COLUMBINE STUDENT'S FATHER 12 YEARS LATER !!

Thought I would 'share' this, as it came into my facebook page...

COLUMBINE STUDENT'S FATHER 12 YEARS LATER !!

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.

They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
- Darrell Scott

Democrats Pushing Us Over The Cliff!

If we go over the fiscal cliff, republicans figure that they will end up getting blamed, even though the democrats COULD MAKE SURE that taxes won’t go up on the poor and middle class also. If they would submit a budget for starters, then agree to cut spending, and then lastly accept removing some of the deductions that the wealthy have enjoyed, instead of allowing their taxes to go up, this could bring in the same amount of revenue that they would get from the raising of taxes, regardless of the denials from this administration. It would also show those on the right, that they genuinely want to reach across the aisle in good faith. Either way that it is done, it won't put a dent in our massive deficit anyway, but the democrats will not agree to the Republican’s offer and there is a reason for it that has not even entered the heads of most of the public. They MUST receive the funds they are requiring by having the Republicans agree to a 'tax increase' on the wealthy because then, and only then, would we see a civil war in the Republican party, leaving it in a shambles. That is really what the democrats want to see!

The President and democrats believe that if they remain steadfast in the insistence that raising taxes on the wealthy is the only route that they will accept and they can get the Republicans to agree to this, their base will excoriate them come time to run for their offices again. It is very obvious to anyone paying attention, that this hold out on the democrat side is JUST 'playing stinky politics.' They want what they want, which is the republicans looking as bad as they can make them look, to those who would normally vote for them, and that's all there is too it. 

Fiscally responsible republicans, conservatives and independents don't believe that raising taxes, #1. is the best thing to do in regards to assuring jobs for the millions of Americans that are out of work right now and #2. really don't want to send more money to an administration who refuses to show any wisdom with the money that they already have! Why on earth should we send them more? What

is going on is nothing more than a power play. They just want to box the Republicans in, in such a way that they can humiliate them. This is why the White House isn't budging.

It really bothers me to watch them using these dirty tactics. Acting so compassionate and noble, while all along they are simply playing a game of disgusting political chess! They are playing it with the republicans, yes, but they are also playing it with the future of our beloved country! It's so obvious that I can't believe it. Every time I hear this President say that the rich should “pay their fair share” knowing how much they are already paying in taxes, and how so many others literally don’t pay in anything at all, I want to throw something at the t.v. He is SO depending on an ignorant electorate. The word fair can be such a manipulative word and when governments have used it in the past, it wasn't a good thing.

Everything they say and do, is a result of some strategy. Example, why are we hearing verbage that combines income levels of $250,000 per year mentioned in the same sentence with the words "millionaires and billionaires?" Obviously, they are NOT…but it's a cinch at this point in time, that this administration is successfully causing a majority of citizens to think badly about our wealthier citizens even though they pay the biggest amount of taxes into the government tills. If you want those making only $250,000, which is the income level that many very small business owners would fit into and you want to squeeze them financially, you mention that income level at the same time that you say "millionaires and billionaires" lumping them together in the minds of the people. I haven't heard anyone asking why this is being done. I think that I can see the strategy here however...and it reveals what I would rather not be noticing...they really don't want more jobs! If they did, they wouldn't think of taxing those making only $250,000 per year more. Many of these are small business owners, the ones who could and would be offering more jobs, in a safer financial environment.

ImJusSayin' these are the tactics of the old Soviet Union. Divide the nation, and dog the wealthy, along with whoever else they decide they want you to hate. Ask anyone who has left, or escaped any socialist country and came to live in America. I hear them call in on radio talk shows quite often, yelling, and sounding like they want to cry with what they are hearing and seeing happen to America under this administration and frankly can't believe that the majority of our country cannot see it! When leaders want you to go out and work hard, just so that they can take a majority of your money, (stay tuned, they’ll incrementally want more and more,) and determine who they will give it to, and pick the winners and losers in business - this is socialism. Slavery, actually! Punishment of the achievers, while creating a 'cradle to grave' nanny state where everyone else is dependent on you. This assures you of staying in power indefinitely, and by the time the wealthy are no longer wealthy, you’re controlling the masses in other ways, including militarily. 

ImJusSayin' again! The Republicans need to stand their ground. If we go over the cliff, blame the Democrats! They COULD HAVE JUST AS EASILY kept the taxes for the poor and middle class from going up. Call their bluff. If we go over...it will be due to their lack of genuine concern for our country and their obsession with making the other party look bad, backfiring on them! THIS is exactly how we need to explain it too. It’s time that THEY look bad! They think that they have those on the right, in check, but I say it's time to disappoint them by telling the American people exactly what they are up to. Why in the heck should the right, keep the truth to themselves! Shout it from the rooftops. Make them lie, and deny at least! 

Either way, the unfortunate thing is, even if the left’s plans are exposed and they end up not looking so innocent, Obama wins either way that it goes, because truth be known – there’s nothing he would like better than to have ALL the taxes go up, though he doesn’t want anyone to know that. THAT would actually be a ‘best case scenario’ for him. We just can’t let them get away with dropping the blame on the republicans if they do!

Not As Bothered that Some Won't Say Merry Christmas!

It is not surprising to me, that those who do not claim to be 'saved' or don't personally take the Christian's wonderful 'Savior theology' seriously, might not want to say "Merry Christmas" in the day and age that we are now living in. Some say that we are living in a 'post Christian' era. I don't know about that, but it does seem to me, that there is more resistance to it today in America, and in some cases, even discrimination against believers, which shouldn't ought to be! 

Actually, I believe that those who resist saying "Merry Christmas"  DO BELIEVE that 'Christmas' FOR US is the celebration of God sending His One and Only Begotten Son into the world to save sinners...(which we all are.) But, most likely, not having embraced it personally, they want to overlook, sidestep, and ignore it any way possible, while they go on having their fun 'holiday' without concerning themselves with any 'gospel message' of Christ's advent from heaven - for them.

I'm not sure what's hard to understand about this way of looking at it. Christians should go on saying "Merry Christmas" because this is what WE are celebrating. When, and if, they come to know our Lord, then they too will JOIN US in giving thanks to God for Jesus during this time of the year. Also, the constant pull for 'diversity' has determined and declared, that other faiths should announce what THEY are celebrating during this time of year too. (Though Jewish talk show host: Michael Medved, of 1420 am, says that Hannakah is only a minor Jewish celebration, where Christmas is one of our two highest holy days of the year, including Easter. 

What we now have is a multitude of 'celebrations' all going on at once. It is what it is, people. Use it as a great time for evangelism because that, it still is. We still live in a free country and are allowed to share our faith. People can choose not to take advantage of God's free gift, or they can accept His free offer, and enjoy the peace of having sins forgiven, and assurance of eternal life with Christ. It's pretty simple. A truly life changing event. I've never known anyone who claims having been 'born again' who ever regretted it. 

Since this really isn't the time of year when Jesus was born, but we have decided to come together corporately and celebrate it at this time - then let's take advantage of the wonderful opportunity that it offers us to live out and share our faith. I for one believe, that each of us should have a nativity scene in our own yards so people know that we are Christians and that we ARE celebrating the birth of the Lord, Jesus. I am still looking for a nice one, however. If you know where we can find one, please comment.

After reading my first comment, I decided to add this next paragraph before my closing: 

I also realize that some don't say "Merry Christmas" out of a desire to be polite to someone of another faith. If I have a client who is Jewish, I certainly don't give them a Christmas card, I give them a Happy Hanukkah card. However, because I do not see any reason why Merry Christmas should be offensive to anyone, if a client is neither Muslim, or Jewish, I will generally give a normal 'Christmas' card to them. I personally just don't by 'Happy Holiday' cards. Michael Medved goes out of his way to voice his dismay as to why anyone should be offended with anyone's celebration of faith, in this case the Christian celebration of Christmas! He says that he certainly isn't and doesn't think most rational people are. He suggests that the whole move against Christmas was started by radical atheists, and that we really shouldn't allow them to run our lives anyway, so he resists those who put up a fuss about saying "Merry Christmas" or giving out cards that say the same.  

ImJusSayin Believing that GOD SENT HIS SON JESUS INTO OUR WORLD, TO LIVE A PERFECT LIFE, TO DIE FOR OUR SINS, AND RETURN TO HEAVEN WITH HIS OWN BLOOD TO PUT ON GOD'S MERCY SEAT AS FULL PAYMENT FOR OUR SINS...AND HE'S DUE TO COME BACK REAL SOON is definitely worth celebrating, and I for one am grateful to God that I live in a free country, where I am able to do so openly, and in a blog such as this, without fear of a lengthy prison term for doing so!

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS OUT THERE TO ALL OF YOU WHO NAME THE NAME OF CHRIST... AND A SAFE AND FUN WINTER HOLIDAY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T, (YET:)