the issue. It is the responsibility of the parent to inform themselves. It is because of the fact that so many parents have allowed the government to make these kind of decisions that we are in the situation we are in now.

Governor Perry has stated emphatically that if he had it to do over again, he would not make the same decision. You can doubt his sincerity and original motivation if you like. The fact of the matter is this: HPV is a very real disease that effects a large portion of the population.

It all comes down to this:

Everything in life is a choice. Every single choice we make has a consequence- good, bad or indifferent.

If you choose to have sex, you are taking a chance of contacting a sexually transmitted disease. With every choice comes a consequence.

No, the answer is not government mandated vaccinations for sexually transmitted diseases! In fact, there are many who believe that some of the current government mandated vaccinations are harmful. These children- girls and boys alike- do not get a do-over! We do not know the harm we are doing to our children with theses vaccinations!

The answer is to teach our children that all choices have consequences. We have to stop making excuses for why things happen and blaming others. Sex has consequences- one of the possible consequences is contacting a sexually transmitted disease. Another possible consequence is an unplanned pregnancy- which will lead to more choices, since we have allowed the legal murder of innocent life if is too much of an inconvenience.

As one who knows the personal side of dealing with HPV, it is not an easy decision. Now that the vaccination is not mandated, it is still an inner struggle when you have faced this disease head on and know the fears personally. With two daughters that are just a few years from the age of 12, knowing the world we live in, knowing the struggle with teaching choices and consequences in a home where it is the priority, it still is not an easy decision. If you decide to give your daughter the vaccination, there are risks. If you decide not to give your daughter the vaccination, there are risks. It all comes down to this:

Everything in life is a choice. Every single choice we make has a consequence- good, bad or indifferent.

While Governor Perry said that his decision had been wrong, and he would not make the same decision again, he also added that in matters of life, he will always err on the side of life.

The topic continues to be debated from the political side of things, in regards to the motives of Governor Perry’s decision, the fact still remains that Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a very real disease with very real consequences. It is also the most common sexually transmitted disease.

While the exact statistics for those infected with HPV varies, the numbers are still astronomical! According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in America. It affects the genitals of both males and females. It can also infect the mouth and throat. Most people who have HPV do not realize they have the virus, and therefore, unknowingly spread the disease to any sexual partners they may have.

There are between 40 and 70 separate strains of HPV, some of which can cause cervical, anal and other genital cancers.

From 2003-2004, a team with the CDC calculated the total number of women in the United States aged 14-59 who were infected with the HPV virus to be nearly 27%. This means more than 1 in 4, which equals nearly 25 million women in the United States are infected with HPV.

More current statistics state that at least 50% of sexually active men and women contact HPV at some point in their lives.

I am one of those 25 million women. I am a statistic.

I was diagnosed with HPV in my early 20′s, which is the most common age group of those infected. I have had numerous procedures to remove cancerous cells from my cervix. Every procedure was very painful. With every procedure the waiting game started over. Will my next PAP Smear come back bad?

It’s now been nearly 10 years since I’ve had a bad PAP Smear. I am very faithful in going to have my yearly Well-Woman exams, in the hopes of preventing any further issues. However, my choices in my late teens and early 20′s resulted not only in a sexually transmitted disease, but a common side effect of HPV is infertility. After many years of trying unsuccessfully to conceive, my husband and I adopted our children. While I love my children with everything in me, and know that God has a purpose and reason in all things, the fact still remains that my actions started a chain reaction. Thankfully, in the end, the chain reaction ended well. However, there were many, many years in between that were very painful- emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

You very well may be one of these statistics, and never realize it.

While I still stand by the fact that I do not believe it is the government’s place to make medical decisions for citizens, it is also quite understandable how the facts are astounding! While I still disagree with Governor Perry’s executive order, which he later rescinded, I understand his sentiment that cancer is a very real disease. I also understand his statement that he will always err on the side of life.

Governor Perry has since discovered there are many risks with the Gardasil vaccine. There are also many risks with no vaccine. There are enormous risks if we do not teach the concept of choices and consequences.

What are the signs and symptoms of HPV?

While statistics show that most people who contact HPV never show signs of HPV, and in 90% of people the body’s immune system clears the virus naturally within two years. However, sometimes HPS infections are not cleared up and can cause further issues, which include:

• Genital warts- can often be seen, but in some cases they cannot be.
• Rarely, warts in the throat, known as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP)- can block the airway, causing a hoarse voice or troubled breathing
• Cervical cancer- usually does not have symptoms until it is quite advanced.
• Other, less common but serious cancers, including cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx (back of throat including base of tongue and tonsils)

The strain of HPV that causes genital wars is not the same as the strain of HPV that causes cancers. At this time, there is no way of knowing if a person who gets HPV will develop cancer or other health problems.

HPV is passed by genital contact, most often during vaginal and and anal sex. It can also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact.  It can be passed on between straight and same-sex partners, even if the infected partner has no signs or symptoms of the disease.

A person can have HPV even if it has been years since since they’ve had sexual contact with an infected person. It is possible to contact more than one type of HPV.

On rare occasions, a pregnant woman with genital HPV can pass HPV to her baby during delivery. Very rarely, the child can develop juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP).

How common are HPV and related diseases?

HPV (the virus). Approximately 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. Another 6 million people become newly infected each year. HPV is so common that at least 50% of sexually active men and women get it at some point in their lives.

Genital warts. About 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.

Cervical cancer. Each year, about 12,000 women get cervical cancer in the U.S. Almost all of these cancers are HPV-associated.

Other cancers that can be caused by HPV are less common than cervical cancer. Each year in the U.S., there are about:

• 1,500 women who get HPV-associated vulvar cancer
• 500 women who get HPV-associated vaginal cancer
• 400 men who get HPV-associated penile cancer
• 2,700 women and 1,500 men who get HPV-associated anal cancer
• 1,500 women and 5,600 men who get HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the back of throat including base of tongue and tonsils) [Note: Many of these cancers may also be related to tobacco and alcohol use.]

Certain populations are at higher risk for some HPV-related health problems. This includes gay and bisexual men, and people with weak immune systems (including those who have HIV/AIDS).

__________
Sources:

WebMD
CDC.gov 

It was a bright, sunny Tuesday morning.  I awoke from a good night’s sleep around 7:25am Central time that day.  It was a day I was off from work, chalk full of appointments and other things that sometimes must happen on a weekday.

I got out of bed, kicked on the TV, which was tuned to Fox News at the time, and headed to the restroom to freshen up.  When I came back into the bedroom, I glanced over at the TV and saw a live shot of the New York skyline.  The weather that morning in New York was much like it was at my home, 2500 miles away.  It was a clear, sparkling day, a day like so many others.  This day, however, would be different.

It was September 11, 2001.  The live shot I was looking at was of the World Trade Center towers and one of them was on fire.  It seemed, at the time, that a small plane had somehow veered off course and crashed into the tower.  I stood there for a minute or two and took it in.  It was interesting, but the story obviously had to develop before more was known, so I went on about my business.

I went out of my room and found my dad.  I told him about the World Trade Center and grabbed something to nibble on.  I went back to my room and sat down at my computer to browse the, at that time, fairly young Internet to see if anything interesting was there.

Meanwhile, the TV was still on in the background, and I heard John Scott commenting on the World Trade Center incident.  I got out of my chair and stood not more than 18 inches from my Sony 27” CRT TV that was pretty close to state of the art at the time.

While standing there, I saw a second plane, coming from right to left on my TV screen heading towards the towers.  Then it happened.  In what felt like slow motion, I watched the plane impact the second tower and flames shoot straight out the other side.  If I didn’t know I was watching the news, I would have thought it was a special FX shot from an action movie.

At that moment, I heard John Scott say, “This has to be deliberate, folks”, and I could only stand there.  I couldn’t move.  I couldn’t breathe.  I just stood there and watched with utter horror, shock, disbelief, and a number of other, sometimes, conflicting emotions that I just wasn’t able to process at the time.  That image is forever burned into my mind and I will never forget it, even if I wanted to.  I continued to watch the TV all day long, skipping all of my appointments.  I waited anxiously to hear what President Bush was going to do about this.

Flash forward 10 years.  This Sunday is the 10^th anniversary of that horrible day.  This week, the government released information on a credible plan to hit us again on or around the anniversary.   While something may not happen this time, it is yet another reminder that there are people in this would who will stop at nothing to try to destroy this country.

So many Americans have fallen back asleep.  Many who proudly flew American flags and proclaimed loudly in the days and weeks after 9/11 that they, too, would never forget, have, by their actions, forgotten.  One day out of the year they may allow themselves to be reminded of those horrible events, but the rest of the time, they choose not to be bothered with the truth.  They’d prefer to watch their reality shows and read the latest celebrity gossip news on TMZ.

This 9/11 and every day after that, let all of us remember with humility those who were taken from us on that bright Tuesday morning.  To the 2,976 men, women, and children that died on that day:  We made a promise to never forget you, and those of us that haven’t will make sure that the rest of us can’t.

We will keep you updated as more information comes in.

If you attended this “come to Jesus meetin’ “, this is the situation that  precipitated the calling of that emergency meeting.

This week a situation occurred that required the involvement of a repairman. I will not bore you with all the gory details, but will give you an example of what your business practices reflects about you, as we discussed in our meeting.

We rent our home. The management company we rent has a name that is synonymous with honor. Their name implies that you can trust the company. The repair company that was sent out has a name that is a last name, Inc. There is nothing in the name that makes you think you can trust- or distrust- this company.

The repair that was required is outlined in the lease as the responsibility of the owner/management company. However, when I called in the repair request, after asking me a couple of questions, the receptionist told me it sounded like I would be responsible for paying for the repairs. Now, in the over-used words of our president- let me be clear: we are the kind of renters that every home owner dreams of. We do not call in fore repairs on anything unless it is an absolute necessity. We are in our third lease in this home, and this is only the 3rd time we have had to have a repair. The previous two repairs were not emergency repairs, but things we could not take care of. The last repair was an emergency: the air conditioner was not cooling properly. Being that it is one of the hottest summers on record, we are in a drought, and we have five children- this was an emergency.

We change our filters regularly. I keep a very clean house. Yes, even with five kids, I am a neat freak. I cannot function if everything is not in the right place. Clutter makes me crazy. I am a very detailed oriented person, so we have a schedule to make sure filters are changed and vacuumed, and other household chores are taken care of when needed.

We are also people who believe in personal responsibility. If we break something, we feel we are responsible for it.

However, if we are taking care of our responsibilities, and something happens, we believe that it is not our responsibility to take care of it.  The law agrees with us, as our lease specifically addresses this situation.

When the repairman called to get approval to do what he had to do, he was given the third degree as to the condition of the equipment. Now, before I go any further, yes, I understand that there are a lot of people that do not take care of things, nor do they take personal responsibility. Asking the questions to make sure nothing malicious or neglectful caused the problem is understandable. However, grilling the repairman is a completely different thing.

Once it was established that we had not caused the problem, and the cost for repairs was given, the repairman was then grilled about the breakdown of the charges. Now, again, yes, I understand that repairmen are usually not trusted, and many are known to be dishonest. However, when listing out the cost of the actual equipment, tools and other items needed to make the repair, factoring in the cost of travel costs and labor, anyone in the business world knows you have to make a profit to run a business.

The attitude of the owner of the management company was disdain that he would have to take care of the problem. This is the business he is in. He has renters who view the home he rents as their home, not just a rent home. We have never once been late with rent or any other issues.

His actions have reflected a lot less than a business owner with integrity. Not only has his attitude reflected poorly to his renters, but to the repair company as well. This business man- who identifies himself as a Christ follower- has reflected an attitude and actions of dishonor, deceit and untrustworthiness.

His reputation precedes him.

We are just days away from the 10th anniversary of the day that changed America.

September 11, 2001, started off bright and beautiful for America, just as any other day. However, before the day really got started good, that bright and beautiful day turned into a very dark day.

Two thousand, eight hundred and nineteen people lost their lives that day. (The official figure as of 9/5/02): 2,819)

As each year passes, as a nation, we risk the very distinct possibility of losing the significance this day had on our nation. If you were not old enough to realize what was happening on that day, and the months that followed, you have a very different understanding of how it changed this nation.

For those who were old enough to realize the reality of what we saw on our televisions, there is no way time can erase the emotions that were experienced when those planes flew into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and crashed in the Shanksville, Pennsylvania field.

We’ve all heard the quote by poet and philosopher George Santayana:

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

For those who do remember the past, the importance of educating those who do not remember the past is vital! Though they cannot remember, if we do not teach them what happened, we have no hope for the future.

Wayne Bell is someone who understands the importance of educating our children about the reality of what happened that fateful September morning almost ten years ago.

Mr. Bell is the publisher of Really Big Coloring Books, Inc., in St. Louis, Missouri. He has created a unique way to teach older children about the terrorist attacks on our nation with a coloring novel. It’s not just a coloring book, and it is not meant for younger children. Mr. Bell says the coloring novel is for children about the age of 9 to 11-years-old.

“We Shall Never Forget 9/11: The Kids’ Book of Freedom,” is a memorial tribute. Mr. Bell says:

“It is an informational piece to help educate children on events on 9/11. [It is] a simplistic, honest tool.”

Mr. Bell goes on to say that the novel is a “12-hour narrative of the events that happened on the day that forever changed America.” Kids can color pictures of the twin towers, President George W. Bush, Americans mourning the attacks, and other significant images depicting that day.

It’s hard to believe that an educational book could cause so much controversy, especially when it is something so important, but that is indeed what Mr. Bell is facing with his coloring novel.

It should not come as a surprise to anyone that in our day and age where political correctness outweighs the facts so often, there are many people who do not want reality to be presented.

In fact, Dawud Walid, the Michigan representative for CAIR (the Council on American Islamic Relations), calls the novel “disgusting.”

“We Shall Never Forget 9/11: The Kids’ Book of Freedom,” refers to the jihadists as “freedom-hating radical Islamic Muslim extremists.” Mr. Walid is not happy with the fact that almost all of the mentions of Muslims also have the words “terrorist” or “extremist.”  He feels that by only portraying the extremist side of the Muslim religion, a disservice is being done to all Muslim Americans who were impacted by 9-11. Mr. Walid says:

“Little kids who pick up this book can have their perceptions colored by those images … it instills bias in young minds. Muslim mothers lost sons too.”

Mr. Walid also argues that the information and pictures in the novel are incorrect. One instance he says is incorrect is that Osama Bin Laden ”wasn’t hiding behind a wife when he was shot.”

However, Mr. Bell disagrees, saying the book is an “honest depiction.” He went on to say:

“The truth is the truth. It’s unfortunate that they were all Muslim and that’s the part people want to erase … I don’t know what else you can call them.”

Mr. Bell appeared on Fox & Friends this morning. The full interview can be seen here:

Purchase “We Shall Never Forget 9/11: The Kids’ Book of Freedom

“These acts shutter steel but they
cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
President George W. Bush

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Source:
911 By The Numbers

Gallup released a poll today that shows Perry taking 29% of the Republican vote. Mitt Romney drops to just 17%, Bachmann at 13%, Ron Paul 10% and rest in single digits. His new found double-digit lead serves as proof that despite the attacks by both Democrats and Republicans, he is a serious and viable candidate.

The left sees the threat that Rick Perry represents and has gone on the attack. Some in the Republican party are even trying to create the perception that Perry is unelectable because he is too Conservative – the exact argument that establishment Republicans used against Ronald Reagan. This poll demonstrates that his campaign is running strong in spite, or perhaps because of, the negative attention in the media.

It is no wonder we have become a country that has no idea what it means to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” As a child, this was a common thing heard in my home.

The “official” explanation of the phrase is:

Paula Deen

Paula Deen is a woman who knows exactly what “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” means. She has done it, and has become a huge success in the process. This seems to be a problem for some people.

Paula’s life has not always been the success that it is now. Though she started out living “the American Dream” in Georgia,  in 1989 her dream world shattered. Not long after the death of her parents, her marriage to her high school sweetheart failing, she ended up in a divorce. When she left her husband, she had $200 in her pocket and two teenage sons to provide for.

Paula is one of us True GRITS (for those of you above the Mason-Dixon line that’s “Girls Raised In The South), and it has a meaning that is just as tough as true grit! True GRITS are raised to understand that life is tough, but it is what you make it. You can choose to wallow around in your situation, or you can choose to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and get to gettin’!

While Paula Deen is now the perky bundle of grandmotherly giggles that she is now, during the years right after her divorce,  life, tragedy and hardships took their toll on her. Her outlook wasn’t quite as bright as it is now- in fact, it was quite a bit more dim. She battled agoraphobia, and eventually, she and her boys were nearly homeless.

Back to those bootstraps.

Paula took her last $200, reached deep inside and started “The Bag Lady,” a home-based meal delivery service that marked the start of Paula’s professional cooking. With sons Jamie and Bobby delivering “lunch-and-love-in-a-bag,” beginning in June 1989, Paula turned around her life by using what she knew best, traditional Southern cooking.

Paula is a true American success story. She

has overcome “poverty, doubt and agoraphobia to achieve success and acclaim she could never have imagined.”

Paula’s success has not changed who she is.  She is still the “genuine” person she always was, “full of love” and just as real as she was before she become the American icon she is today.

Sadly, there are some who do not admire her  True GRIT tenacity.

Anthony Bourdain

In a recent TV Guide interview, fellow chef Anthony Bourdain criticized Paula, saying Deen

“revels in unholy connections with evil corporations and she’s proud of the fact that her food is ******* bad for you … plus, her food sucks.” He also called her the “worst, most dangerous person in America.”

So much for professional courtesy!

In True GRIT fashion, when interviewed on FOX News, Paula responded by saying she was “shocked”, wondering if it’s a “publicity thing” or

 maybe ”“somebody had just peed in his bowl of cereal that morning.”

Gotta love that True GRITS attitude!

Truth be known, that True GRITS attitude is what is missing in society today! So much of our society has come to depend on the government when they fall on hard times, rather than the God-given strength that we are all given.

I’m not sure how Mr. Bourdain comes to the conclusion that Paula is the “most danger person in America”, but one could very well call into question his mental capacity if he truly sees things that way. With our society in the shambles it is currently in, a lady who has not depended on the government to get her out of hard times, but rather has made something of herself in spite of her circumstances, most certainly should be admired and used as an example rather than condemned.

On second thought- Paula Deen may very well be the most dangerous person in America- for the government! If she is the example to follow, big government will fail!

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Sources:
Phrases.org 
The Blaze
Paula Deen’s Official Website
About.com- Gourmet Food 

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Randall Terry was born in 1959 to Michael and Doreen Terry.

Family
He is married to Andrea, who is his second wife, and has 8 children. (He has 1 biological child with his first wife, and they adopted 3 children through the foster care system. He also has four sons with his second wife.) He and his family currently live in Washington, D.C.

Education
1981- Graduated from Ilim Bible Institute. He was Student body President.
2006- Graduated from Empire State College, SUNY; Communications Concentration

Previous Elections
Mr. Terry has previously run for Congress in New York
He also ran for Congress in Florida, as a Republican.
He was not elected in either of the previous elections.

On The Issues
Pro-Life
Believes in limited power of the presidency
Believes the debt ceiling should not have been raised
Completely opposed to socialized medicine
Would repeal Obamacare
Would repeal all entitlements, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which should all be phased out
Opposes homosexual marriage
Believes in right-to-work
Not opposed to unions
Is against net neutrality, saying the government should stay out of the Internet
Thinks the US should pull out of Afghanistan
Would use Delta Forces when necessary to take out Al Qaeda and their associates

To The Religious  and Other Specifics
Mr. Terry has specific messages to the religious communities and other specific groups
To The Catholics 
To Evangelicals
To Independents 
To Pro-Lifers 
To The Tea Party 
In Spanish (EN ESPAÑOL)

Known As
One of America’s Best Known Pro-Life Leaders

For those on the Democratic side who insist on voting “party lines”, though they vehemently disagree with a candidate, Randall Terry offers an alternative choice.

On The Web
Randall Terry Official Campaign Website 
Randall Terry on Facebook 
Randall Terry on Twitter 
Operation Rescue 

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Sources:
Randall Terry For President Official Website
Live Free Or Die Alliance
Catholic.org
Ask.com
Wikipedia
2012 Presidential Candidates.org
Redstate.com