Treyvon Martin is a 17 year old young black man who was shot to death in Florida recently. A lot has been made of the ethnicity of both Treyvon and the Hispanic/white man who committed the shooting, George Zimmerman.
Why is the ethnicity of either one relevant? I don't know. What I do know is that we see Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the Black Panthers demanding justice be done. I think justice should be done too. If Zimmerman shot Martin wrongfully he should be in jail. If not he should walk. And I believe justice will be done without the help of the bullies mentioned previously. The justice system is NOT perfect in the United States and is run by human beings (how could it be perfect?), but overall it works well and is the best we have.
These bullies do nothing more than raise racial tensions, they are definitely NOT responsible for bringing people together. Sharpton and Jackson use the veil of "Reverend" in their title. They may have been to seminary and graduated but they don't act like Reverends.
They don't seem to love people... Reverends, that is actually a command in Scripture. I don't see any love in their actions, but I do see divisiveness and hatred. I believe in the authority of the Holy Scriptures. God's Word says "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35). Incidentally, the commands of the Bible are only for those believing in the deity of Christ, no one else.
How will everyone know that we are disciples of Jesus (Christians)? By LOVING one another. Note there is no loophole for ethnicity or otherwise.
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Now for the Black Panthers. On The O'Reilly Factor a spokesman for this radical group (@3:30 into the video) stated that since one of his people were taken, one of "yours" will be taken. He also threw down a bounty of $1,000,000,000 for the capture of Mr. Zimmerman. This group is equal to the KKK, both groups are racist at their core.
President Obama has even weighed in on this case. I'm glad he takes this seriously. How about the case of two British students who were murdered in Florida? The parents of the white teens have sent three letters to the President without even a whisper of a response from the President or his staff. On the horrific scale, the murders of the two Brits as they begged for their lives pegs the horrific meter. The convicted killer is a black man. Hello... Mr. President?
In Cal Thomas' article, What's Different About Trayvon Martin?, Mr. Thomas asks the question "Would Al Sharpton have made the trip if Martin had been white?" Let's expand that to Jesse Jackson and The Black Panthers. Would they have even mentioned this incident? I understand that black men die at the hands of black men more than any other group. Where are these "champions" then?
In my previous Blog post titled, Men's College Basketball, I said "The hinge point of society as a whole is that men have left the family, either physically or emotionally...or BOTH. And, "yes" I think that is why our prisons are so overcrowded today, so many children have grown up in families where the father is absent and that makes good male role models really hard to find..." What is a boy turned Father going to do if his daddy was never there? He is going to do as he has been taught... to leave emotionally, physically or BOTH.
I am not a perfect Father by any stretch of the imagination, but I am the best one my kids have. They depend on me for things they don't understand and won't understand until, Lord willing, they are parents themselves. Hey Dads, weather you are married or not, if you have children, they are depending on you too.
As Fathers in this generation we have to step up and be "Daddy" and teach them to depend on "Abba, Father". Here is a sobering thought, the way children see their Fathers is how they see God, that is, until they realize their earthly Daddy is NOT God.
Regardless of racial heritage the incidents mentioned here are devastating to all of those involved. We should pray for the families of the victims as well as those accused or convicted. Everyone involved has lost someone and my hope and prayer is they are believers or, throught this devastation become believers in the risen Christ. Our only hope for perfect justice is through Christ.
*As of publication George Zimmerman has not been formally charged with any crime.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Mens College Basketball
Wow, the NCAA tournament is almost down to 4. Those 4 will play nest week for the Division 1 Championship. In my part of the country college basketball "is king". Being from Kentucky and living in Indiana, I have grown up around the best of the best college teams in the country. University's of Kentucky and Louisville, Murray State, Western Kentucky and the Hoosiers of Indiana University, just North of Louisville. Quite possibly, two of those teams could play each other nest week in New Orleans, Louisville and Kentucky. This is HUGE!
Is it really? I used to get really into rooting for my team when I was growing up, which for the record was U of L, and then it occurred to me that their winning or loosing did not effect my life in the least. Yes, I was disappointed with a loss and excited with a win but it didn't get me better grades, make me more friends, pay my car payment/rent/mortgage, etc.
Once, in high school, I turned over a six foot table after my high school football team lost an important game and have cursed players. I have more self control today to be a good fan and keep the things of life in perspective. IU head coach Tom Crean stated Friday night after his teams loss to U of K, in the highest scoring game so far of the 2012 tournament, that his hope for this team is "if God would grant one thing" that they would become the spiritural leaders of their homes (see video starting at 6:40). Talk about perspective!
He spoke of what they will be in years to come, leaders at home, as husbands and fathers as well as leaders in their jobs. The most important job a man has is to be a husband and father, the rest will work itself out. THAT is what it's all about!! Thanks Coach Crean! I can be a fan of a man that helps young men develop into the spiritural leaders in their homes. Husbands and fathers that follow Christ and take their Biblical mandate seriously are what is missing in our society.
The hinge point of society as a whole is that men have left the family, either physically or emotionally...or BOTH. And, "yes" I think that is why our prisons are so overcrowded today, so many children have grown up in famlies where the father is absent and that makes good male role models really hard to find, so to hear Tom Crean make a statment like that says to me that winning basketball games is nice but you were put on this earth for something much bigger than winning basketball games. Our families depend on it! Will you partner with me as we work to develop healthy families in OUR OWN HOMES in the name of Christ?
Is it really? I used to get really into rooting for my team when I was growing up, which for the record was U of L, and then it occurred to me that their winning or loosing did not effect my life in the least. Yes, I was disappointed with a loss and excited with a win but it didn't get me better grades, make me more friends, pay my car payment/rent/mortgage, etc.
Once, in high school, I turned over a six foot table after my high school football team lost an important game and have cursed players. I have more self control today to be a good fan and keep the things of life in perspective. IU head coach Tom Crean stated Friday night after his teams loss to U of K, in the highest scoring game so far of the 2012 tournament, that his hope for this team is "if God would grant one thing" that they would become the spiritural leaders of their homes (see video starting at 6:40). Talk about perspective!
He spoke of what they will be in years to come, leaders at home, as husbands and fathers as well as leaders in their jobs. The most important job a man has is to be a husband and father, the rest will work itself out. THAT is what it's all about!! Thanks Coach Crean! I can be a fan of a man that helps young men develop into the spiritural leaders in their homes. Husbands and fathers that follow Christ and take their Biblical mandate seriously are what is missing in our society.
The hinge point of society as a whole is that men have left the family, either physically or emotionally...or BOTH. And, "yes" I think that is why our prisons are so overcrowded today, so many children have grown up in famlies where the father is absent and that makes good male role models really hard to find, so to hear Tom Crean make a statment like that says to me that winning basketball games is nice but you were put on this earth for something much bigger than winning basketball games. Our families depend on it! Will you partner with me as we work to develop healthy families in OUR OWN HOMES in the name of Christ?
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The First Attempt
Hi folks, this is my first attempt at blogging. As the title "Notes On Life" might imply, I will be documenting life events. Sometimes as they happen (thanks to smart phones) or from my PC. I will allow family friendly comments and will delete any comments deemed inapproipriate.
My hope is that this blog will hit all of your emotions as my life is printed on these pages. The life I speak of is the new life I have found in Jesus Christ. The bad and the ugly things still happen to me although I am a Christian, but through the Lord Jesus I am able to handle adversity much better than before. I do struggle with my attitude, just ask my wife! I am a work in progress but God works it all for "the good of those who love Him and are called by His name" (Romans 8:28).
As I was thinking about what to write on this inaugural blog entry my wife called me and said that the van she was driving with our 6 and 3 year old children had broken down on a busy street. In my best carny voice "we haaave a winner!" Well the van can be fixed and is off the street, my Father-in-law picked them up and no one was injured. It could have been alot worse.
You can follow me on Twitter @mjwsr66 and a Facebook page is in the works.
My hope is that this blog will hit all of your emotions as my life is printed on these pages. The life I speak of is the new life I have found in Jesus Christ. The bad and the ugly things still happen to me although I am a Christian, but through the Lord Jesus I am able to handle adversity much better than before. I do struggle with my attitude, just ask my wife! I am a work in progress but God works it all for "the good of those who love Him and are called by His name" (Romans 8:28).
As I was thinking about what to write on this inaugural blog entry my wife called me and said that the van she was driving with our 6 and 3 year old children had broken down on a busy street. In my best carny voice "we haaave a winner!" Well the van can be fixed and is off the street, my Father-in-law picked them up and no one was injured. It could have been alot worse.
You can follow me on Twitter @mjwsr66 and a Facebook page is in the works.
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