Monday, August 31, 2009

Who's Telling the Truth?

The truth is out there, but alas, we don't know who to believe. President Obama met with clergy recently and told them that those who claim his health care plan will provide taxpayer funding for abortions are "bearing false witness." (It kills me when people who deny the Christian heritage of a country as large as America, quote the Bible when they think it suits their purpose.)

Today, The American Family Association released details of the bill, and what they found represents a completely different story. The AFA reports that The Capps Amendment which was passed by Democrats in the Energy and Commerce Committee in July, specifically says that the public health insurance option shall provide coverage for abortion services.Earlier this month, California Democrat Zoe Lofgren admitted in a town hall meeting that abortion will be covered by one or more plans available to Americans. The Associated Press has also reported that Obama Health Care would allow a new government sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions.

So, Who's telling the truth? While we don't know the complete answer to that question, it certainly bears looking into. While a topic as controversial as abortion is hard to sort through on the pages of a blog, I will say that as a Christian, I am Pro-Life and in no way do I want my tax dollars to go toward the providing of one.

This is yet another case of our legislators not having enough information to responsibly vote on this healthcare package. One side says one thing, others say something else, and yet we, the citizens who will be living with the fallout, are condemned if we question. I encourage all of my readers to contact their legislators to insist that they find out the truth before voting.

If like me, you agree that all of God's creation is precious, then a child's life may depend upon your actions.

Posted by Teri's Christian Commentary at 12:08 PM 0 comments
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Sunday, August 30, 2009

Nothing Like "A Good Book"

The debate is on. School districts in New York and Georgia are thinking of allowing students to choose the books they read in class. On one hand I agree with the argument that kids would never read anything but "Harry Potter" if allowed to, so I can see where those who are against the plan are coming from.

On the other hand, as a person who loves to read, I tend to shy away from the books I have no interest in, so I can see the benefit of having kids pick their own reading materials. Unfortunately, when I was a kid, the books I tried to avoid were the "Great Classics," yet I believe those were the very books that developed my reading comprehension skills, which prepared me for college.


I do think that whatever the material, reading has to be made fun for kids and that is no easy task when teachers are competing with the internet, dvd's, I-phones and a myriad of other technological gadgets that occupy their time. Sadly, we are raising a generation who will never understand the joy of cracking open a new book with that "fresh" smell, (although, I must admit I'm now guilty of reading on my Sony Reader) and who will never value the experience of getting lost in someone's beautifully written words. For me reading is the reason I like to write.

As a writer, it's a bit scary to put your heart and soul into a piece with the realization that many people don't read anymore.

I have many friends who are or who have been school teachers and I would love their input on whether kids should be allowed to choose their own books for class. For me, I think allowing some student choice, mixed with a few classics would work best. What do you think?

Friday, August 28, 2009

Helping the Helpless

The latest headlines report the horrors endured by Jaycee Lee Dugard,abducted from a Lake Tahoe Street in 1991. The girl, then 11, has been held captive for 18 years by Phillip Garrido, now 58. Sadly, this girl, now a grown woman had been raped and forced to bear two children with her abductor. For 18 years she was confined to a small shed in an overgrown backyard at the home Garrido shares with his 54-year old wife.

The story once again reminds us that we need even tougher laws protecting children from convicted sex offenders who are released from prison. Garrido had been charged as an offender twenty years before he abducted Dugard, and was registered with local police when he moved into the neighborhood. His wife knew he was holding the young woman and her two kids but did nothing to help them. His next door neighbor heard the sounds of children playing in his backyard and knew he had been arrested for sex crimes but did nothing. His parole officer visited the home several years ago, and never investigated the house and back yard so the young women remained undiscovered. Perhaps the most outrageous detail of this tragic story is that Jaycee, now 29 was even forced to accompany her abductor and his wife to the parole office and no one took the time to question who the girl was.

While it is important for tougher laws to be enacted to protect the innocent lives of our children it is even more important that everyone work to be a solution to the problem. Yes, court/police staffs are overworked and underpaid. Yes, kids sometimes fall through the cracks, and yes this case is extreme. What is not extreme or even rare? The number of kids who are abused to some degree every day in this country. That number goes into the millions and it is only going to be stopped if we all "love our neighbor" enough to get involved.

As citizens we are responsible for Jaycee Dugard and the faceless children around us. While most of us don't want to get involved, we are called to defend the defenseless and that means at times we'll have to step in. We may lose a neighbor/friend, but if that person is hurting a child, who cares?

While I'll be the first to defend anyone's right to privacy and of course we can't just accuse people of crimes if there is no proof, there are times when being a nosy neighbor is appropriate. If only the woman who heard Jaycee had called the police, so much tragedy could have been averted.

Yes, it's too late for Jaycee and her children, but maybe her case will teach us all an important lesson ----sometimes we have to step in and help our fellow man. It's not only the Christian thing to do, it's the right thing to do.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

There's Strength in Numbers - Stand Up!

Another "RED ALERT" for those of us who are calling for the right to free speech for Christians in this country.

A Florida couple appearing on Fox, said they were fired from their jobs and evicted from their apartment because of a picture they had displayed that had words from the book of Matthew on it. The picture of a lily had been on the wall of the apartment office (where they had been managers) for years. No one had ever complained.

Enter a new district manager who asked the elderly woman to remove the picture. When she went to get her husband and they returned to comply with the order, they were told by Hallmark Management that they were fired and that they were being evicted.

The reason? Insubordination! How sad that two elderly people who had simply placed an inspirational photo on a wall and had never been criticized for doing so, are now out of work and on the streets. They are suing and I pray that they'll be compensated.

As Christians we need to rally around these people (in fact this type of case is why I started this blog) and demand from all of our leaders that Freedom of Religious Speech be extended to all faiths, including Christianity. Even if the management company was right when they said the picture violated Federal Law (although that is being disputed in court) all they had to do was have it removed. No one had to be fired, and no one had to be kicked out on the street.

Is this what we are going to tolerate as we go forward? There is strength in numbers and 85% of us in America call ourselves Christian, yet we tolerate this type of discrimination against our own. If it can happen in Florida, it can happen where any of us live.

Perhaps, the bigger problem is that many of us call ourselves Christian but we don't want to take the time to get involved with defending our faith. Can we honestly claim to be a follower of Christ or Christianity, if we refuse to take a stand on something this outrageous? I don't think so.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Remember 9/11

I don't typically forward or blog about e-mails I receive but I think this one is important and I encourage all of my readers to pay tribute to those who died: The following is the e-mail I received this morning:



"On Friday, September 11th, 2009, an American flag should be displayed outside
every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this eighth anniversary of one of our country's worst tragedies. We do this to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

Plan:
So, here's what we need you to do ..

Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.

Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Goodbye Teddie

Ted Kennedy has died, bringing an end to the elder Kennedy dynasty that's been at the forefront of American politics for decades. The Massachusetts Senator was the second most senior member of the Senate behind Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and the third longest serving senator in U.S. history.

While his politics were the polar opposite of my own, I always enjoyed following Kennedy, mainly because he was so willing to stretch his hand across the aisle. As the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee he became known as "The Lion of the Senate" with more than 300 of his bills becoming law. One of those, occured when he traveled with former President George W. Bush to my hometown to sign "The No Child Left Behind Act," at my former high school. On that day it didn't matter what his political background was. In fact it made it all the more special because he was so far left of President Bush, and the majority of the people in my town. For me, I'll always remember the day Teddie died, like so many remember what they were doing when his brothers were killed.

In spite of the many personal trials and scandals that defined his life, Ted Kennedy brought hope to the common man. I hope when the news surrounding his death has died down, all of those who remain in Washington will try to live up to the example that the Senator set. In spite of our differences we can work together if we put the good of the nation ahead of our own ambitions. Service is it's own reward, and now that Ted Kennedy is gone, I only hope that his vision will continue to define the American Dream.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Here a Czar, There a Czar, Everywhere a Czar, Czar

What's with all the Czars in America these days? Currently, there are over 30 people in these positions that have been created by the Obama administration, and their titles include everything from "Auto Recovery Czar," "Aids Czar," Afghanistan Czar," and more recently the "Green Czar" and "Diversity Czar."

It's on these last two that I'll focus today by asking why aren't we concerned with who these people are? and why do they have so much power?

Here's what I've found out:

Green Czar --- Van Jones. He is a self proclaimed Communist, promoting the cause after spending time in jail after the Rodney King riots, in Los Angeles in 1993.

Quoting Jones from a 2005 interview in the East Bay Express: "In jail, I met all of these young radical people of color--I mean really radical. Communists, Anarchists. And it was like, this is what I really need to be a part of." By 1994 Jones and fellow radicals had formed a group called STORM, (Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement)declared himself a Communist and held study groups on the writings of Marx and Lennon.

This man has now been given the job of focusing on environmentally-friendly employment within the administration and will boost support for the concept across the country. While that sounds innocent enough,(although isn't that what the EPA is all about?) no one has veto power over Jones,and it's rumoured that he hasn't even gone through an FBI background check. Hmmmm,position of power, unknown monies available to him, and a self proclaimed Communist?

Why aren't we asking "WHY?"

Next, you have the "Diversity Czar" Again, unlimited power, reportedly no background check, and a man by the name of Mark Lloyd gets the appointment. Watch out Free Speech! Lloyd has served as a Senior Fellow at the left wing Center for American Progress and helped author a paper entitled "The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio!" And you thought the hoopla about the Fairness Doctrine was over!

In layman's terms, this man's goal/job is basically to force "Liberal Talk" radio onto the airwaves even though it has failed in the past. The idea is to squelch "Conservative Talk" which has so vocally disagreed with policies like the Health Care Reform Act, Auto Industry reform and more. What do you want to bet that if this goal is acheived, religious free speech, and the internet will be next? No more talk of God (hey we've already seen that) the bloggers will be clamped down on, and the America we used to know will be gone. Freedom is already a dirty word for many who are trying to strongarm us into accepting their radical policies.

While I will be the first to agree that we have many problems in our society that need addressing, I can't believe that taking away open diaglogue, freedom of opinion and expression and our basic civil rights is the change that we were looking for.

When we hear the words "a dismantling of the basic American structure that has been in place for centuries," we should look to the mass apointment of Czars with unlimited power as the start of that, and be afraid. Very Afraid.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Reality that's a little " Too Real" for me

I must admit---I have a dirty little secret---I watch "some" reality TV. Now I'm not interested in the shows that have husbands and wives who are tempted to see if they can stay faithful when accosted by the opposite sex, or shows where the contestants have to eat bugs, but strangely, I do get all weak in the knees when I see Gordon Ramsey throw a frying pan across the room because someone's risotto is clumpy. (I think he reminds me of myself when cooking in my own Hell's Kitchen)

While I do find many of these shows amusing, I'm saddened by the recent "real life" murder mystery surrounding reality TV star Ryan Jenkins (Meagan Wants a Millionaire) and the bikini model he was briefly married to.

Last weekend, Jasmine Fiore was found strangled and stuffed in a suitcase with her teeth and fingers missing. Jenkins who is the prime suspect, is on the run and believed to be in Canada. Criminologists think he killed Jasmine in a fit of jealousy and dismembered her so no one would know her identity. Police were able to identify the girl because of a serial number on her silicone breast implant.

The fact that this apparent monster was allowed to participate on a TV show, that if he had won, could have put him in another intimate relationship with an unsuspecting woman, disturbs me on many levels.

First, aren't these people vetted before being accepted as part of the show's cast? If they are, with this man's violent history (he had been arrested before on charges of abusing women) why was he allowed to participate? Could his so called "personality disorder" have been overlooked because the "crazies" make for good TV?

Finally, if Ryan Jenkins tried to conceal Jasmine's identity by dismembering her, we have to wonder where he learned such a trick. My guess? On shows like CSI. It makes me wonder what will happen the next time some freak tries to kill someone and now knows that breast implants have serial numbers on them.

In an age where our values keep going down and the price of fame keeps going up, I think I'm going to give up Hell's Kitchen and switch back to ABC Family. Oh, but wait,the last time I stopped there all I saw was a bunch of teenage girls having sex with a bunch of teenage boys and then calling each other nasty names. The focus of the show was about how "normal" that behavior is in our high schools. Yes, that screams "family values" programming to me. (Get Real!)

I guess it's time to give up all reality and "R" rated tv (sorry Gordon) and pull out the old "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Andy Griffith" dvd's. At least the craziest thing they show is a mother who loves her family to the point of a mild neurosis, and a deputy who is a bit trigger happy when trying to hog all the glory for himself.

Perhaps the shows are too simplistic for some, and the concept of love and family may even seem boring by today's standards. For me, not so much. Now that people are dying after hooking up with the narcissists who make up the casts of reality television shows, good ol' family love seems just fine to me. What do you think?

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Toto, We're not in Kansas Anymore!

I almost don't know where to begin today. I'm sitting here full of emotion, yet I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or throw things. (Those who live with me have voted "no" for the last option)

First, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is speaking out this morning calling everyone who disagrees and speaks out at town hall meetings about healthcare, "evildoers." At least George Bush coined the term "Axis of Evil" in reference to those who wanted to harm America. Now, if you speak out against a bill that is obviously "bad" for Americans, you're the evil one! All I can say is things are looking up for the GOP in 2012. (if we last that long) In reference to a previous post of mine, please send lawyers, guns and money. I've probably just put myself on a watch list, and I can hear my inbox filling with unsolicited white house e-mails.

Next, we have yet another attack on a Christian's right to free speech. There's a correction from yesterday's post, in which I said two teachers at Pace High School in Fla. prayed at an adults only breakfast and were put on probation--Oh no, there's going to be a trial! They're out and worse than that---they could lose their pensions because of their "radical" behavior. I think it's time to fire up the "love bus." We've got a protest to attend!

Finally, and this one's just bizarre! A little girl set up a lemonade stand in New York City recently, carrying on the age old tradition of earning some money to help others.10-year old Clementine Lee wanted to offer refreshments on a hot day with her proceeds going to charity. Sounds innocent enough, but then a police officer shows up, writes the kid a ticket for not having a license to sell and summons her to court. Now the good news is that cooler heads prevailed and Clementine has been let off the hook. The cop has been sent back for more training. As for Clementine, perhaps next time she'll stand on the N.Y. street corner and distribute pornography. At least then, her "community" will champion her rights for self expression. When up is down and down is up, it sure would seem to make sense.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Go Students, Go Students!

It's back to school time and all eyes are on Pace High School in Milton, Florida.
(Northeast of Pensacola) The hoopla began in May when Brittany McComb, the Valedictorian was not allowed to give her validictory speech because of her intent to mention God. (This is the same school where principal Mathew Staver put two teachers on probation because they opened an adult meeting with prayer.)

In protest against the ACLU and the principal, (yes, the get "A-Clu" group!) 400 students stood at the graduation ceremony and recited the Lord's Prayer and painted crosses on their graduation caps to defend their rights to free speech and faith.
The ACLU is still mad over the outpouring, and Brittany McComb (appearing on Fox News this morning) is still wondering what the big deal was.

Ahhhhh..... "and the little children shall lead them!" Go Students, Go Students!
You get a thumbs up from the Christian Commentator for engaging in protest for God.
Shame on you Mr. Staver for allowing a special interest group who is obviously in the minority, to hijack the rights of your student body. Ms. McComb worked hard to be named Valedictorian, and you took away the joy and honor that should have accompanied her success. I suppose this will be the first of many incidents where she will be forced to endure discrimination for her "radical" viewpoint that supports a belief in God. I also believe that she (and the 400 hundred others who joined her in protest)will endure.

As your school year gets underway, you need to keep in mind that while we may be guilty of silence when we should speak out, there are millions of us who agree with the beliefs of your students. You need to get your act together sir, because we are watching, and more importantly so is God.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Send Lawyers, Guns and Money

There's a new hero in Harlem, one that I think makes a great role model for those of us who defend our right to bear arms.

A 72-year old restaurant supply house owner was in his shop last week when four thugs came in to rob him. He told them he didn't have any money at the time and asked them to leave, even telling them he would not call the police if they did.

Instead, one put a gun in his face, demanding the cash he didn't have, while the others pistol whipped his employee at the end of the counter. When the employee tried to fight back, the thug who held the gun on the owner went over to help bludgeon the employee to death and that's when Gus Gusterson grabbed his shot gun that was behind the counter.

After once more telling the hoodlums to leave and they wouldn't, Gus decided in a split second to defend himself and his friend. He fired three shots off the wall, so he wouldn't hit his employee, instead killing one of the robbers, and scaring the other three off. One of the three who escaped later died.

I can see why Gus is a hero in Harlem. He won't be charged according to the local police chief because he was within his rights and the law, to defend himself. This is exactly why in my opinion, it is so important for the citizens of this country to have the right to have guns.

While the anti-gun lobby makes a compelling case about guns killing innocents, and uses the tragic cases of children who die in gun accidents as an example of why we shouldn't be allowed to keep them, I maintain that a lot of "innocent" lives (like Gus) have been saved because he was willing to defend himself, and because he had a gun nearby.

The Bible teaches us the concept of "an eye for an eye" and though he obviously didn't want to, Gus Gusterson gave what he would have gotten, had his gun not been on hand. While I "love my neighbor" as much as anyone,and I believe all people who are irresponsible with guns should be prosecuted, I'll defend my family to the death if they are threatened, and think most Americans would do the same. I champion the rights of all the Gusses out there who were simply going about their day when they were forced to defend themselves or die. I too, see Gus as a hero.

Maybe the next time some Harlem hoodlums want to pistol whip and rob someone, they'll just keep walking when they get to Gus's place. I hope his actions send the following message to those across the country who want to rob and kill: "Think twice hoodlum, or the next one to die just might be you." What do you think?

Teri

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Put Your Clothes On!

Shame on Billy Ray Cyrus and his wife for letting their 16-year old daughter Miley do a semi-pole dance at the Teen Choice Awards on Monday. While Miley is a huge star in her own right, she is underage and her parents could put a stop to it if they had any interest in her beyond the millions she brings in each year.

The incident brings us yet another reminder of how guilty our culture is of sexualizing little girls before they're even out of grade school. There are beauty contests where children are made up to look like they're adults,young girls are engaging in sex parties and we call it simple experimentation, and teen pregnancy is on the rise because attention starved girls are looking for someone to love. In my own neighborhood I have seen teen girls engage in inappropriate sexual behaviors because they are ignored by parents who care more about their own social life than what is going on with their children.

How hard it must be to teach a daughter to have self worth, and moral values in a society that consistently tells her she is nothing more than a sexual object that was put here to display herself for every weirdo's pleasure. I find it strange that while we continually push the idea of self importance and self centeredness in America, we are at the same time, encouraging our young females to prostitute themselves in the name of fame and adoration.

I feel sorry for Miley Cyrus, and the millions of girls like her who aren't center stage. While fame is a powerful drug and many will do anything to get it, there is a price to pay. Like Lyndsay Lohan and Brittany Spears before her, I'm sure Miley will eventually self destruct and she'll likely take many girls down with her because no one told them the behavior was wrong.

I only hope that when that time comes, Billy Ray Cyrus, his wife and the other
parents of the country who are left to clean up the mess, will blame no one but themselves.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Ad-Lib--(It may come back to bite you)!

Writing a novel is difficult. You have to keep track of your grammar (thank goodness for my editor!) you need to make sure that you don't overuse particular words or phrases, and you have to watch your comparisons. While I understand the personal pain of this struggle, I have to admit, I had a good laugh yesterday when my president dove head first into the off-script, shark infested, bad comparison waters.

Perhaps President Obama should quit trying to make clever comparisons especially when touting the benefits of his new health care plan.

Speaking in New Hampshire, he attempted to defend a government run health care program by saying that FedEx and UPS were running great, but the post office was in trouble! Huh? (Please don't take my teleprompter away!) Sir, I think you're channeling the ghosts of Republicans past!


But a "Big Thank You" for making my point! I can honestly say that for the first time I totally agree with you! I too, think a government run health care plan would be about as effective as the government run Post Office. You're right sir. Health care would be much more effective in America if it were run by private companies like UPS and FedEx.


Here's one Republican who appreciates your gaffe Mr. President. While I'm certain your inner radical will once again rear its ugly head, for one day you made the world seem to be right side up again. I only hope this doesn't mean your mind is going. According to you, there may not be funding for treatment in the future.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Will they really kill my mother?

I read an interesting article today written by Associated Press reporter Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. In it, he discussed the facts surrounding the elder care portion of the Obama healthcare bill. Much of this latest hoopla began when former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin wrote on her facebook page that the bill had "death panels" that would call for the killing of the sick, the elderly, and the unborn or mentally challenged child.

In the bill, Democrat Earl Blumenauer of Oregon calls for Medicare to pay doctors for offering voluntary counseling, every five years to the elderly, about end of life matters. It would bring doctors into the discussion about living wills, power of attorney, and other issues that are currently discussed with the family attorney. No monies would be paid and the bill does not advocate assisted suicide.

In spite of this, The National Right To Life Committee opposes the bill saying stronger language is needed to ensure that an older person would not willingly or unwillingly give up their rights to medical treatment in the event that they are confused about their options or depressed when being counseled.

It is on this point that I agree. Complex legal language is hard for anyone to understand and if someone is confused or feels depressed on the day he or she is receiving counseling, they may decide (in the heat of the moment) to give up their right to treatment.

Likewise, many people from our parent's generation never question their doctor's decisions, preferring instead to give them total control over their bodies. While I respect the training and judgement of most physicians, I am afraid that many older patients would be willing to hand over life and death decisions simply because they are afraid or feel unable to make them.

As Christians we tend to view life and death as a decision that can only be made by God, but all too often medical science has a different point of view. In the case of my own father, he was told by doctors that he would die in 3 months when he was diagnosed with Cancer in 1986. The doctors didn't want to give him treatment, saying he was terminal and it wouldn't help, but my mother demanded it, he wanted it, and fortunately he got it. The chemotherapy allowed my dad to live for another year. Had the decision been left entirely up to the medical community we would have lost 9 precious months with my dad. Fortunately, it was during this nine months that my father found his salvation.

I agree with the National Right to Life Committee that the wording on this provision in the bill needs to be changed, because all life is precious and all Americans have the right to fight to live. I will say however, that in spite of my general approval of Sarah Palin, calling the provision a "death panel" does nothing to advance the discussion on both sides of the issue.

How sad that something as precious as our right to life has become a football for the politicians to toss around. It's not about who wins the 2012 election and it's not about the cost of caring for our elderly who have worked so hard to fight for us. If we're going to pay for millions of illegal citizens to live in this country then we need to pony up for those who have lived and died to preserve our freedoms and our choices.

No, it's not about politics. It's about God and his "sole" right to determine when the end will be for the lives He's created. Instead of seeking outside counsel about whether we should live or die, we need to pray for His guidance when confronting our own health issues. If we do this, I'm sure we'll realize, that God's,(not the doctors) is the only counsel we'll need.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Weird Science

Ok bloggies, it's time once again to get on the phone with our Congressmen and Senators.

The president's new proposed health care bill has 50-million dollars earmarked for a revised sex education program for our schools. According to Dr. Miriam Grossman who is a respected child psychologist, and the author of a new book called "You're Teaching my Child What?" the program that would be implemented is based in social agenda versus medical science. It's focus would be to teach kids that any and all sexual behavior is ok, and would promote the idea of acceptance for behaviors that society has previously viewed as deviant.

One specific issue that Dr. Grossman mentions is the idea of teaching kids to reconsider their gender. In her work as a psychologist,she has maintained that gender is hardwired into all of us before birth, however the new program teaches kids to review their options for change. And that's not all.....

Another helpful tool (so they say) would be to introduce a new doll into the schools that would teach little girls how to breast feed a baby! The doll is already used in Spain, and the packaging shows a girl of about 8 holding a doll next to her breast simulating breast feeding. To me, there's nothing else to say except:

That's just weird!

Once again, the government is trying to take away the parent's choice about how to raise their kids, and quite frankly they want to teach things that I don't want my child to learn.

Strangely, I have a character in the book I'm writing who is promoting the concept that sex education should be taught in the church. She has a whole bunch of money, and wants to teach the little Sunday school kids all about the birds and the bees.

It's funny my government calls this progress, and in my book I call her the harlot.

Teri

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

God & Country, Crazy Councilmen, and Happy Geese

I have a "must read" alert for Christians who have kept the faith, and for those who
erroneously argue that this country was not founded on Christian principles. I saw a great interview the other night on the Mike Huckabee show with David Barton, the creator of the website, www.wallbuilders.com.

Barton basically pointed out the fact that of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, something like 90% of them were not only Christian they were considered theologians of their time.

Even Ben Franklin ( who was not one of the more religious men,) called a recess when the Constitution was being written so all of the men who were working on it could pray for three days for Godly guidance. (and yes they were praying to the Christian God.)

Other Interesting Facts:

1. The first English language Christian Bible was printed in the 1790's by none other than the American Congress who wanted it printed so it could be used as a textbook in the American schools.

2. Thomas Jefferson (again, not one of the more religious men)signed a presidential document "In the year of Christ". Can you imagine the uproar if that happened today?
(One thinks of George Bush's comments about his worship of Jesus, which is where I believe his media troubles began)

3. Some of the men who signed The Declaration of Independence were people who founded the concept of Sunday School, were University Presidents who wanted their schools to be the place where young theologians were trained and many of them were ordained Christian ministers.

The list goes on and on and definitively proves that America is here today because of the Christian faith of the many men who risked their lives to defend their right to worship. Shame on those who want to take God out of America. Without God,and these dedicated Christians there would be no America! Check out the website, I'm sure you'll be fascinated, and it will give you great ammunition the next time you debate your ACLU friends.


Today's "Get A Clue Award" (and I don't mean the ACLU this time) goes to the city councilman in Clearwater, FL. who decided to remove all of the American flags as part of a city budget cut. Obvious uproar occured, and now the city has had to put up twice as many flags to appease those who were upset. Hey buddy ---Have you ever heard the term "God & Country?" I don't think you can remove America from America! I bet it's great to be a veteran in Clearwater....(she said sarcastically)

Finally, I love the man in Fairfax Co. Virginia who hopped out of his car on the four lane highway between his home and Washington D.C. You see, a flock of geese was crossing the highway, and he physically stopped traffic so they could pass without injury. Oh sure, some may say he risked causing an interstate pile up, but even the judge who ticketed him saw that his heart was in the right place. God Bless you sir.
You were kind to our fine feathered friends. You can walk my dog anytime......

Teri

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Weekend in Review

Well it's Monday and since the news is same old, same old, I thought I'd update you on a great read from my weekend. Saturday for me is the day to sit by the pool and write (since I'm a writer) and read (since my brain occasionally freezes, and I need a break) I've also been known to throw in a few laps around the pool just so I can justify the hot dog I always enjoy scarfing down.

The book I want to tell you about is one I mentioned last week. It's a Christian self help book that is called "A Better Day: A Better Life," How to Thrive One Day at a Time. Author Kelly L. Wilson offers a three part Better Day Better Life model that was born in her children's playroom as she was grieving the loss of her baby daughter and many unexpected trials that had occured in her life. She details how God inspired her to create this model that tells us that He wants each of us to live with good relationships, to be productive, and to enjoy the life that He has given us on this earth. Kelly gives plenty of practical applications on how we can improve in each of these areas which in turn will help us live a life that is richer and more fufilled. I can tell you that the book is funny, practical, spiritual, and a great read for any Christian or Non-Christian who feels overwhelmed by the tribulations that life can often bring. You can order the book at www.victory4me.com or from the online book sellers like Amazon. It is definitely a great read.

For those who live in S.W. Ohio, I've got a couple of restaurants for you to try out. My job as a food critic gives me access to all the best and hottest restaurants so from time to time I'll mention a few. I'd recommend Ryan's Tavern in Hamilton for those who want a great meal, and a taste of Ireland in a beautiful setting. The tavern is owned by the mayor of our city and his wife, who is also an author, and for those who pass through it is a must visit place. Ryan's Tavern is located on High Street. I'd highly recommend the soups, foccacia bread, and fish sandwich.

Also, I tried a place in Fairfield just this past week, that had I not have been a critic I would never have visited. (but I'm glad I did) It's called Charlie's Throttle Stop Bar & Grill, and while it is "biker friendly" it has some of the best food and the largest portion's I've ever eaten. If you get to the area of Dixie Highway & Mack Road, stop in and see Charlie. Be sure to order a Hog Wing as you can truly eat like a hog(it's a whole lot of pork) but be completely guilt free (it's cooked in transfat free oil) Even if motorcycles aren't your thing (they aren't mine) the food is well worth your trip.

Until Tomorrow.............
Teri