PastorD's Blog

Don't you just love the newest way Hillsborough county has developed to deter people going to JAIL!!!!  Work - release retirement benefits....  The only county in the state where TAX dollars provide retirement benefits for inmates who dig ditches and pick up trash...........

Is this beyond ridiculous or what????  Deny people health care, who have been good citizens and worked and paid into the system all their lives, and reward jail birds. 

Look, I'm not a big Idol, reality T.V. watcher, but WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT VOTE ABOUT??????????  There is no way that M. Johns should have been let go! This guy clearly has the talent to make at least the final 3!  I think they need to revise the rules and the JUDGES should have the option to OVER-RIDE 2 viewer voter BAD CALLS.

Carly, Seyesea (spelling),  definately ONE OF THEM.......... should have been BYE BYE...

Gang, I just got back from the store and I have found another case of the "Incredible Shrinking Quantities".  It appears the families beloved "Take Two" Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream has been reduced in size!  Yeppers, we are now down to to 1.5 quarts!!!!  I guess these companies think we are idiots and won't notice their latest shrinkage.....  Now, you all know, I have never claimed to be our blogging communities resident math professor, but unless I have become totally senile, didn't it use to be a half gallon of Ice Cream?  Lets see, memory tells me that a half gallon = 2 quarts.  Somewhere along the way it dropped to 1.75 quarts.  Now we are at an all time great 1.5 quarts!!!!!!

Better get your coupons out the next time you go to the store because your going to need them....  Look, I don't mean to be nit picky here, but this is a joke.

**pastor slaps herself to remind herself that she is blessed and still able to buy ice cream**

There have been a few blogs on this terrible trend of pack mentality violence in young people.  Broadcasters in all venues seem to be happy to focus on the violence itself, rather than educating the public on why this is happening and how to thwart the spread of this vile condition across America.

First, let me say, that these internet providers such as MySpace and YouTube set an unmoral and unethical standard by allowing and instigating such voyeurism, which leads to a fascination and perpetuates participation by young people.

  Some may bring the freedom factor in, but when your talking about behavior that "Breaks The Law" and involves people under the age of 18, I don't think you can just put your hands up in the air and claim no responsibility or accountability.  I'm not big on more laws, but the internet has put us in the state of "The Wild West"!  Unfortunately, it has now crossed into the real world.  How sad....... 

There are a lot of ways to thwart this trend.  The question is, are people willing to stand up and do whats right in a wrong world.

1.  Internet providers need to be accountable for the content on their web sites.

2.  Parents MUST review the web sites their kids are particpating on.  Absolutely NO EXCETIONS.

3.  There is not enough discussion going on in the family unit in regards to "Keys to kindness and empathy for others".

Parents need to use everyday examples to stimulate thoughts and feelings in young people.  Make a point  to ask your kid what they think , have they experienced it , how did they feel when they saw someone else encounter it. If kids don't have empathy for others THEY will not be able to separate themselves from the aggressive, mean behavior they see.

4.  MAKE your kids participate in activities that reflect kindness and empathy.  That will probably require your time as well, but this is a key point.  When kids are involved with good things and witness their parents participation in it, it will instill a firm value that they seldom loose. Some options to consider are:

Volunteer as a youth counselor - Participate in community clean up - Participate in programs that center around learning about animals and conservation (If they are kind to animals they will be kind to people).

Even if they are not in a National Honors Society Club (academics) MAKE them accountable for a certain amount of community work hours.

Habitat for humanity - Food pantries at a church - Have them fill paper bags with tooth brushes, soap and shampoo for abused womans shelters - Feed the homeless (I'm telling you this is a good one, this experience is FAR better than any words).

These are just some things I have implemented with the kids in my youth group as well as my own daughter.  I hope this helps someone out there............. 

From the people of Darfur, Somalia, Rawanda, Sudan, Kosovo, and Iraq.

Doubt your freedom free?

I will gladly switch with thee!

Doubt your freedom free?

Please, take a look at me!

Doubt your freedom free?

Come, come and live with me!

Doubt your freedom free?

Count your blessings, you have freedom, freedom free.

Ok, I admit it, I have had enough of this apology "Insanity"!  I'm a preacher and I have preached to every ethnic group out there. One of my strongest messages was about moving on and letting go.  The truth is, history does not bind people.  People bind themselves when they insist on clinging to the past!  I find this never ending "Blame & Complain" issue outrageous....

Life isn't fair and nothing comes easy.  The truth is African Americans do not hold sole ownership to suffering....... American Indians were robbed of their land, murdered, taken captive and their woman were also raped and abused.  Holocaust victims were starved to death, chained, beaten, dragged from their homes and left piled up in mass graves.

Lets not forget all the Polish, Italian, Irish,  ETC.......  Immigrants who came to America, they never had it easy.  There were no free rides.  There were no apologies.  Jesse J. and dear old Al S. will always put their spin that the Africans did not come by choice, well the Indians didn't get kicked off their land by choice either..  The Holocaust victims didn't raise their hands and volunteer  to attend MASS EXTERMINATION camps!

It's time to move on and get on with the days work.  This continual compaign serves only one purpose: RESENTMENT.  People have had enough of this.  My Grandmother use to tell me, "there is always someone worse off, count your blessings".  I have to wonder, would ANY African American person WANT to go back to Africa today??????  Would they encounter a fair and easy life???

Life isn't fair, count your blessings and get on with the days work!

Dear Freak,  many have been out of the loop and are seeking an update on our dear friends Madam Pres. and Hawkeye!  Do you have any updated information???  I sure do miss both of them and pray for a full recovery.

We want the Pres. and her Wingman back on duty! :+)

Well, it appears that Obama is either a masterful interpreter of human character and behavior or a clever spin artist in double standard positions.  I would suggest that people go back and review what Obama's comments were in regards to Don Imus...  He said, "that no one would be allowed on my staff, who made comments like that,"  and something similar to the fact that he would NOT be associated with a person of that type of character. Do I hear a double standard position here or what?????  So, it's ok for Obama to still be associated with Pastor Wright, (cause he's like family) but MSN shouldn't be associated with Imus...

I don't know, but it sure looks like a lot of pick and choose to me.......  I guess if you put enough gravy  on a tough piece of chicken fried steak, people will believe it's edible............

I have noticed various blogs on numerous sites that have dealt with the issue of benefits, jobs, and so on...  I do agree with some points made regarding field work, and the fact that most Americans are unwilling to do that work.  However, as a new blogger "MyBlog" - Medicaid Rant, expressed concrete evidence of illegals stealing benefits from desearving Americans (Please read her blog).  I found her story and the run around she got disgusting.  While this gal was enduring this, illegals are getting medical care, prenatal care, birthing care with NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

I have to say, this ladies situation really bothered me yesterday.  I was thinking to myself, I know this is a serious thing, but how bad has it really gotten??  Then to my suprise, I was watching one of the FoxNews shows last night and there was an entire investigation on it.  One Hospital in TX, reported the expense of 70 million to illegals!!!!  There were several other border states that reported record amounts of money going to provide care for these illegals who are here working and causing crimes and then we patch them up for free!!!!  The report stated they can't turn them away......  Turn americans away, but can't turn them away...    Disgusting!!!!!

This problem is REAL....  If it isn't stopped I'm afraid for the future of Americans.

Lastly,  this is not directed to any legal immigrates or anyone who is here following the laws for legal immigration. This is directed to the illegals who are sucking America dry and stealing health care from deserving Americans...  :+(

It appears free speech and tending to ones own political agenda is Berkeley's new M.O.  By trying to run the Marines out of town while taking Federal funding.  South Carolina Senator, Jim Dimint is fuming, along with thousands of people over this issue.

The Marines are simply carrying out their Constitutional right and role for our country.  I find it pretty insulting for a college to want and expect government funding while slamming the door on the military forces that have enabled their freedom in the first place.

This has nothing to do with Berkeley protesting the war.  They have that right,  and should feel free to protest what they think is right or wrong.  It just seems pretty appalling for them to forget where that privilege came from to begin with.

Is it really too much for us to expect Americans to be grateful for our armed forces protecting that right?????????

After posting a response on another blog this morning regarding a classic Buffoon, I began to think of the Clinton's as parasite #1 and #2!  To me, the term "Symbiosis" felt like the proper term for the "Dysfunctional Duo".  I think Webster's Dictionary should consider their pictures next to the word, which means, of course, the living together of two dissimilar organisims, especially when this association is mutually beneficial!!!! He is a narcisstic, womanizing sexual addict and she is a classic example of a mean spirited bitter HAG!

How sad, to base your own existence and self worth on a parasitic relationship.

Your thoughts............

Well, the Pastor stands by her "Fair and Balanced" claim.  It appears the Grinch, (Dukes) does have a heart.  It appears without any fanfare or media coverage, the baseball player, along with a friend, put together a gift event.  They bought all the gifts and set up a bouncy house for the kids! They gave out 300 gifts at a park in Tampa!

Dukes, said, I have always been generous with presents, but baseball has given him more financial freedom. "Next year, I want to get at least 1,000 kids," Dukes said.

The miracles of Christmas!!  May the transformation continue.

Several  "Mega Church"  leaders have recently been in the news and are under investigation regarding possible outrageous expenditures.  Among them are Paula and Randy White,  TD Jakes, Joyce Myers, Dr. C. Dollar in Atlanta, and Kenneth Copeland.

I am glad that the US Senate Committee on Finance are finally after these people.  These people give good pastors a bad name!  While most churches sruggle to give their pastors a decent cost of living raise, these money grubbers who evidently realize their reward won't be in Heaven, so they're trying to collect here, and as fast as they can rake it in!  The White's should consider renaming their church "Without Souls",  instead of "Without Walls".

So what does the Bible say about the prosperity gospel?  I'm providing some Biblical answers...

First let me say, that God does want his people to be blessed and prosper. While it's generally true obedience and faithful stewardship lead to prosperity, the truth is, it just dosen't always work out that way...  If one examines Proverbs, which is a collection of wisdom sayings, observations about how God's world works.  In other words, the Proverbs are principles (how things normally go) rather than promises.  John 16:33A clearly warns of troubles.

In "Word Faith" religion the believer is told to use God,  whereas the truth of Biblical Christianity is just the opposite.  God uses the believer.  Word Faith or prosperity theology sees the Holy Spirit as a power to put to use for WHATEVER the believer wills.  The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person who enables the believer to do God's will.  The movement CLOSELY resembles some of the destructive greed sects that inflitrated the early church. Paul and the other apostles were NOT accomodating to or conciliatory with the false teachers who propagted such heresy.  They identified them as dangerous false teachers and urges Christians to avoid them!

Paul warned Timothy about "constant friction between men of depraved  mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perserverance and gentleness.  (1 Timothy 6:5, 9-11).

It is not my intent to bash anyones ministry.  The people I have mentioned do support a lot of ministries...  However, if you look at Paula White's web page, you will see a box that states, "Donate Now, Sow A Seed With Your Online Gift".  She can definately preach a powerful message. I just find myself questioning if HER message is a "Pull for God" or a "Pull for Purse strings"?????