Verne Strickland Blogmaster / July 25, 2011
This will blow your socks off. Possibly your booties, mittens, nose plugs and earmuffs as well. It's that good, people!
Let America Be America Again
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Your Judgement Day -- Judge Not, and You Will Not Be Judged.
Verne Strickland Blogmaster / July 25, 2012
Scripture: "Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop
condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be
forgiven." Luke 6:37Don't Judge Me
Don't you hate being judged? Ugh, I hate it. In fact, I go to great lengths to avoid it, but still I feel like others are always focusing on my flaws. You know, judgment is a soul toxin, maybe one of the worst. I might compare it to drinking lead; it just sits there in your soul like a weight, poisoning everything. But today, Jesus is giving you the remedy to avoid being judged, one you might not have heard. In fact, if you're like me, you might have been doing just the opposite, unknowingly heaping more and more judgment in your life. But today we can start to reverse that. So first, I need you to answer a question for me...Answer This
If you were facing a trial and had the option of being either in the defendant's shoes (the one being judged) or the prosecutor's shoes (the one doing the judging), which would you choose? If you were me, you would choose the prosecutor's chair, because that is the one safe from judgment, right? WRONG. Jesus said it's actually the opposite. And I want you to read a story with me to prove it."The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone and asked Jesus, 'Teacher, we caught this woman in the act of adultery. In his teachings, Moses ordered us to stone women like this to death. What do You say?' They asked this to test Him. They wanted to find a reason to bring charges against Him. Jesus bent down and used His finger to write on the ground. When they persisted in asking Him questions, He straightened up and said, "The person who is sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her." Then He bent down again and continued writing on the ground. One by one, beginning with the older men, the scribes and Pharisees left. Jesus was left alone with the woman. Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Where did they go? Has anyone condemned you?" The woman answered, "No one, Sir." Jesus said, "I don't condemn you either. Go! From now on don't sin." (John 8:3-11)
Let It Sink In
Imagine that you're her. Think of your worst sin, the thing you most desperately want to keep from other people. I know I have mine. Now imagine that all the authorities in your life have brought you to face your punishment before God and everyone else. How do you feel? Probably like me, terrified! But then instead, Jesus gets down off of the Judge's chair, walks over to your accusers, and says, "Well, which one of you are perfect? You can be the one to cast the judgment." And then one by one, they drop their charges. Then He walks over to you, and He says—and this is actually what He is saying to you now—"I don't condemn you either. Go and be free of your sin."Judge Not, and You Will Not Be Judged
You see, out of all the people in the story with Jesus, only one received His forgiveness—the one facing judgment, not casting it. As long as you are in the judgment seat, Jesus says you are actually going to receive it the most! "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2 It's like you are trying to dig your way out of a ditch, but with every pile of dirt you shovel out, one more is piled in. That's what happens when you judge others. In fact, Jesus goes on to say that the bad you see in others are actually your own flaws: "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 It's like you were sitting in your house, noticing everyone's flaws out the window, but what you don't realize is that you're not looking at a window, but a mirror. And every judgment you cast on "others" is actually one you're casting on yourself.The Remedy
So what's the remedy? The antidote to judgment is actually mercy. That's what Jesus showed with the adulterous woman. Actually I shouldn't call her that; I should more rightly call her the forgiven woman. Because when she was at her lowest, Jesus showed her mercy, and it gave her forgiveness. The Bible says, "Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:13 In a fighting match, mercy is stronger than judgment. So if you are feeling clogged up with judgment-for yourself and for others-God wants you to take a mercy pill. He wants you to first accept the mercy He is offering you, and then start to give it to others. He wants you to put yourself in the position of the adulterous woman and not in the position of her judges. Because as you give mercy, you will receive it in return.Take a Mercy Pill
Take God's mercy pill today...and start to take it everyday. Every time you start to judge someone, just pause and take a dose of God's mercy instead. Think of how many of your flaws Jesus has forgiven. Let it flow through your soul and touch others in return. For example, today I was at the grocery store, and started to judge the woman in front of me. But then I started to think instead of all the good things about her, and I started to feel mercy for myself too! It's the same for you: you can start to live a life of mercy for yourself and others. If you want to receive God's mercy and start to give it to others in return, just tell Him in the Comments. He will give you what you ask! Let's start to get rid of the soul toxin of judgment! Help us God!Helping college students cope with death and grief. Where's God? (This is the most meaningless bunch of drivel you'll ever read.)
Verne Strickland / Blogmaster / July 21, 2012
Coping with Death and Grief. Where's God?
College students all fear death and they all believe that they will live forever. (Blogger: I definitely don't agree with this.) But death will enter our lives. Students therefore need to learn how to live with death, dying and grief.Why the Fear of Death?
There are several reasons why college students may be afraid of dying:- The premature interruption of life activities.
- Effects of death upon family members, classmates and friends.
- The fear of death without dignity, for example, being kept alive by machine.
- The fear of nothingness after death.
Impact of Loss: The Grieving Process
When a loved one/classmate is dying or dies, there is a grieving process. Recovery is a slow and emotionally painful one. The grieving process can be less painful if you try to understand that loss and grief is a natural part of life. Learn to accept your loss and believe in yourself. Believe that you can cope with tragic happenings. Let your experience be a psychological growth process that will help you to deal with future stressful events.The grieving process usually consists of the following stages. Note that not everyone goes through all these stages.
Denial and Shock At first, it may be difficult for you to accept your own dying or the death of a loved one/classmate. As a result you will deny the reality of death. However, this denial will gradually diminish as you begins to express and share your feelings about death and dying with other students or friends.
Anger During this stage the most common question asked is "why me?". You are angry at what you perceive to be the unfairness of death and you may project and displace your anger unto others. When given some social support and respect, you will eventually become less angry and able to move into the next stage of grieving.
Bargaining Many students try to bargain with some sort of deity. They probably try to bargain and offer to give up an enjoyable part of their lives in exchange for the return of health or the lost person.
Guilt You may find yourself feeling guilty for things you did or didn't do prior to the loss. Forgive yourself. Accept your humanness.
Depression You may at first experience a sense of great loss. Mood fluctuations and feelings of isolation and withdrawal may follow. It takes time for you, the grieving student, to gradually return to your old self and become socially involved in what's going on around you.
Please note that encouragement and reassurance to the bereaved student will not be helpful in this stage.
Loneliness As you go through changes in your social life because of the loss, you may feel lonely and afraid. The more you are able to reach out to others and make new friends, the more this feeling lessens.
Acceptance Acceptance does not mean happiness. Instead you accept and deal with the reality of the situation.
Hope Eventually you will reach a point where remembering will be less painful and you can begin to look ahead to the future and more good times.
Ways to Cope with Death and Dying
- Discuss feelings such as loneliness, anger, and sadness openly and honestly with other students, instructors and family members.
- Maintain hope.
- If your religious convictions are important to you, talk to a member of the clergy about your beliefs and feelings.
- Join a support group.
- Take good care of yourself. Eat well-balanced meals. Get plenty of rest.
- Be patient with yourself. It takes time to heal. Some days will be better than others.
Ways to Help a Bereaved Student
- Be supportive but do not attempt to give encouragement and reassurance when a student is in the depressed stage of grieving. It will not be helpful.
- Talk openly and honestly about the situation unless the student does not want to.
- Use an appropriate, caring conversational tone of voice.
- Show that you care. Listen attentively and show interest in what the grieving student has to say about his/her feelings and beliefs. Share your feelings and talk about any similar experience you may have had. Avoid using the phrase "I know just how you feel."
- If symptoms of depression are very severe or persistent and the grieving student is not coping with day to day activities encourage that student to get professional help.
Help! Where to find it.
Counseling Services120 Richmond Quad, Ellicott Complex
716-645-2720
Campus Ministers and Advisers
(645-2998)227 Student Union
North Campus
Life Transitions Center
(836-6460)150 Bennett Road, Cheektowaga NY
Copyright - Counseling Services, State University of New York at Buffalo
Obama ignored Easter -- but wishes Muslims a blessed month of jihad.
Obama wishes Muslims a blessed month of jihad, ignored Easter (video)
Posted on August 2, 2011 by creeping
Demographically speaking it doesn’t add up. From the Pew Forum via Wikipedia:
Monday, July 23, 2012
Woman dies after second-trimester abortion at Planned Parenthood.
Verne Strickland Blogmaster / July 23, 2011
by Steven Ertelt | Chicago, IL | LifeNews.com | 7/23/12 8:55 AMA young woman has died after having a second-trimester abortion at a Chicago-area Planned Parenthood clinic. Tonya Reaves, 24, died late Friday night, according to a local CBS television station, of hemorrhage, with a cervical dilation and evacuation, according to the medical examiner’s office following an autopsy after the abortion that claimed her life.
CBS Chicago said Reaves died after the abortion she had at 18 S. Michigan Avenue Planned Parenthood facility. The woman was transported from the Loop Health Center Planned Parenthood abortion clinic to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11:20 P.M.
An
autopsy conducted Saturday determined that she died from hemorrhage
following a Dilation and Evacuation abortion. The D&E abortion
method is one employed in pregnancies that have advanced beyond the
first trimester. In involves opening the cervix and removing the
pre-born baby by dismembering him or her. The Loop Health Center Planned
Parenthood advertises abortions up to 18 weeks.Tonya’s twin sister Toni was devastated by the news, telling the television station, “We were born the same day. She was my other half.”
“It happened so fast. She was just fine one day and then the next day she was gone. We’re just trying to figure out what happened… what happened,” she said.
Reaves’ sister indicated Tonya was engaged to be married and had another son, who had just enjoyed his first birthday.
Troy Newman, the head of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation, told LifeNews he is saddened by Reaves unnecessary death.
“Abortion deaths like this are completely avoidable. When a woman bleeds to death after an abortion, it is usually an indication of error on the part of the abortionist coupled with a delay in calling for emergency assistance. Planned Parenthood should be held accountable,” said Newman. “Our heartfelt prayers go out to the victim’s family at this time of tragic loss.”
Newman said the abortion death follows a recent expose’ published in the Chicago Tribune in June, 2011, that took to task abortion facilities in the state failing to report abortion complications and exposed the fact that some abortion practitioners did not report complications at all, in violation of the law. At that time, Illinois officials made no attempt to enforce abortion laws in that state.
Newman said that, while the name of the abortion practitioner in this case is likely unknown, Planned Parenthood’s most recent 990 Tax Forms list abortionist Caroline M. Hoke as its Medical Director.
In fact, Planned Parenthood of Illinois CEO Carole Brite, in a written statement the television station obtained, refused to give further details, saying, “We do not publicly discuss private patient matters and we follow HIPAA laws that forbid the disclosure of patient information.”
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Witness: Someone let gunman inside Colorado movie theater.
Verne Strickland Blogmaster July 20, 2012
10:42 AM, Jul 20, 2012 | 109 comments
- FILED UNDER
- National & World News
AURORA, CO -- A man who was at the Colorado movie theater where a dozen people were killed this morning, says he saw the gunman.
He says he thinks someone deliberately let the gunman inside once the movie started.
Here's what he told TV station KCNC this morning live on their newscast.
Expanded coverage
"As I was sitting down to get my seat, I noticed that a person came up to the front row, the front right, sat down, and as credits were going, it looked like he got a phone call. He went out toward the emergency exit doorway, which I thought was unusual to take a phone call. And it seemed like he probably pried it open, or probably did not let it latch all the way. As soon as the movie started, somebody came in, all black, gas mask, armor, and threw a gas can into the audience, and it went off, and then there were gunshots that took place."
Police arrested 24-year-old James Holmes of Aurora, Colorado, for the shootings.
At least 12 people were killed and 38 others wounded when the gunman opened fire during the midnight screening of the newest Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises."
CNN
ABC News apologizes for claim that shooter James Holmes linked to Tea Party.
Verne Strickland Blogmaster / July 20, 2012
TEA PARTY: NOT GUILTY AS CHARGED!
Updated
Politico | Mediaite | Breitbart.comDuring live coverage of the Aurora, Colo., theater shooting Friday morning, ABC News’ Brian Ross suggested the shooter, Jim Holmes, may be affiliated with the Colorado Tea Party. The only grounds for this seemed to be a mention on the group’s website of an Aurora man by the same name (not that uncommon a name) who joined last year. Ross reported:
There is a Jim Holmes of Aurora, Colo., page on the Colorado Tea Party site as well, talking about him joining the Tea Party last year. Now, we don’t know if this is the same Jim Holmes, but it is a Jim Holmes of Aurora, Colo.
Conservative websites and tweeters are not happy about such loose speculation regarding a right-wing political connection. After the shooting of Arizona U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords last year led some to blame violent Tea Party rhetoric and push for gun control, the anti-government crowd seems to be on watch for any efforts to connect it to Friday morning’s shooting.
Meanwhile, some bloggers are guessing the shooter has ties to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Update: Now Breitbart.com blogger Joel Pollak retorts that Holmes “could be a registered Democrat,” justified by this gem of logic: “Breitbart News has not confirmed that this James Holmes is in fact the suspect, but … there are certainly more facts in our documents than in ABC News’ irresponsible speculations.”
Probably best for the media to wait until there’s some real evidence.
Update: ABC News now says it has spoken with the mother of the shooter and acknowledges the Tea Party connection was not true:
An earlier ABC News broadcast report suggested that a Jim Holmes of a Colorado Tea Party organization might be the suspect, but that report was incorrect. Several other local residents with similar names were also contacted via social media by members of the public who mistook them for the suspect.ABC also issued an online apology: “ABC News and Brian Ross apologize for the mistake, and for disseminating that information before it was properly vetted.” And Ross said on-air: “An earlier report that I had was incorrect that he was connected with the Tea Party in fact that’s a different Jim Holmes. He was not connected to the Tea Party and what we do know about him is he is a 24-year-old white male who went to Colorado for a Ph.D.”
www.poynter.org/.../mediawire/181843/...jim-holmes-linked-to-tea-party
Related: How news of the #theatershooting spread through Twitter | Reddit covers the Colorado movie theater shooting | Jessica Ghawi, ‘aspiring sportscaster,’ dies in Aurora shooting
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