Tis the Season

Tis the Season for what?

Giving?

Getting?

Spending?

Really, since when does God tell you to run out and spend all your money (or your credit) on material things?

No, no, the Bible is very clear about debt. Jesus is very clear about giving.

This year, spend some extra time with your family. Put some extra thought into their gifts. There's nothing wrong with gift-giving, but don't go overboard. A thoughtful gift is far more appreciated than a pile of material goods that will be in the back of the closet before your car clears the driveway.

Spend some time sharing your Blessings with those less fortunate than yourself. A gift for a foster child, an afternoon helping down at the soup kitchen, a turkey donated to the local food bank, a monetary donation to your church or favorite charity -- all are fairly easy ways to give back to your community.

Tis the Season, but this year, let's take a minute and think -- What would Jesus have us do?

A Modern Take on the Good Samaritan

My friend, Paul, has published his first fiction book on Kindle! It's a modern twist of the story of the Good Samaritan. Check this out:

Samuel Rittenberg Tanner- or Sammy, for short- is a rarity in 1960’s Georgia. He’s a rich, semi-retired black man who is living in the outskirts of Atlanta. Sammy has battled racism and fought through it all with a smile, a song, and his natural charm. He’s ready for a road trip on his German motorcycle with a sidecar, but he can’t go it alone, so he invites his 17 year-old nephew, Alistair Graham Smith, to take him. Alistair’s lived all of his life in a poor Alabama sharecropper community. He’s never experienced an extravagant lifestyle like his Uncle Sammy has.

But what’s supposed to be an hour-long motorcycle ride into Atlanta turns into an all-night adventure. When Sammy and Alistair take an unplanned detour, they run into something completely unexpected: a half-dead, badly beaten white man curled up on the side of a dangerous road known as Red Pass. Will Sammy and Alistair avoid him for their own safety? Or will they stop and help when no one else would?

Welcome to “The Adventures of Sammy and Alisatir:Sidecar”!

Written by new Christian short story author Paul Caro, “Sidecar” explores the Good Samaritan parable and how it plays out with race relations just before the Civil Rights movement. “Sidecar” is the first in a series of books that explore biblical themes as translated into more modern times through Sam and Alistiar's lives.

Complete with humor, songs and cultural references from the era, “Sidecar” is sure to entertain and educate. If you grew up in these times, “Sidecar” is a reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. Enjoy reading about Sammy and Alistair and how this detour emphasizes the importance of following God no matter the situation.

Buying “Sidecar” also gives you the opportunity to live out the lessons learned by Sammy and Alistair in this book. All proceeds from the first 100 copies sold and 10 percent of every copy after that will go to the homeless feeding ministry at First Christian Church in Suisun City, California.


Click here to go to the Amazon page.

(Pssst: I did the cover for Paul.)

Are You Waiting for the Lord?

Are you waiting for the Lord to speak to you about an important issue?

Are you waiting for a Word to tell you that it's time to get a job, move closer to family, marry your sweetheart, or step out in Faith?

Ummm, the Lord already told you all that, in the Word that He gave us all -- the Bible.

Don't tell my Pastor that you're waiting for a Word before you start your job search. He'll whip out his Bible and show you right there, on the page, the exact Word that you've been delaying your whole life, waiting for the Spirit to speak.

Nope, the Word has already spoken, you're holding up the Lord's ability to work on and with you. As long as you exercise your free will and choose to delay, then you choose to delay your Blessings.

TODAY is the day to step out in Faith and DO SOMETHING! Whether it's going out on a job search, calling your family, getting your marriage license, or just picking up cans next to the road so you can contribute to your household, you need to pray for guidance and then go do it.

Just do it. Something. Anything.

Just get up off your duff and do it.

The Lord will work some mighty works on you once you've taken that step in Faith.

But you have to CHOOSE to do something first and that's to follow the Word that's already right in front of you!

Listen to me -- just do it.

Finding a New Church

Now that I'm pretty much moved, except for a load still in storage, I need to find a new church.

It's not easy to find a new place to worship. This town is ok, but it's not really diverse and I'm used to going to probably THE most diverse church in Northern California.

We checked out one church. My daughter likes it. The people are friendly. The worship music, while not really our style, is good and heartfelt. It's not really diverse, but then again, this town isn't really that diverse either, so I can't expect too much in diversity at church.

There's just one problem with this church. I don't  like it.

Why? Well, you know, I went a couple of times and it was ok, although the sermon was kinda all over the place. However, in the midst of the last sermon, the pastor was preaching and all of a sudden, in the middle of the lesson, he said something (I'm paraphrasing here) about how churches all over the world are contacting conservatives here in the U.S. and begging for help.

Stop. What?

Wait, did I really hear that? Churches are contacting conservatives? Ummm, moderates and liberals don't go to church too? We don't support churches all over the world? We don't do missions, contribute our time and money? We aren't Believers?

And what the heck did that have to do with the lesson? Not a darn thing. Seriously, it was completely out of the blue.

I don't think I'm going back there again.

So, back to searching for a diverse, God-loving, moderate to liberal congregation where I can learn and grow in the Lord without being insulted.

Our Deepest Fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

~ from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson

Wow. Just wow!

A fellow writer posted this quote in our forum and it caught me.

How many of us hold ourselves back, as if we aren't worthy?

WHO says we aren't worthy? Is it that little whisper of inadequacy in the back of our minds, undercutting all that we do? Is it the world, intruding once again into God's Word, telling us that we can't be what we were intended to be, that we are only what the ignorant onlookers think we should be?

I say NO!.

Ms Williamson got it right. We are all children of God, an essential part of the Creation, and we need to bust out and let the Light within us shine.

Today, lay it all into the Lord's most capable hands, then go do that job, start that novel, write that poem, sing that song. Today is a new day unto the Lord -- and it's your job to go out and work it to the max!

So get busy with it already!

One Christmas Miracle

I believe in miracles.

Yes, and there is enough evidence to convince me that God does hear our prayers.

This Christmas miracle story begins back in October with the sad ending of one young man's life and his friend, Sam, in a coma. While the doctors were still running tests, they were in the process of readying the family for the worst news -- that there was no hope.

However, the MRI showed that the essential centers of the brain were still functioning. And by that evening, he moved two fingers.

His mother, Susan Regan said, "At some point, I knew we had to make some sort of decision, and I kept praying."



Now, just before Christmas, Sam is talking, walking with a walker and doctors believe that he'll make a complete recovery.

No matter what your personal beliefs are, that either Sam's day had not yet come or that his mother's prayers were answered, either way it shows the work of the Lord in our daily lives.

God can and does answer every prayer. Even silence is an answer, although it's usually one we don't want to hear.

NOTE: The title of the news story is deceptive, he wasn't readied to donate organs -- yet.
http://gma.yahoo.com/readied-donate-organs-21-old-emerges-coma-204904805.html

Interracial Couples Not Welcome at Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church?

I was utterly shocked to see the headline of this story. The church voted that interracial couples weren't welcome? What part of Christianity do they not get?

And do they understand that JESUS wasn't "white"? Yeah, Jesus himself wasn't white and obviously wouldn't be allowed in their church (though he didn't have a wife, come on now people!)

Oh my gosh. Talk about going against God's Word.

I would discourage any of the faithful from going to that church because the people are obviously NOT following the Word. If you don't believe me, check out the Word.


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

from the American King James Version  http://kjv.us/numbers/12.htm



1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, Has the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? has he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were on the face of the earth.) 4 And the LORD spoke suddenly to Moses, and to Aaron, and to Miriam, Come out you three to the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.


6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream.

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house.

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?


9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. 10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked on Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said to Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech you, lay not the sin on us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb. 13 And Moses cried to the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech you. 14 And the LORD said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.


16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

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


Note not just the anger of the Lord, but also the forgiveness of His people.

Moses begged God to heal his sister. The people waited for her to be allowed back into camp before continuing their journey.

Miriam and Aaron repented and were not just forgiven, but brought back into the fold.

We can only hope that the members of this congregation repent...

A Glimpse of the Other Side?

"Oh wow oh wow oh wow."

Somehow, when my last day comes, if I'm blessed enough to still be here but able to see the other side, I suspect that my last words will be the same. "Oh wow."

I don't know what he saw, but there's a sense of wonder inherent in that simple phrase, "Oh wow".

It makes me think of the Lord of the Rings, in the final pages, where Frodo and Gandalf are passing into the West, "...the grey-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise."

But for Sam, Pippin and Merry, "...the evening deepened into darkness..."

Isn't that the same for those of us left behind? Tolkien had a deep sense of what lies before us all, that moment when we pass from human into spirit -- when we join the vast consciousness that we who are still flesh and blood call God.

I believe that the grey-curtain of death rolled back for Steve and he saw the Promised Land before him.

Links:
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/steve-jobs-final-words-shared-sister-eulogy-060321674.html

Steve Job's eulogy, delivered by his sister: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opinion/mona-simpsons-eulogy-for-steve-jobs.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&sq=steve%20jobs

The Spirit Comes To Me In Dreams

I don't dream very much, at least not dreams I remember. Sometimes I have very strange dreams. Sometimes I have nightmares. And sometimes it's the Spirit, usually warning me.


Right before I bought my house, I had one of those dreams.


I dreamed that I was with my ex at a motel. He was hiding out from the cops. I could come and go from the motel room, I wasn't wanted.


So I'd went out to get some food. I was on my way back to the motel room. The sun was hot, I was sweating. I was walking up and could hear his voice, he was on the phone. He couldn't see me yet. Then I realized what I was hearing, he was plotting with someone to pin his latest crime on me!


I woke up in a cold sweat for real. OMG, all the garbage that fool pulled on me before my eyes were opened to his lies, and then to dream such a thing! And it was so real!


I hadn't seen nor heard from him in months, he was busy with his next girlfriend and their kids. To dream about him, it was a nightmare.


The next day, I saw this house online. I kinda discounted it, but my realtor called and was very excited about it, so we arranged to go and see it the next day. I also told her about my dream and she told me exactly what I was thinking, that it was a warning from the Spirit. We talked for a good while about it.


Right after we got off the phone, it rang again.


It was him. The same old lines, the same tired scenario, he wanted to come home. He wanted to make a fresh start. He'd change if he could come home.

I told him no. I was getting ready to buy a house, I was going to look at it the next day. So he talked and talked, then finally stopped trying to pursuade me. I remembered the dream and it strengthened my resolve, there was no way he could come with me.


Well, I ended up buying that house and moving to West Sacramento.

It was a while, but one day I saw his name on the booking logs. Oh no.

Then I saw his girlfriend's name. OH NO!


It hit me, if I would have let him back into my life, that would have been me, sucked into a crime I had nothing to do with, I would've been with the wrong person at the wrong time.


He went to prison for a while. She eventually ended up in jail too.


Again, the Spirit was right. Thank God I'd listened.

God Is Everywhere

Even when we cry out to God, "Why? Why?" He is always there for us.

Each of us have a day that comes and we leave our family and friends behind. That day is always too soon, whether its day one or at 100 years old. For those left behind, it's still too soon.

The worst are the tragic and unnecessary deaths, when our loved one is in an accident, or worse, murdered.

Our days are numbered and when it comes, it comes.

Still, God is there for us. He lifts us up and comforts us in our sorrow. We depend on Him for all things, in the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, in life and in the death of the body. We depend on Him, knowing that life is short and when our day comes, we go Home to His unending love.

RIP Josh. May justice find your murderer and your family and friends find comfort in knowing that you're kicking it with God now. We miss you, but in the grand scheme, we'll be with you soon enough...

I Like This Bible

Don't get me wrong, I still have my King James too.

But I really like this Bible: The New American Bible published by the World Catholic Press.

Basically, they took the entire text of the Bible back to the earliest sources available and translated them into English.

There are tons of footnotes, clarifying and giving extra historical information.

I really like this Bible, it grounds me in history as well as Faith.

I'd Like To Say Something Before The World Ends Tomorrow

Mr Camping is full of poop.

There.

I said it.

I'm sure that Harold Camping really believes what he's promoting.

Luckily for all the sinners out there, and that includes the faithful (because we ALL sin -- only Jesus was perfect!), you probably still have time to get right with the Lord.

I say probably because none of us know when our day will come. It could be today. It could be tomorrow. It could be that the Lord doesn't call you home for another 50 years. Or you could have a heart attack and go Home tomorrow, on the day that Mr Camping has predicted.

I suspect that once it becomes clear that he's wrong again (don't forget his prediction of 1994), he's going to be quiet for a bit, then announce that he made a mistake and set a NEW date for the Rapture.

But as for tomorrow, not gonna happen.

If you're reading this, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and you're really upset about Mr Camping and his predictions, especially if you were one of his true believers, feel free to e-mail me. I'll be happy to talk to you and look up a local pastor for you.

Or a lawyer if you prefer, although unless you've thrown away your life's savings, I really wouldn't recommend spending your valuable resources on suing the man. Forgiveness truly is Divine and lawyers are very expensive.

In any case, do not lose heart. God is with you all the time and whether or not Mr Camping is right or wrong, he can't take God away from you. Not now, not ever. The Lord is not willing that ANY should be lost. That includes you.

So on Sunday, go to church and thank the Lord for the blessings that you have, the blessings you will receive, and the good life that the Lord has promised you.

And after church, gather with your family and break bread together. The storm will pass, the sun will shine, life will go on.

And on Monday, look up disaster preparedness and get your emergency plan in place. Just because Mr Camping is utterly wrong about the end of the world, doesn't mean that you won't eventually be in a disaster. But it will be just one of the regular earthly types -- earthquake, flood, fire, tornado, hurricane -- you know, the ones that happen to all of us.

The Lord is with you and me and even the unbelievers. They just don't know it yet. And the Lord is watching over them too, guiding them to a path that will lead them Home in the end.

We all go Home in the end.

Just not tomorrow...

Osama bin Laden Is Dead

Yes, I saw people rejoicing.

I don't know, I just felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

Personally, I don't think the Lord encourages us to rejoice, even when it's over the death of a horrible, horrible man who facilitated the murder of thousands of innocent people.

Vengence is mine sayeth the Lord...

What's Up With The World Ending In 2011?

I've been driving by signs announcing that the world is ending this year.

REALLY?

Yes, Harold Camping has done it again. He's out there announcing that according to his mathematical calculations, the Rapture will arrive on May 21, 2011. And to take it further, that the world will end on October 21, 2011.

REALLY?

Like he didn't learn the last time, on Sept. 6, 1994, when his followers waited for the Rapture that never came?

Look, if you really read the Bible, Jesus and the Word are very clear that NO ONE knows when Christ will return, and in fact no one knows when the end of the world will come. It is very clear, verse after verse after verse. We do not know when the end will come, just like we don't know when our own last day will come.

If you follow the Word, you have no need of false prophets. Sorry Mr. Camping, but that's exactly what you are, a false prophet. Christians don't need this kind of fear-mongering among the flock, we have way too much work to do for the Lord.

You don't have to believe me, take it right to the Word. I found a website where the verses are gathered together, so you don't have to search your whole Bible for relevant information. Of course, I'd encourage you to take this back to your Bible and read it all, all the way through, so that you are not deceived by the false and the foolish.

Check it out: http://www.scripturemenu.com/BibleVerseList.html?topicid=47

And don't be fooled by those who really should know better than to try to place themselves above the Lord and His Word.

If the WORD said May 21, 2011, then I'd take this very seriously. But the Word doesn't say that at all.

Thieves in the temple.

Yep, let me say it again.

Thieves in the temple...

Links:
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-01-01/bay-area/17466332_1_east-bay-bay-area-first-time-camping

http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/may21/

We Don't Always Like The Answer

God answers every prayer.

Even silence is an answer.

But we don't always like the answer we get. When we're praying for a miracle, it's hard when God says "No".

My daughter's friend was lying in the hospital, terribly injured in a motorcycle accident. We prayed and prayed and prayed for the miracle, that he would wake up.

But this was a time when God said no.

He was actually going to be taken off life support the next day. The call went out and everyone rushed to the hospital. This fine young man's body was shutting down and he wasn't going to make it through the night.

In all of our sadness for our loss (and Heaven's gain), it was clear that God gave us the answer by taking him Home. The family didn't have to wonder if they'd made the right or wrong decision, despite the doctors' expertise in these kinds of injuries.

God made it clear. "I have taken him Home already. He is safe with Me."

We don't always like the answers we receive, but God always answers our prayers.

How to Make A Place For Prayer In Your Home

"In this busy world, it's hard to find time to do everything we need to do. Often, the most important things are neglected -- even in our spiritual lives.

It can be challenging to find a peaceful place, but so many of us need a place to pray."

Read more: How to Make A Place For Prayer In Your Home eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6043414_make-place-prayer-home.html#ixzz16vPzejGl

Remember, praying doesn't have to be a huge formal thing. Prayer is communicating and communing with the tiny still voice inside yourself -- the one that leads you to bigger and better things. The one that reminds you that you have work to do and time is short.

Prayer leads you to the center of all things, the Alpha and the Omega -- God.

The Lord Is Waiting For You

Yes, I'm ashamed to say that I haven't been to church in a while.

There's really no excuse, even though my church is 45 miles away. If I can drag myself out of bed to go to work, to write articles and go to hockey, I can get myself together to go to church. Yeah, I'll be the one in the back in jeans and tennis shoes, but I'll be there.

Tomorrow, my daughter and I (son will be at his dad's house) are packing ourselves up to go to church, to hear the Word.

Yes, I pray every day. But just praying and believing isn't enough. You and I both need to go and stand in agreement with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. To worship and pray together and receive the corporate blessings that the Body was promised. To receive the Promise.

It's past time.

The Lord is waiting for me.

He's waiting for you too.

Pray Every Day

Every day, I jump into the truck and off I go to work.

Every day, I pray to the Lord, thanking Him for all He has blessed me with: a house, a job, a truck, a family, and all the good things in our lives.

I pray for protection over my family and friends.

I pray for blessings to fall on me and mine.

I say thank you.

Thank you.

The Church Isn't Always Right

Honoring Copernicus is a good example.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100522/ap_on_re_eu/eu_poland_copernicus_reburied;_ylt=AuWInRllw2mlcBSkMiJMd8pH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTNpZXRqbWxwBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNTIyL2V1X3BvbGFuZF9jb3Blcm5pY3VzX3JlYnVyaWVkBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNARwb3MDNARzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA2FzdHJvbm9tZXJjbw--

Now, he was already dead when the Catholic Church declared him a heretic. So it was really not a big deal to him, he'd already went on to be with the Lord.

The significance, however, of the Church acknowledging that he was not a heretic (flawed, yes, heretic, no) is an important step toward the understanding that it all, science, faith, the world, the spiritual, came from God Almighty.

Oh yes, we can distort it. We can misinterpret it. We can even lie about it (with consequences).

But the reality is that God created it all and He gave us busy little minds and hands to dig and think and theorize and try to understand.

The mistake so many make is thinking that:

HERE is Science.

And HERE is Faith.

And the truth

of the matter is

that it's all ONE.

We are like the blind men examining an elephant, each feeling and determining within his own range of touch, smell, thoughts of what an elephant is. But they were all touching, smelling, theorizing about the same thing -- the elephant.

That's what we do.

We see the world from many different points of view, never realizing that we are all, Science and Faith, seeing the very same thing. Just from different angles.

Just like Copernicus saw the solar system. It was still the solar system, just from a different angle...

911 Call: 'I'm The Girl That Got Lost' - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Miracles still happen!

911 Call: 'I'm The Girl That Got Lost' - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

How to Preview Movies for Content | eHow.com

Many people are very particular about the movies they want to see.

Parents are especially picky about the movies that their children see. The latest and greatest according to the local newspaper critic may not suit your particular standards when it comes to you and yours. Happily, there are ways to review a movie for content before you get to the theater.

Things You'll Need:
Computer
Internet connection
E-mail address
Search engine

Step 1
Go to the Internet and do a search for "Movie Reviews for Families". If you like, you can add "Christian" to your keywords to further reduce the results.

Step 2
Select a website and review it. Sometimes what the search engine finds isn't what you're looking for, so be sure to review the website itself before reviewing the movies. If you don't like what you see, hit the back arrow and choose a different website. Be aware that some sites are free and others may require that you sign up in order to view the reviews.

Step 3
Look for an e-mail subscription for the website you like. Such sites as Screenit.com often have weekly e-mails that go straight to your e-mail, with Screen It's critics reviews of the latest and greatest movies in the theaters and on video.

Step 4
Once you've found a website that appeals to you, save it to "Favorites" so you can find it again. With a few minutes of research, you can save hours of arguing or worse, having to walk out of a movie because it's not appropriate for your children. See Resources for a few family-friendly movie review websites.

Tips & Warnings

• Stick to your standards. If there's too many curse words or inappropriate scenes for your family, write to the movie companies and complain.
• Spend your money on quality movies and videos. Remember, it's all about the money and the production companies will follow the $$. As long as consumers are willing to pay for garbage, they're going to get garbage.
  No website is perfect. As a consumer, you should still review movies and videos for content according to your own belief system and personal standards.

Resources/Links
Parent Previews
Kids In Mind
Movies Review Blog
Screen It

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

Parents need more resources so they can preview movies before exposing their children (and themselves) to the content that Hollywood thinks we want to see. I can tell you right now, over three fourths of the movies in the theaters are just plain garbage.

We have to be careful what we take in. We are in the world, but not of the world.

What goes in, eventually comes out. True in rabbits, true in the words and actions of people.

Take a minute and preview that movie before you take your family, you'll be glad you did.

More important, the Lord will be happy you did...

A Word For Me Today

Elder's Meditation of the Day March 20

"You have wandered away from your teachings. You must concentrate on your spiritual teachings... Don't be sidetracked."
--Henry Quick Bear, LAKOTA

This is so incredibly true.

All too often we wander from our spiritual base. It's so, so easy here on this earth, the world is always intruding into our spirit lives.

Take it back to the Word. Get back on track.

It's not too late.

Missing Snowshoer Found Alive - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Missing Snowshoer Found Alive - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Miracles do happen and this was truly a miracle of survival.

Having said that, later news reports revealed that Kevin Davis also did everything he could to make that miracle happen. He built a snow cave and sheltered in it through the storm, through the night. He was dressed for snow and cold, although probably not a white-out blizzard.

There is much to be said for building a shelter to get you through storms, whether physical, like the snowstorm, or spiritual.

We all face storms in life. I'm glad that he made it through his storm and all the prayers that went out for him were answered with a "Yes, yes, and yes again!"
Be blessed dude!!

Man May Go To Jail For Taking His Daughter To Church?

This is a TERRIBLE story. Personally, from what I read, I think that both parents are horrible people with major control issues.

Having said that, what the heck? A restraining order forbidding Dad to take the child to church? Are you kidding me?

Taking the child to church at age 3 isn't going to hurt her. Mom has serious issues if she thinks that it will.

And Dad, he's wrong for doing all this in a media frenzy and baptizing the child without at least notifying Mom ahead of time. Whether or not she objected is not material, lots of people are baptized as children and change religions, change denominations, or tragically choose nothingness when they grow up.

Now the child has been thrust into the parents' drama. That's just wrong.

This is so wrong on so many levels.

I think that the restraining order about church should be dropped and both parents be restrained from discussing any part of their divorce or custody issues with the media. THAT's the restraining that should have been made right from the beginning. No media. Period.

The current restraining order is a blatant violation of freedom of religion.

Dad has a right to take the child to the church of his choosing during his custody time and Mom has the exact same right. No matter what they had agreed upon during the marriage, the marriage is over and life moves on. At this point, the only important thing is the well-being of the child.

The only bright spot is that they both appear to believe in God.

Now if they could just follow His Word...

Link:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Law/divorce-battle-joseph-reyes-faces-jail-baptizing-daughter-church/story?id=9845919

The law:
http://www.rainbowfamilylaw.com/areasoflegalservice-ChildCustody&Religion.htm

BET's Sunday Best Season 3 Auditions

Oh my, the best of music -- Gospel!

It's not too late to get to the auditions (if you live on the East Coast or the South). Unfortunately, I didn't hear about the video auditions until it was too late, so next year, start looking right around the holidays!!

Sunday Best Season 3 Auditions:
DETROIT*
When: February 20, 8 a.m. - noon
Where: COBO Center, 1 Washington Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226

NEW ORLEANS
When: February 27, 8 a.m. - noon
Where: Ernest M. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70130-1799

PHILADELPHIA*
When: March 6, 8 a.m. - noon
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, One Convention Center Place, 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107

For more information on auditions, call 1.800.710.4003.

*The New York and Atlanta auditions have been cancelled.

Link:
http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/sundaybest2/sundaybest3_auditions_unitedstates.htm?Referrer=%7B626141EB-9CF7-463E-92C7-6F31C8698895%7D