Church Security & Safety

Thieves Rob Church During Praise & Worship

2010-08-09T23:06:00.001-04:00

NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) - How low can one go? Someone apparently during the middle of morning worship service had their mind on something other than ‘praise and worship,' according to a Nacogdoches Police report.

While church members worshipped close by, thieves were brazenly helping themselves to the Sunday morning offerings at Christian Life Center Church.

The theft occurred shortly after the offering plate had been passed around and the money secured in a strong box in the business office. It has been determined that the amount of money taken was less than $500, but that's not the disturbing part said Sergeant Greg Sowell with the Nacogdoches Police Department. He said the fact that someone had the nerve to take the church's money bag at all is unsettling.

"It looks like someone took the bank bag between 11:40 and 12 noon. That's pretty low and pretty bold to take money from the church," Sergeant Greg Sowell with the Nacogdoches Police Department said. "We've assigned an investigator to the case." At this time, there are no suspects.

Police are encouraging anyone with information that might help solve this case to call Crime Stoppers at 936-560-INFO.

Church Employee Stabbed

2010-08-09T22:55:00.001-04:00

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - A church employee was stabbed Saturday evening around 7:45 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church in the 2100 block of Collingwood Blvd.

Custodian Anthony Leno was stabbed twice while he took a quick break outside.

"We believe two occupants asked Tony for directions," said Jack Lindberg, a member of the congregation. "Tony, being the guy he is, walked to the car to give them directions. At that point he was stabbed."

Church security guard Anthony Bell knows Leno well. He says it was upsetting to find out what happened to a friend and says the crime is a reflection of the community today.

"It's a bad neighborhood," Bell said. "To have a security guard at the church lets you know it is a sign of the times."

While it may be a sign of the times, by chance Sunday's sermon was entitled: "Facing our Fears," a lesson planned months earlier, but fitting during this difficult time.

"We should be wary, but at the same time we want to be a place where we can project enough love that we can drive some of that hatred and hurt and pain away that makes people act like that," Rev. Robert Anderson said.

Before service members held hands and prayed for their fellow family member, a member they say means so much to the church.

"Without him this doesn't happen. It took four people to get the church ready this morning in what he does by himself. I guess that tells you it all," Lindberg said.

Leno is expected to be okay.

His attacker is described as a Middle Eastern man in his 30s, around 5' 8" and around 160 lbs with black hair and brown eyes.

Witnesses say he drove off in a green Chevy Blazer.

Call CrimeStopper at 419-255-1111 if you have information that can help police.

One Injured in Church Shooting

2010-08-01T20:42:00.003-04:00

Springfield, SC (WLTX) -- Orangeburg County Officials are searching for the person they say shot
a gun outside of a church Sunday afternoon injuring another person.

At approximately 1 PM, Officials say they responded to a shots fired call after someone starting shooting
a gun outside of Oakey Spring Baptist Church. Officials say there was a physical outside the
church between two men resulting in shots being fired. Investigators are still working to confirm the identity
of the gunman.

One person was injured during the altercation with non-life threatening injuries. Witnesses told News19 the church had planned
to hold a meeting at 1 PM to vote on the church's current pastor.

Officials are still investigating.

Church volunteer faces allegation of child molestation

2010-07-15T10:23:00.000-04:00

The Edmonds man was a volunteer at a church where he allegedly fondled an 8-year-old girl during a class.

By Diana Hefley
Herald Writer
EDMONDS — A volunteer magician and puppeteer who worked with a children’s ministry at Westgate Chapel in Edmonds is accused of fondling a young parishioner during Sunday school and sneaking his camera up the skirts of unsuspecting girls and women.

Prosecutors on Tuesday charged Terry Jensen, 55, of Edmonds, with first-degree child molestation and two counts of attempted voyeurism.

The incidents date back to 2006, when an 8-year-old girl reported that Jensen fondled her three times during a class, according to court papers. The girl told her mother, who reported the incident to church officials.

Jensen allegedly apologized to the girl during a meeting facilitated at the time by the church and attended by the girl, her mother and the church’s leadership team, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Adam Cornell wrote.

The girl reported that Jensen “got down on one knee” and asked the girl for another chance, court papers said.

Church officials on Tuesday said that Jensen didn’t confess to any criminal activity during the meeting. Church leaders know that they must report any allegations of abuse against children and would have called police if they believed a crime occurred, Cindi Bowen, an assistant pastor at the church, said.

A church elder and others had no information at the time that Jensen had fondled the girl, Bowen said. Instead, there was a plausible explanation for why the girl may have misunderstood the situation. He apologized, suggesting there had been miscommunication that made the girl feel uncomfortable. The family seemed satisfied with the explanation and remained active with the church, Bowen said.

Church officials did go to police in January, when Jensen was confronted again with allegations of sexual impropriety with parishioners.

Prosecutors allege that Jensen used a small camera to take pictures up the skirts of women and girls at church and on business trips.

Jensen told Westgate Chapel officials he used the church’s camera to take pictures underneath the skirts of some of the teenage puppet workers behind the stage, Cornell wrote.

Two women also reported that Jensen used a small camera that looked like a pen to take pictures of them during business trips.

Edmonds police seized two of Jensen’s computers. They weren’t able to find any images that pertained to the allegations against him. Jensen, Cornell wrote, destroyed a third computer and threw it in the garbage. Investigators were unable to locate the computer, Cornell wrote.

Jensen was removed as a volunteer when the allegations surfaced this year, Bowen said. He had been a volunteer since 2003 and underwent a criminal background screening.

Guns In Church

2010-07-09T20:06:00.000-04:00

The Internet is abuzz today over word that Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal has singed that allows people with concealed-weapons permits to bring weapons into churches and other houses of worship.

The bill does not allow people to simply walk into a church packing heat, however. According to the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, individuals must pass a background check and undergo eight hours of training per year if they want to bring weapons to houses of worship; the idea seems to be that they would serve something like a de facto security force.

In addition, the head of the religious institution - be it a church, synagogue, mosque or anything else - must announce to congregants that the weapons are being wielded for security purposes.

The bill, which will reportedly go into effect on August 15th, is the brainchild of Republican state Rep. Henry Burns, who argues that houses of worship in rough neighborhoods need the protection that a concealed-weapons security force could provide.

The legislation also extends the period to have a concealed weapons permit from four to five years and gives houses of worship the option to hire off duty police or other security forces. It was one of hundreds of measures signed into law by the Republican governor.

Woman Brings Gun To Church

2010-07-09T19:49:00.001-04:00

Woman wears gun in holster to church

She drives away and is stopped and ticketed by police

By Bruce Vielmetti of the Journal Sentinel

A Unitarian Universalist church might well be the last place you'd expect to find someone wearing a gun.

Maybe that's why Krysta Sutterfield chose the Unitarian church in Brookfield for an open-carry demonstration on Sunday. If she wanted to bring attention to the gun rights debate, she surely succeeded, though she probably didn't plan on getting arrested in the process.

Brookfield police said Thursday they were called to the church at 13001 W. North Ave. about 10:30 a.m. by a church staffer who said a woman was wearing a handgun in a hip holster. By the time three squad cars arrived, Sutterfield was driving away. She was stopped, and police found the loaded 9mm gun in a zipped case on the passenger seat.

She was handcuffed, taken to the police station, processed and ticketed for having the loaded gun in her car - a state forfeiture citation, not a criminal offense. Sutterfield was then released.

She was not ticketed for openly carrying the weapon into the church, which did not have signs prohibiting firearms.

"We've referred the case to the district attorney," Police Capt. Phil Horter said.

Sutterfield, 41, of Milwaukee, referred questions Thursday to her attorney, Rebecca Coffee, who said she couldn't comment on her client's intentions or actions Sunday.

Caryl Sewel, president of the congregation at Unitarian Universalist Church West, said Sutterfield may have attended a service before but was not a registered member of the church. Because of the Fourth of July holiday, Sunday's service was lightly attended, Sewel said, and a guest minister was speaking about civil rights.

Sewel said that Sutterfield's gun was clearly visible on her hip, but that she didn't ever remove it from its holster or do anything overtly threatening. Still, it concerned Sewell.

"I didn't feel comfortable asking her why she was wearing the gun," Sewel said. "Truthfully, we found it very intimidating," especially in light of the 2005 shootings at a church service at a Brookfield hotel that left eight people dead, and a 2008 shooting at a Unitarian church in Tennessee that killed two people.

But Sewel said other members did ask Sutterfield, and she replied she was expressing her 2nd Amendment rights.

Sewel said other staff called the administrative line of the Brookfield Police Department for clarification about the legality, and the officers responded in force with at least three squad cars. She said she didn't think that was an overreaction, again because of the memories of the 2005 shootings.

The church will probably now post a sign banning guns, Sewel said, but it has no grudge against Sutterfield.

"We'd be happy to have her come back," Sewel said. "Just don't bring a gun."

Gun rights advocates are riding some momentum lately. Last year, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen advised law enforcement that open-carry was not, in itself, a basis for a charge of disorderly conduct. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the 2nd Amendment right of most individuals to possess firearms applies to the states, and within a day, one Wisconsin district attorney said he would no longer prosecute cases of concealed carry or transporting uncased or loaded guns in vehicles. A challenge to Wisconsin law banning guns within 1,000 feet of a school is pending in federal court.

Nik Clark, president of Wisconsin Carry Inc., called the state "behind the times" for prohibiting transport of loaded guns, which most states allow.

"Wisconsin Carry advocates that people follow all Wisconsin firearm regulations, even those we find patently unconstitutional, until such time as we are able to change those laws through legal challenges and/or legislative changes," Clark said.

Jeri Bonavia, executive director of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, disagrees with the basic open-carry tenet that armed law-abiding people deter criminals.

"When people make a decision to carry a gun or that a gun will keep them safer, they have the opportunity to analyze risks and benefits. They get to decide," she Bonavia said. "But when they bring it into public, they're forcing their analysis on all of us."

Broad research shows, she said, that "guns, overall, do not promote public or personal safety."

Man Sentenced for Killing Toddler with Baseball Bat in Church

2010-07-03T12:26:00.002-04:00

Wheaton man sentenced for killing toddler with baseball bat in church

A man who accidentally killed a toddler with a baseball bat while attacking her stepfather in a western Minnesota church has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

David E. Collins, 51, of Wheaton, was sentenced Thursday by Traverse County District Judge Gerald Seibel in the death of Aundrea Brownlow, 14 months, as he went after Claude Hankins, in September inside Thy Kingdom Come church.

Collins and Hankins were in a dispute over $20 and a used washer and dryer.

The Rev. Danny Barnes of the Thy Kingdom Come said Saturday he gave the appliances to Hankins, and that angered Collins.

Collins was convicted in a bench trial before Seibel of unintentional second-degree murder and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

With time served and credit for good behavior in prison, Collins could end up serving as little as 12 1/2 years.

Soon after the killing, Collins' wife said her husband didn't see Aundrea before crushing her skull.

The church's mission includes serving people with drug and alcohol addictions.

Condoms found at historic church

2010-06-29T10:00:00.001-04:00

Originally printed at http://www.nbcaugusta.com/news/georgia/97275099.html

BEECH ISLAND, S.C. - Thousands of dollars worth of damages have been done to a historic church in Aiken County.

Church members spent Saturday morning restoring their church before Sunday’s service.

Three men, who sat in the Susan Union Baptist church in Beech Island as little boy’s 60-years -ago, came in to clean up the mess.

Reverend Abraham Smith Jr. is one of them.

"When we came to church there wasn't too much fooling around when I was growing up,” Smith said.

The 117-year-old church is five miles from the road, nestled in the woods and has service every fourth Sunday of the month.

Smith says this month someone or someones came early.

"Glass was all in the pulpit,” Smith said pointing toward the broken windows. Several chairs were smashed and King James Bible was thrown on the floor.

He tallied up $2,000 in damages.

"The grounds are said to be holy grounds, but they don't even have respect for the grounds,” Smith said.

Aiken County Sheriff’s Investigators say they think teenagers are to blame.

Deacon Fred Key says he caught them once.

"Teenagers come back and park and do what they got to do, drink beer, smoke reefer and they probably got feeling good and wanted to break some windows,” Key said.

Smith pointed out the beer cans and condom wrappers that littered the area around the church.

“No respect, no respect I can’t believe they left them right there,” he said.

Smith says he expects 15 people to show up to the service.

The Aiken County Sheriff's Office is investigating the vandalism at this church as well as several other Aiken County Church vandalism's.

Two Men Steal Items From Bishop Long's Office

2010-06-24T09:16:00.000-04:00

2 steal iPad, other items from Bishop Eddie Long's office

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

3:38 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2010

At first, the master key to the New Birth Baptist Church was missing.

Then, an iPhone, iPad and other random items – more than $1,300 worth – were taken from Bishop Eddie Long’s office.

The incident happened on June 13, according to a DeKalb police report obtained by the AJC. A security camera at the church on Woodrow Road in Lithonia caught most of it on videotape.

Police arrested the thieves Wednesday. Investigators say they don't know what the connection is between the suspects and the church -- but they do believe that the theft was an inside job.

The camera recorded two men wearing dark hooded shirts, dark pants and white gloves using a key to enter the church at some point during the night between June 13 and 14.

Patrick Simmons, the church’s security manager, told DeKalb police that the master key was missing from the secretary’s desk on June 11 – and then “suddenly appeared” four days later.

Then they noticed that an iPhone, iPad and speaker system as well as some jewelry were missing, Simmons told police.

Police arrested Anthony Boyd, 19, of Decatur, and Maurice Robinson, 20, and charged them with burglary. Robinson’s address were not listed on the police report.

Art Franklin, a publicist for Long, said the bishop was traveling and would not be able to speak to the press. He referred all questions to the DeKalb police.

In a statement, Long said he “forgives the men and hopes that they understand what they did is wrong. Long added that he is praying for them and that God is a God of mercy and compassion.”

Teen stabbed multiple times in church parking lot

2010-06-07T14:10:00.001-04:00

By Nicole Gonzales

WEST VALLEY CITY -- A teenage boy was stabbed nearly a dozen times Sunday morning in an LDS Church parking lot. Police are now trying to track down the attacker.

Police say the stabbing happened around 5 a.m. on the north side of the church at 3450 S. 6400 West. The 16-year-old was able to drag himself away from the scene of the crime, but collapsed a block later.

"It was an extremely bloody scene," said Sgt. Paul Gill with the West Valley City Police Department. "It was a violent attack.

Police say the attacker also beat the teen before leaving him to die.

A driver saw the teen, who was bleeding profusely, and called 911. Officers arrived soon after, and an AirMed helicopter landed in the church parking lot.

John Alvarez

"That's where they noticed the bloody clothing and a large amount of blood where it appeared the actual assault took place," Gill said.

Gill says the boy had been stabbed between 10 and 12 times from his torso up to his head. He was taken to University Hospital in stable but critical condition.

Surgeons have operated on him several times already. Investigators have not been able to speak to the teen to get a statement.

The Major Crimes Unit is investigating, looking for leads and witnesses in the area. They are not ruling out the possibility the attack may have been gang related.

"It was an extremely bloody scene. It was a violent attack." -Sgt. Paul Gill

John Alvarez lives next to the church. He didn't hear or see anything and was shocked when he got word of the attack.

"That was surprising," he said. "Out of the eight years, we've never heard of anything like that happen around here."

Alvarez and his family moved to Utah from the Los Angeles area to escape violence. Now, it's in their neighborhood and save haven -- church.

Alvarez says he and his younger siblings go to the meetinghouse every day to play basketball and run around.

"I sometimes even let my sister just go with my brothers. We always thought it was a safe place. Nothing bad and that's it. So it does change everything now," he said.

Investigators plan to look at surveillance video from a nearby Holiday gas station to see if they can find any leads. They don't have descriptions of any suspects or a getaway car.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police.

Church Member Beaten To Death In Her Own Church

2010-06-07T13:57:00.000-04:00

Congregation member beaten to death inside her own church

By Lori Brown -

WYNNE, AR (WMC-TV) - The pastor of a Cross County, Arkansas church found an 80-year-old member of his congregation beaten to death inside the sanctuary Sunday.

Lillian Wilson was beaten to death inside the church, which was wrapped in crime scene tape Sunday night. Wilson was at the church helping with storm relief.

"Went over my home where I was born and raised and found it completely demolished," Wilson said in an interview after a tornado tore apart her parent's home in May.

Dixon Platt, Wilson's pastor, found her body under the pew when he walked into the church Sunday afternoon.

Platt had gone to Central United Methodist Church to collect disaster care buckets she had brought over. He noticed Wilson's car was not at the church.

Investigators said they believe the killers drove off in Wilson's car.

Linda Peeler remembered Wilson as a kind woman.

"Anything that helped other people, she was always there," Peeler said.

Wilson was a retired registered nurse, but even in retirement she continued to help people.

"We became friends when my dad got sick and she came and helped us take care of him," Peeler said.

Wilson, an animal lover, was a volunteer at the Wynn Animal Shelter.

"I can't understand how anyone could hurt such a wonderful person," Peeler said. "She would have gave them anything."

Investigators are looking for Wilson's car. It is a gray Mercury Marquis with Arkansas license plate 737-NGN. The front license plate has a tag that says "Eat Rice."

One suspect is reportedly Thomas Tweedle, a man in his early 40s.

Man Tackled After Threat To Shoot Mom In Church

2010-05-25T10:57:00.001-04:00

Witnesses: Man Tackled After Threat To Shoot Mom In Church

Man Brings BB Gun To Potter's House Ministries In Mount Oliver

May 24, 2010

PITTSBURGH -- Parishioners sprang into action Sunday morning at a Mount Oliver church where a man threatened to shoot his mother after pulling out a weapon, which was later determined to be a BB gun, Pittsburgh police said.The suspect -- identified as Robert Irvin, 23, of the Mt. Washington area -- was arrested on charges including aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault, police said.People at the church said they were thankful that security guards stepped in to stop the situation from getting worse. Witnesses said quick-thinking security guards prevented chaos inside Potter's House Ministries on Ormsby Avenue."I was in the back. I seen it, though. It was pretty scary," parishioner Tyreesha Hutchinson said.Video - Witnesses said the man entered the church through a side door and pulled out the gun and said, "I'm going to shoot her," police said.Security staff hired to work Sundays at the church quickly tackled the man, witnesses said.

ROBERT IRVIN

"As he came into the side, there was a couple guys that I guess seen the commotion going on and he was about to do something, so they tackled him and that's when they got him, and a couple guys got on top of him and took him off," said Precious Anderson, a parishioner.Police said security guards noticed the young man fumbling around during services, so they asked his stepfather to take him outside. Police said the stepfather took the young men outside and they talked before the young man pulled out the gun and hit his stepfather with it, cutting his ear.Bishop Otis Carswell, the church's senior pastor, said the victim is a deacon at the church. He also said he saw the young man before services."I pulled over and spoke to him and said, 'Hello, and asked him if he was coming to service today, and he said he was," Carswell said. "I just blessed him and kept going, never thinking that he would cause an incident today."Carswell said the young man has some issues, but he would not elaborate. He said parishioners will be praying for him.

Brushy Creek Baptist Church musician charged with assault on teen girl

2010-05-04T11:16:00.001-04:00

Brushy Creek Baptist Church
musician charged with
assault on teen girl
• May 4, 2010

A member of the orchestra at Brushy Creek Baptist
Church in Taylors has been charged after
authorities alleged that he kissed a 14-year-old girl
inside the church after orchestra practice.

Perry Eugene Huff, 58, 210 Devonwood Court,
Taylors, was charged with assault and battery of a
high and aggravated nature, according to a warrant.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office was told that
Huff kissed the girl on the lips on multiple
occasions and slapped her on the buttocks,
according to the warrant and an incident report.

“The investigator in the case along with the
Solicitor's Office agreed that, based on the evidence
and facts of the case, Huff was to be charged with
ABHAN versus criminal sexual conduct with a minor,
or lewd act on a minor, because the criteria to
charge Huff with CSC or lewd act didn't exist,” said
Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Armstrong.

Huff was arrested and released on a $10,000
personal recognizance bond, Armstrong said.

Staffers at Brushy Creek Baptist Church couldn’t be
reached for comment Monday.

Thief takes morning collection from Woodlands church

2010-04-28T09:26:00.000-04:00

A thief broke into a Woodlands church Sunday evening and got away with the morning collection of cash and checks, authorities said.

Montgomery County sheriff's officials were notified about the burglary at The Woodlands Christian Church on North Millbend Drive about 5 p.m.

Investigators were told that someone forced his way into an interior room through an inside door and stole a safe containing cash, checks and credit cards.

The burglary happened sometime during choir practice, authorities said. Officials on Monday did not have an estimate of the amount of money taken.

Investigators have little evidence and are seeking information about the crime. Anyone with information should contact Detective Brent Akin at 281-297-6510 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-7867.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment of a felony crime.

Shots Fired At Church

2010-04-25T20:57:00.000-04:00

Police said they arrested a Middle Township man Saturday after shots were fired at the Grace Gospel Church on Route 9 in Rio Grande during a church function.

No one was reported injured from the rounds fired at the church shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday.

When police arrived in response to a 911 call, witnesses said a white van fled the scene. Police found and followed the van to Shunpike Road, where its driver, William Adams, 28, of the Whitesboro neighborhood, pulled into a driveway and fled on foot.

Police surrounded the area and apprehended Adams. Police charged him with eluding a law-enforcement officer and for having a small amount of marijuana.

Middle Township Police Sgt. Richard McHale said the shooting is still under investigation by the local department’s Major Crimes Unit and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.

3 Arrested In Church Burglary

2010-04-24T13:25:00.001-04:00

Bastrop, La. -

The Bastrop Police Department made three arrests Friday in connection with the burglary of First Baptist Church last weekend.

Police Chief Downey Black said three televisions and three DVD players were reported stolen from the church Monday, April 19.

A Crime Stoppers tip led to the arrest of Kortland Logan, 21, 604 Hollyhurst Drive. Logan was charged with possession of stolen property-felony and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. The marijuana was found in his vehicle.

Subsequent investigation led to the arrests of two juveniles, both 16, in connection with the burglary of First Baptist Church. Both juveniles were charged with unauthorized entry, and one was also charged with simple burglary.

Black said as of Friday afternoon, all of the stolen property has been recovered with the exception of one TV.

Man Charged With Assaulting Woman During Church Service

2010-04-20T17:43:00.003-04:00

Church Members Dragged Man From Service, Deputies Say

REIDSVILLE, N.C. -- A Reidsville man grabbed a woman's arm, pulled her hair and choked her during a Sunday morning service at the Solomon's Temple Church Sunday, Rockingham County deputies said.

Deputies said Antonio Simmons, 23, was asked by the pastor to leave, but he refused. Several church members then pulled him into the parking lot, deputies said.

By the time deputies arrived at the church, Simmons had already left.

A deputy spotted Simmons riding in a pickup truck along with 10 to 15 other people. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with domestic assault on a female, threatening phone call, larceny, second-degree trespass and disorderly conduct by disturbing a religious service.

Bond was set at $5,000.

The 18-year-old victim didn't require medical attention.

Police: Toddler safe after church kidnapping try

2010-04-19T22:47:00.003-04:00

This weekend, a Eugene Police crime prevention specialist – Officer Steven Chambers – said he was working at a youth event at the church when he "observed a commotion involving a woman calling out for her missing child," according to a press release from the Eugene Police Department.

Chambers and a nearby woman say they both saw a man "luring her 2-year-old child away." The woman grabbed the child, the man jumped into his car and Chambers radioed in the man's description and direction of travel.

"A short time later, Eugene police officers stopped and detained Azoulas David Yurashunas without incident," reports the release.

Yurashunas is 23 years old.

He is now being held on charges of kidnapping, in the second degree, at Lane County Jail.

Assault At Church

2010-04-13T11:16:00.001-04:00

Man arrested assault at
Christ the Rock Community
Church

April 12, 2010

MENASHA — Authorities arrested a 30-year-old man
on Sunday morning after he struck another man at
church then later struck a sheriff's deputy.

A Calumet County sheriff's deputy arrested the man
at about 10:45 a.m. after the incident at Christ the
Rock Community Church, W6254 U.S. 10-Wisconsin
114.

John Dedering, an investigator with the sheriff's
department, said the man broke a hallway pew after
becoming angered when denied access to the
church's child care area. He also punched and
kicked an individual who attempted to calm him
down before leaving the church. The man later
punched a sheriff's deputy who stopped him.

The man was booked into the Calumet County Jail.

Man Attempts To Kidnap Girl At Church

2010-04-06T19:11:00.001-04:00

Girl nearly abducted during church Easter egg hunt

Cameras caught the man attempting to abduct a young girl in a church parking lot

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Police say a man tried to kidnap a little girl while she hid Easter eggs outside of a Montgomery church Sunday morning.

As of Monday afternoon, Montgomery Police were following numerous leads, though there hasn't been an arrest.

On a day devoted to faith, togetherness, and fun, parishioners at Hunter Station Baptist Church don't know what to think.

"They're not safe at their home, they're not safe at the store. They're not safe at the church no more," said Jane Silas.

Luckily, this church has a surveillance camera--which caught the attempt on tape.

The attempted abduction started during Sunday worship. A 10-year-old girl and her brother stepped outside to hide Easter eggs for the other children, according to police.

While the siblings were hiding the eggs authorities say the driver of a black SUV passed the parking lot, circled back, got out, and asked the kids to come over.

"He pulled up, attempted to talk to the subject's little brother--who was 6 years of age--and began making small talk with him," explained MPD Sergeant M.E. Tatum.

The man's small talk then abruptly ended. "He grabbed her, pushed her in the truck," Silas said.

Police say the man also pushed the boy to the ground and tried to drive off with the girl. At the same time, the quick-thinking girl jumped from the SUV and ran off.

"I have to tip my hat to the young girl for her bravery and keeping her wit about her," Tatum said.

"She actually ran from the vehicle at the time he tried to get her in, and possibly saved her life,"

It's an Easter Sunday that could have ended much worse. Church members say they'll stay out with the children next time.

"If I had been five more minutes, I'd have been coming out when he tried to grab her," said Raymond Silas.

"We're going to have to watch them closer," Jane Silas explained. "Very, very, very close. So, you can't trust anything."

Right now, police are looking a white male in his late 30s or early 40s. Authorities say the man has a bald spot on the top of his head.

He was wearing a blue polo shirt and black pants and took off in a black, Nissan XTerra-type SUV.

Police say the little girl is safe and sound and thankful to be alive. Major Huey Thornton of the Montgomery Police Department said the police are following several leads, but as of mid-morning on Monday, no one had been taken into custody.

Two Women Steal Easter Offering

2010-04-05T20:26:00.000-04:00

Two women steal Sacramento County church's Easter offerings

Published Monday, Apr. 05, 2010

Two women pulled a pray and dash at a local church, showing up as guests, then making off with the collection totaling thousands of dollars in Easter offerings, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

Like most churches, the Church of the Nazarene on Arden Way was enjoying a packed house for Easter. Longtime parishioner and former state Assemblyman Larry Bowler said there were many extra guests and occasional churchgoers.

According to sheriff's deputies, two guests were spotted in the church office about 11:20 a.m. But before staff could verify whether they had permission to be there, the women were gone – along with between $10,000 and $20,000 in cash and checks.

Such crimes against churches are "quite unusual," said Capt. Scott Jones.

Over the last two years, eight churches have been robbed, according to a Bee analysis of law enforcement and business records of houses of worship in Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Elk Grove and unincorporated Sacramento County.

"They are usually not huge targets," Jones said, noting that theft by church members is more common.

The women – described as African Americans in their 20s – left in a faded black '80s sedan, Jones said. One was wearing a purple shirt, the other a black shirt, Jones said. No arrests have been made.

Church members who made an offering with a check during the early service have been advised to stop payment.

Church treasurer Albert Seltzer said he didn't think it was the women's first visit to the church.

"To me it had to have been planned," Seltzer said. "They have probably been here before and know the layout of the church."

Bowler was most struck by the timing of the theft.

"To steal from anyone is an outrage. To steal from a church is a double outrage and to steal from a church on Easter Sunday – that is beyond outrage," Bowler said.

He said if the women needed food, it was available. The church operates a food closet, feeding hundreds of people weekly.

"These gals didn't want food," Bowler said. "They wanted cash."

Man Attacks Congregation

2010-03-30T20:20:00.001-04:00

Man Disrupts Wilkinsburg Congregation's Palm Sunday Mass

POSTED: 4:48 pm EDT March 28, 2010

UPDATED: 6:25 pm EDT March 28, 2010

WILKINSBURG, Pa. -- A man walked into Palm Sunday Service and attacked three people, biting one of the victims, police said.Wilkinsburg police arrested William Carter Jr. on Sunday as the congregation at the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg on Wallace Avenue tries to make sense of the bizarre attack.Police said Carter, 31, walked into the service, right down the center aisle and asked to speak with the pastor."I was in the process of leading worship. So, I asked one of our associate licensed ministers to talk to him (and) she did. We thought he had left. I looked up in the balcony and I could see that he was still there," said the Rev. Janet Hellner-Burris.She said the man was struggling with mental illness, or addiction or both, and knew a member of the congregation."At that point, I could hear some crashing and some furniture was kicked over in the process of trying to get him calmed down," Hellner-Burris said.Members of the congregation were able to restrain the man, who then bit the pastor's husband on the ear, police said. Officers managed to restrain Carter in handcuffs, but he still tried to go after people in the church, police said."We have trained folks in our congregation who immediately stepped up (and) restrained him," Hellner-Burris said. "The police were called and the paramedics were called, and he was taken to where he needs to go, and we've been praying for him ever since."Hellner-Burris said she's glad Carter went to the church."If he had been somewhere else, he might not have been safe enough when whatever overtook him happened, and we were able to help him," Hellner-Burris said. "I'm actually glad he was here this morning, because he could have hurt someone else if he would have gone somewhere else with all of that rage that was inside of him."Some members of the congregation were sent to the emergency room for treatment after the attack.Carter remained in police custody charged with simple assault.

Man Admits To Attempted Church Bombing

2010-03-30T20:13:00.001-04:00

Guilt admitted in church bomb try

By Dan Herbeck

News Staff Reporter

Updated: March 30, 2010, 12:04 am
Published: March 29, 2010, 1:32 pm

A drunken escapade with racist overtones last summer has left a 29-year-old Buffalo man facing a term in federal prison.

Richard M. Blonski, 29, of Jones Street, pleaded guilty to three felony charges Monday in connection with an attempted bombing July 4 at a predominantly black church on Lewis Street.

In a case that initially was investigated as a potential hate crime, Blonski admitted that he made a pipe bomb and placed it inside Redeeming Fire Fellowship Church.

Although the fuse was lit on the bomb, police said, it did not go off. No one was in the church when Blonski threw it inside.

Appearing in U.S. District Court before Judge Richard J. Arcara, Blonski pleaded guilty to felonies of attempted arson and bombmaking and to a civil rights crime of intending to damage a religious facility based on racial motivations.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Buffalo fire marshals and other agencies.

Shortly after his arrest, Blonski told federal agents that he had consumed an excessive quantity of Southern Comfort liqueur and "a bunch of beers" before deciding to try to bomb the church.

Blonski, who is employed as a fence installer, told agents that he committed the crime because he was despondent that his life appeared to be going nowhere. But in his plea agreement, he admitted that he targeted the church because of the "race, color and ethnic characteristics" of the congregants.

"Is that what happened here?" Arcara asked Blonski.

"Yes," the defendant said.

The attempted bombing occurred four weeks after Redeeming Fire Fellowship took over a building that, for decades, had been Precious Blood Catholic Church.

If the judge decides to follow advisory sentencing guidelines, Blonski could face at least five years and three months in prison when he is sentenced July 7.

But if he had been convicted of using a bomb in a crime of violence, he could have faced a mandatory minimum prison term of 30 years, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard P. Maigret said.

Teen Hold Church Hostage For Cell Phone

2010-03-23T10:34:00.002-04:00

TULSA, OK -- A slight disturbance after a prayer meeting at a Tulsa church resulted in two teens in handcuffs. Officers report that a teen held parishioners of the Sheridan Road Baptist Church hostage because someone in the church wouldn't return his cell phone.

Officers say the teen and others were blocking the doors, preventing people from leaving. Pastor John Plum told FOX23 it all started during youth service. The teen thought someone had his phone, which happened to be turned off. Plum said he tried to talk to the teen and even offered assistance in searching for the cell phone, but the teen became belligerent. That's when the church called law enforcement for assistance. "Our desire as a church is to reach out to families and help in any way we can, but our priority last evening was the safety of our elderly parishioners," Plum said. When officers responded, they tried to persuade the teens to leave, but they wouldn't comply. While trying to arrest the teen, another teen jumped in the way. That teen was also arrested. "We tried to talk to the teenagers, they were uncooperative, they were very upset and yelling," Offcier Darren Shipley said. One officer was transported to the hospital for a knee injury. He has since been released.

Bullet Holes Found on Church Exterior

2010-03-23T10:28:00.001-04:00

Dozens Of Bullet Holes Found In East Texas Baptist Church

Nearly three-dozen bullet holes have been discovered along the eaves of an East Texas church.

NEW BOSTON (March 19, 2010)—A worker who was changing a light bulb at a church in northeast Texas discovered nearly three-dozen bullet holes along the building’s eaves.

Liberty Hill Baptist Church Pastor James O. Hilton said the bullets could have damaged electrical wiring.

He said whoever fired at the building "took a chance on setting the church on fire."

At least 35 bullet holes were discovered March 12 when a security light was changed at the church near New Boston.

Authorities say they may have been made by shotgun pellets.

Hilton told the Texarkana Gazette that it must have happened since January when the steeple was tightened, because the bullet holes weren’t there then.

Bowie County Sheriff’s Office investigator Robby McCarver said Friday it looks like someone was trying to shoot out a street light and "the church was in the background and got hit."

McCarver told The Associated Press that nobody has been arrested.

New Boston is about 100 miles northeast of Tyler, where the investigation into a string of area church fires led to the arrest of two men in late Februa

Woman fatally shot at church counseling session

2010-03-19T09:10:00.003-04:00

Story Published: Mar 17, 2010 at 6:11 PM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2010 at 7:03 AM PDT
Woman fatally shot at church counseling session

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- A woman has died following a shooting at a local church late Wednesday afternoon.

Police spokesman Ray Bunk said the woman and her husband were attending a counseling session at the Calvary Lutheran Church at 2415 S. 320th St. when the man pulled out a gun and shot her several times just before 6 p.m.

Bunk said it wasn't immediately clear whether the shooting took place during or just after the counseling session, but the suspected shooter called 911 afterward and waited for police and medics to arrive.

"We're unsure how many witnesses we have," Bunk said. "Right now, (we don't know) how many were in the room or even in the area. We're identifying and interviewing all those witnesses."

The 38-year-old Lakewood woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she died. Her name has not been released.

The 42-year-old Lakewood man has been taken into custody.

Members of the congregation gathering for a scheduled soup supper, a Lenten tradition on Wednesdays, learned of the tragedy as they arrived at the church. Many grew teary-eyed over the incident at their place of worship.

"It was really scary to drive up and not know...we knew everybody was getting ready for the soup supper," said Sandra Cook.

Church members said a daycare inside the church was operating at the time of the shooting, sending parents on a frantic search for their little ones.

"The church is a place of hope, and to someone driven to this degree, this extreme...we just pray for everybody that was inside the building that was connected with this thing," said Stan Stenersen.

Sexual Assault at Church

2010-03-13T22:12:00.005-05:00

A Milton man was arrested following an investigation concerning a sexual assault that allegedly occurred at a Milton church. Tuesday deputies arrested 24-year-old Nathaniel Baldwin on two counts of a sexual offense with a victim between the ages of 12 to 15 years of age. Baldwin was released after posting a bond of $10,000.

The incidents occurred at the Milton First Assembly of God on Dogwood Drive and at the suspect’s residence in January according to the report. The investigation began into the matter on Jan. 27, when a deputy was dispatched to Milton High School concerning a sexual battery complaint. The victim complained to officers they had been “raped” by Nathaniel Baldwin of Milton a week prior to the investigation According to the victim, Baldwin had been a close friend of theirs for a couple of years, and both the victim and Baldwin attended the same church. One incident in the report alleges, the victim was at the Milton First Assembly of God Church on Dogwood Drive on Jan. 20 and prior to services starting went to use the bathroom. The victim told officers that when they came out of the bathroom, Baldwin was standing outside the door and grabbed them and then pulled them into another room that was dark. They continued by saying that Baldwin held them on the ground and pulled off their shirt and bra and began “sucking and biting” the victim according to the report. Baldwin then pulled the victim’s pants and underwear off and began groping them, and put his hand both over and inside the victim’s mouth to keep them from yelling according to the victim’s statement, When officers asked what made Baldwin stop the actions, the victim stated that Baldwin looked at his watch and might have stopped because “church was about to start” according to the report. The next day, the victim told officers that both they and a family member were dropped off at their grandmother’s house after school. The victim’s relative called Baldwin to pick them up to get something to eat, and afterwards they went to Baldwin’s residence. According to the report, when the victim arrived at Baldwin’s house, the victim’s relative began playing video games in another room, and the victim got on Baldwin’s computer. The victim told officers that Baldwin entered the computer room, closed the door, and put something in front of the door to block it. The victim alleged Baldwin sat in a chair behind them and began groping and biting them as he did the day before, only this time, Baldwin bit more forcefully. The victim told officers that they would send Baldwin text messages back and forth that stated “vulgar things” according to the report, but none of the texts sent from the victim suggested Baldwin perform such acts as he did. On January 28, an officer was sent to the victim’s school to take photographs of the alleged injuries. According to the report, several scratch marks and abrasions were seen on the upper part of the victim’s body. Officers interviewed one of the victim’s friends who told officers that the victim had notified them of the same story about the incident on Thursday. Deputies interviewed Baldwin on Feb. 17, who said that both he and the victim were “pretty close” and said that he was dating the victim according to the report. He told officers that their friendship turned to dating in October 2009. Baldwin told officers that he had kissed and made out with the victim in the past, and through text messages, the two would talk about things that they wanted to “do to each other” and said the victim would send him texts asking him to write role-playing scenarios to him according to the report. Baldwin told officers that the received texts from the victim suggesting he “touch (them) further” according to the report. The suspect admitted to the officers that both the incident at the church and his residence did occur, but believed them to be consensual. He told officers that he did not bite her roughly, and suggested the bites were only “hickey oriented” according to the statement. Baldwin also told officers that both texted about trying to find “a quiet spot to get away from everyone” and that when they were at the church that Wednesday, “they both found an empty room” and Baldwin admitted to the actions described by the victim that happened that day according to the report.

Pastor Pleads Not Guilty To Church Theft

2010-03-11T14:05:00.001-05:00

A pastor accused of stealing money from his church sat in Fond du Lac County Court on Tuesday with his head down, occasionally thumbing through a criminal complaint and other papers.

The Rev. Stuart Zak waited through a slew of initial appearances before a $500 signature bond was set in his case involving two counts of misdemeanor theft.
Seated at the defense table without an attorney, Zak did not know how to respond when Circuit Court Judge Robert Wirtz asked him to enter a plea. Wirtz entered a plea of not guilty on Zak's behalf.
Zak resigned from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 855 Martin Ave., on Nov. 30 after he confessed to stealing between $5,000 and $10,000 over a period of 10 years.
On Nov. 29, Pastor Brett Naumann accused Zak of stealing from the Thanksgiving offering and switching the envelope containing the money with one featuring Zak's handwriting.
Zak at first denied taking the money. He then contacted police on Nov. 30 claiming that he "had sinned and needed to confess to stealing money from the envelope," according to the criminal complaint.
He later admitted that he first took money after a 1999 Christmas service. He admitted to stealing about $20 to $30 from offerings about 12 times since January 2009, usually after large services like Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and Thanksgiving, according to the complaint.
Zak took out a loan to pay $10,000 to the church for the thefts from offerings, said Fond du Lac Police Department Capt. Steve Klein.
A plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 18.

Man Breaks into Church to View Porn

2010-03-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

AMES, Iowa (AP) - Second-degree burglary charges have been filed against an Ames man who broke into a church where he allegedly used the institution's electronic equipment to watch pornography.

Police allege 55-year-old Charles E. Bentley broke into the First Christian Church on Thursday. After gathering items from around the building, he is believed to have gone to the basement to spend the night.

Police, summoned to the church Friday by staff, found Bentley trying to haul away a garbage can filled with food, kitchen utensils, clothes, electronic equipment and a 26-inch flat-screen television.

Police Cmdr. Mike Brennan says Bentley used the electronic equipment to watch pornographic movies that were found on him when he was arrested.

Bentley is being held at the Story County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.

Woman Robbed at Church

2010-03-11T13:55:00.001-05:00

Woman's Belongings Stolen At Church
11:39 AM EST, March 10, 2010

PORTLAND —

A woman's belongings, including her credit cards, were stolen while she went to communion at her church on Sunday.

The 80-year-old's personal belongings were stolen at St. Mary Church's 10:30 a.m. Mass Sunday, The Rev. John Ashe said today. When she returned from communion, her things — including credit cards — were gone.

"It's the first time since I've been here that anything like this has happened," said the pastor, who has been at the church 20 years.

An unfamiliar man had been sitting next to the woman, he said.

"No one recognized this fellow, so, obviously, he was not from the community," the priest said. "He slipped in and slipped out."

Police are investigating the theft and have been reviewing surveillance photos from at least one business where the thief is suspected of using a stolen credit card. A woman was with the man in the photos, Ashe said.

Meanwhile, church leaders are spreading more than the word of God. They are telling people not to leave their purses in the pew at communion time.

"We're going to suggest to people to try to be more careful," Ashe said.

Portland police would not comment on the theft.

Police Nab Church Parking Lot Burglar

2010-03-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

Thursday, March 11, 2010
Last modified Wednesday, March 10, 2010 10:19 AM CST

Police nab church parking lot burglar through witness

By CHRIS ALLEN BAKER, News Editor

FOREST — Separate incidents of vehicle burglaries in area church parking lots set off an investigation recently that resulted in one arrest last week.

Argelis Pena, 17, of East Third St., Forest, was charged as an adult with felony auto burglary.

Forest Police Chief Robert Roncali praised the work of his officers in keeping watch over church parking lots and said the department intends to keep up their efforts.

“These churches will be closely watched,” Roncali said. “Like anywhere else, we will not tolerate these kinds, or any other, of criminal activity.”

Capt. Will Jones said that last Wednesday, police received a report of a truck being broken into at Forest Baptist Church by breaking one of the vehicle’s windows and personal property was taken.

“A witness reported seeing the suspect and gave an accurate description leading us to the right person. We executed a search warrant on his residence and recovered the stolen property. The suspect gave us a statement admitting to the burglary,” Jones said.

This is the second incident of its kind in that church parking lot and Jones said the other incident remains under investigation.

“We encourage all of our residents to be careful when walking through any parking lot, during the daytime or at night,” Roncali said. “Be observant of your surroundings and report anything that is suspicious.”

Woman Charged with raping teen boy in church Choir

2010-03-06T18:09:00.000-05:00

DELAWARE: Del. woman
charged with raping teen in
church choir

Associated Press • March 5, 2010

NEW CASTLE — Police have charged a Newark
woman with raping a boy who was a member of her
church youth choir.

Thirty-year-old Zipporah Holland-Samuels was
arrested Thursday and taken into custody after
failing to post $55,000 secured bail. She is charged
with nine counts of fourth-degree rape and one
count of second-degree rape.

Authorities said Holland-Samuels is a member of the
adult choir at her church who began a sexual
relationship with the boy in January after
volunteering to assist with the youth choir.

Investigators said the victim, who was 15 when he
met Holland-Samuels but has since turned 16,
would go to her home to have sex instead of going
to choir practice.

Another Gun at Church

2010-02-25T21:52:00.000-05:00

Brothers stop gun-wielding cousin from entering church

Posted: Feb. 24, 2010

Two brothers are being hailed as heroes in Louisburg after they stopped a man with a gun from entering a church last weekend.

James White had been asked to leave St. Delight United Church of Christ, on U.S. Highway 401 south of Louisburg, on Saturday morning after acting inappropriately, according to his cousin, Michael White.

A short time later, when as many as 30 people were inside the church feeding needy residents, James White returned with a rifle.

"He made a statement, 'Stop me from coming in my church now. Stop me from coming in now,'" said Michael White, who was outside the church at the time.

"Upon doing so, he started to raise the rifle," he said. "I didn't think. (There was) not much time to think. I knew that, once he got the gun into a full crest, he would be in total control."

Michael White's brother, Steven White, saw him grab the barrel of the rifle and begin struggling with their cousin. He then joined the fray.

"I didn't think about fear or anything else. All I thought about is what might have had happened if we didn't get that gun up out of his hand," Steven White said.

The brothers wrestled James White to the ground and pulled the rifle from his hands. One shot was fired in the struggle, but no one was hit.

Franklin County Sheriff Pat Green said James White had enough ammunition to shoot a dozen people.

Church members said the brothers' quick action was nothing short of heroic.

James White, 52, of 190 George Leonard Road in Louisburg, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He was being held Wednesday at Central Prison under a $75,000 bond.

Green said James White has a mental illness and was combative when he was taken to jail.

"I don't know what his intentions were – how far he would have gone. I just don't know. I can't get into his head," said Michael White, who added that he hopes his cousin will get the help he needs.

Church Official Charged with Sexual Misconduct

2010-02-19T17:04:00.000-05:00

Pamplico church official faces criminal sexual conduct charges
By Jamie Rogers | Morning News Reporter
Published: February 17, 2010

PAMPLICO—A Pamplico man was arrested in Clarendon County after deputies believe he sexually assaulted two children at the Turbeville church where he was employed, Clarendon County Sheriff’s Detective Rick Elms said.

Arley Atchley,53, of 4181 Sheminally Road is charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, Elms said.

Clarendon deputies were investigating another unrelated sexual assault case at the Free Will Baptist Home for Children in Turbeville when two boys who lived at the complex told a minister that the suspect had sexually assaulted them.

The alleged assaults happened sometime during the suspect’s tenure at the home which was from 2004 to 2009 when he was laid off, Elms said.

Deputies said after leaving the children’s home he was employed at a Pamplico church but it is unclear if he is still working there.

Atchley was arrested Thursday and was released from the Clarendon County Detention Center. Bond and date of release information wasn’t available from the center.

Elms said the unrelated sexual assault case at Free Will Baptist Home for Children is an ongoing investigation. He declined to comment further on the case.

Two Teens Charged With attempting to burn Anderson SC Church

2010-02-17T15:39:00.000-05:00

ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) -- Two South Carolina teens have been accused of trying to burn a church and school.

Multiple media outlets reported that the boys, ages 13 and 14, were arrested early Tuesday in Anderson County. Their names were not released because of their ages.

Anderson County sheriff's Sgt. Andy Tribble says each boy is charged with second-degree arson and three counts of second-degree burglary.

A deputy's report says firefighters and deputies found a piece of paper burning in the middle of about two gallons of diesel fuel in an unlocked storage room at Homeland Park Elementary School.

Tribble says the boys were found about a mile away at Homeland Park Baptist Church, where they had broken in and tried to start another fire.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Three men Shoot Up Church Service

2010-02-15T11:10:00.001-05:00

RICHMOND, CA (KGO) -- In a brazen attack in the East Bay Sunday, three men stormed a church in Richmond, opening fire during a service at the New Gethsemane Church. Two teenagers were hit by the bullets and the gunmen got away.

New Gethsemane Church of God in Christ is a very spiritual church. About 175 church members were engaged in open prayer and gospel music was blaring when the shooting happened.

Several people in the church were keenly aware of three young male suspects, possibly teenagers, who walked into the sanctuary around noon. Witnesses say they were wearing black hoodies over their heads which raised a red flag.

Still, nobody thought they would pull out guns and start shooting.

Richmond police say they wounded two male victims. A 14-year-old and a 19-year-old suffered non-live threatening injuries to the ankle and shoulder.

"I even got my praise off. I instantly got paranoid," said church member Dianne Brown. "I turned around the whole time. Then, the other guys came off the choir stands, you know, the men that felt it too."

"In spite of the shooting that took place, Pastor Leviaz said he wasn't going to let anything stop God's program," said Rev. Andre Shumake, president of the Richmond Improvement Association. "So in spite of the shooting, I want the world to know that here at New Gethsemane, Gods' program continues. He held service, they sung they prayed and they worshiped God as though nothing had happened."

The church and surrounding neighborhood was locked down for at least one hour until police could secure the area. Richmond crime scene investigators believe the suspects fired about five shots inside the church.

The three shooting suspects are still at large.

Church Youth Leader Admits Sexual Battery of 14 Year old

2010-02-03T12:51:00.001-05:00

Lakeport church youth leader admits sexual battery

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: Monday, February 1, 2010 at 10:21 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 1, 2010 at 11:59 a.m.

A Lake County church youth counselor has pleaded guilty to sexual battery on a 14-year-old girl.

Christopher Andrew Puryear, 23, of Kelseyville, faces a sentence that ranges from probation to five years in prison, said Lake County Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg.

Puryear was arrested in December after church leaders from Gateway Ministries church outside Lakeport reported he was having inappropriate contacts with at least one teen in a youth group. He was spending a great of time with girls in the group and sending them text messages, they reported.

During the investigation, deputies learned of the Nov. 25 sexual assault at a church function. Puryear asked the girl to go outside to talk, then assaulted her, stopping only after someone else came outside, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

In exchange for his guilty plea, charges of forced oral copulation and dissuading a witness were dropped in connection with Puryear's assault on the girl and a charge of domestic assault on his wife was dropped, Borg said.

The domestic assault on Puryear's wife occurred after the assault on the girl, Borg said. Puryear also had a prior conviction for domestic assault, he said.

As part of the agreement, reached Friday, Puryear also admitted to serving a prior prison sentence for carrying a concealed or concealable weapon, an admission that could add a year to his sentence, Borg said.

Had he not made the plea agreement, Puryear could have faced a sentence of more than nine years in prison, said his attorney, Stephen Carter.

Puryear is scheduled to be sentenced March 5.

Judge Of The Bomber

2010-01-31T13:24:00.000-05:00

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?

Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio? Didn't think so. Very few people do know!!!

Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.

Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.'

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid.

Judge Young: 'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further..

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.

Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not ----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal.'

You are no big deal.

What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led
you here to this courtroom today?

I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to Preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.

Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to
mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America . That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag Stands for freedom. And it always will.

Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.

So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young. Pass this around.. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home.

By Pastor Perry Noble

2010-01-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

How To Get Buy In From Your Staff – Part One of Two January 27, 2010

If the staff doesn’t trust the leader…then the leader will eventually have no one to lead!

Leaders CANNOT underestimate how necessary staff buy in is. AND…the funny thing about staff buy in is that it does not truly come about through intimidation, manipulation OR even the promise of more money. Here are five steps that I believe will really help a staff member buy into a leader.

#1 – Clarify The Win

Scripture says in I Corinthians 14:8 that if the trumpet does not sound a clear call then the people will not be ready for battle…and I know from personal experience that at times when certain staff members had a problem with me that it wasn’t because they didn’t believe in the direction we were going…but rather because they simply did not understand what in the heck I was saying…AND/OR what their particular part was.

One of the things I have finally came to realize is that staff members cannot be held accountable for unspoken/unrealistic expectations. All too often leaders will get angry at their staff because they were not able to read the leaders mind…which is insane. If a leader REALLY is a leader then he/she will take an extra five or ten minutes, answer questions and do whatever it takes to fully explain themselves so that everyone is on the same page.

#2 – Keep It Simple

One of the dumbest things I’ve done as a leader over the past 10 years is allow my drive and passion to overshadow the reality of the world that we live in. Let me explain…

I would be in a leadership meeting with a group of people and would be casting vision as to what I really felt the Lord had placed on my heart…and the excitement in the room would hit an all time high! People would be sharing ideas, embracing responsibility, establishing deadlines and getting pumped up about the role they would play in this particular project. The meeting would end and we would all go on our way…

THEN…the next week I would walk into the room and not even bring up the idea that we had been so excited about the previous week…instead I would share a new insight/project I felt like we should take on…and would get frustrated because the energy level of the previous week wasn’t there. In fact, no one would seem excited about it. Ideas as to how it could happen were not shared…to be honest…as soon as I would begin to do this it would not energize the room but rather suck the energy right out of the place.

For a while I thought MAYBE it was a spiritual immaturity issue on THEIR part; after all, if they loved Jesus as much as I did then they would be excited, right? WRONG!

It was an issue of spiritual maturity…but on my part and not theirs!

If a leader wants to obtain buy in from his/her staff they have to understand the following things from the above scenerio…

A. The initial idea the first week brought clarity…the secondary the next week brought confusion because everyone in the room was thinking, “What should we be focused on? The idea that came up last week…or the one he seems to be excited about this week?”

B. The initial idea was being worked on/developed…and so in my mind it was complete and I was ready to move on, not understanding that the people I lead with had just really gotten started working on the initial idea…and so a new idea didn’t bring excitement but rather a feeling of being overwhelmed because their initial thoughts were, “I want to do this AND also what we talked about last week…but how do I do both of them well without working 80 hour a week? What am I supposed to focus on, the thing we are talking about today or the thing we talked about last week?”

C. Staff members are real people who have real lives and they want their time to be valued by their leader. This does not mean that there aren’t times that “the extra mile” attitude doesn’t kick in…BUT…for a leader to think that the only thing a staff member is on this planet for is to serve his agenda/needs is arrogant and will eventually lead to everyone “abandoning ship” around him. It’s not that staff do not get fired up by great ideas/vision…they usually LOVE it; however, when “the vision” means they have to give up being a great spouse and become a stranger to their kids then it is time to do some serious evaluation as to whether “the vision” is actually vision or an ego trip!

D. When a project is assigned the people working on the project should have THE MOST input into when the deadline is going to be; after all, they are the ones who will be doing the work.

BY Pastor Perry Noble

2010-01-28T13:27:00.000-05:00

How To Get Buy In From Your Staff – Part Two of Two January 28, 2010

Continuing my thoughts from yesterday…

#3 – LISTEN TO THEM!

One of the greatest mistakes I’ve ever made as a leader is to make a decision that impacts a group of staff members without allowing anyone from the group that was being impacted any sort of input on the decision. We do this as leaders because it is easier and faster…but what is easy is hardly ever what is right! (AND…if you are always obsessed with the quickest and easiest way to get something done…the “end” is a lot closer than you think!)

Today there is hardly EVER an instance where a decision is made around here that someone from that area isn’t allowed the opportunity to dialogue with our leadership team through the decision.

Why would I make any sort of decision about youth or children’s ministry without actually talking to our youth or children’s ministry team?
Why would I make any sort of decision about programming without actually talking to the people who serve on our programming staff?
Why would I make any sort of decision about our volunteering process without talking to people who serve with volunteers?

I could go on…but you get the point. When a staff member feels like they had an opportunity to be involved in the conversation and ask the questions that were on their mind they are WAY more likely to buy into the decision that was made, even if they don’t agree with it.

(By the way…some people call people who want to be listened to “disloyal!” I call those who want to be listened to “leaders!” You can have leaders or followers around you…and only a secure leader is willing to answer questions from his staff that will clarify the vision!)

#4 – Say “THANK YOU!”

One of the things I have realized is that MOST staff members aren’t looking for a ton of recognition and/or huge monatary rewards…they just want to be told, “thanks!”

Reality is this…if we are not careful as leaders we can CRUSH the enthusiasm of a staff member…because…we all have people on our staff that ONLY get recognized if they screw something up. (Sort of like an offensive lineman in football!) BUT…if they show up, get their job done and do it well, then for some reason a leader thinks he can just allow that to go unnoticed…and this is an incredible de-motivator to a staff team.

Leaders…trust me, we CANNOT underestimate the power of saying “thank you.” I’ve heard leaders say, “well, I’m not going to thank them for something they are supposed to be doing.” That statement is both foolish and irresponsible. A leader who is QUICK to recognized “the bad” in a staff member but never stops to recognize “the good” is irresponsible. (Or maybe he/she is unaware! Trust me…”thank you” is HUGE!!!)

#5 – Lead With Integrity

If you want your staff to buy into your leadership then integrity HAS to be valued, pursued and encouraged. Because once a person sells out their character it undermines the platform that God gave them to stand on.

AND…leaders…if we do not make integrity an issue…then one day it WILL BE AN ISSUE!

Staff member cannot buy into a liar. At the end of the day they’ve GOT to know that you say what you mean and you mean what you say.

This means when we screw up…we admit it.
This means that when we don’t do our part…we admit it.
This means that when we are struggling with something…we admit it.
This means that when we declare direction…we are the first to step in that direction.

Leaders…at the end of the day all we really have is our integrity. Either people believe what we say or they think we are full of crap…the latter will always result in shattered dreams while the former will always result in a team of people who are on FIRE and CONSUMED about the reality of what could be and should be, and will never stop short of the vision that has been declared.

Church Burglary Caught on Tape

2010-01-27T14:14:00.000-05:00

By LaKecia Shockley -
Posted by Ellen Krafve -

LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) - Just a week after three East Texas churches were set on fire another church was targeted by criminals. Longview police say Monday night, burglars broke into the First Baptist Church on South Street. But, these criminals were caught on tape.

"That's the real disappointing thing that someone would have a lack of respect for a house of worship," said Dr. Tim Watson, senior pastor at FBC.

Police say three people burglarized the church building.

"You can see, in the video, them rearing an arm back to throw a rock through the window and you can also see the subjects running away from the scene," said Officer Kevin Brownlee, with the Longview PD.

When the alarm sounded, Longview police went into action.

"Officers went there as quickly as possible, brought several units with them and when they found forced entry the first thing they could all think of, of course, is that it's possibly somebody breaking into the church and setting it on fire since that's what has occurred in other areas," said Brownlee.

Luckily, it wasn't a fire, but the six church arsons this month have pastors on alert.

"If anything, it makes you feel vulnerable that when it happens to others it could happen to us," said Watson. "We feel like the suspects in this...the perpetrators were really trying to just steal items more so than to cause a fire."

To keep their church building safe, First Baptist has a high tech 16-camera security system with motion sensors and that is not all.

"There is a guard that is guarding our property from 6 pm in the evening to 6am in the morning and so we've just tried to be proactive," said Watson.

They are proactive measures for First Baptist that left burglars leaving empty-handed.

Right now, police say they don't believe the crime is connected to the church arsons. They remind everyone to report any suspicious activity they see around churches.

Woman Kidnaps 1-Year Old From Church

2010-01-26T12:31:00.000-05:00

Woman pleads guilty to kidnapping 1-year-old from the Kentwood Community Church

By The Grand Rapids Press staff

January 25, 2010, 6:41PM

Tabitha ReidTabitha Reid, the 20-year-old former church nursery volunteer, pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping a 1-year-old from the Kentwood Community Church on June 21.

Police say Reid took baby, Savannah Raby, from the Kentwood Community Church nursery on June 21. Reid was a longtime volunteer at the nursery.

Police said she took the child to a friend's home, where the little girl was found unharmed a short time later.

Reid remains in the Kent County Jail and will be sentenced March 3. The Kent County Prosecutor's Office will drop a 15-year felony charge of unlawful imprisonment, but kidnapping has a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Police say on the day she took the child, Reid visited two other churches with daycare areas, raising suspicions.

Weeks before the child was taken from the 60th Street SE church, Reid stole 20 baby outfits from a Meijer store and stashed another $200 in baby clothes in the store's back room, Wyoming Police reports show.

Reid pleaded guilty to a shoplifting charge.

Elderly Woman Gunned Down In Church Parking Lot

2010-01-26T12:14:00.001-05:00

Youngstown's start to 2010 is a deadly one. Police found the murdered body of an elderly woman on the city's South Side Saturday morning.

Police were called to Saint Dominic's Church on Lucius Avenue around 9:30 Saturday morning. When they got there, they found an 80-year-old woman slumped over in the drivers seat of her car.

"Right now, we're preliminary investigating a robbery that turned into a homicide," Youngstown Detective Captain Rod Foley said.

Police believe the woman stayed late after mass to pray. When she was walking to her car, a man robbed her and shot her in the head.

It's only the 23rd day of 2010 and there's already four murders in Youngstown.

"It's pretty bad when you can't go to church and you get shot at. You know what I mean?" St. Dominic's Church member John Schneider said.

No one saw the murder take place but Saint Dom's has security cameras around the parking lot. Police took the camera's hard drive and are currently reviewing the video.

One man who goes to Saint Dom's everyday said it's common for men to approach church-goers in the parking lot asking for money.

"They have a lot of people coming around that try to beg you for money," Schneider said. "Why don't they just take the money and leave the person alone? Don't kill them."

The church does have a security guard, but it is unclear if he was working Saturday.

One parishioner saids he may have seen the suspect leave the parking lot and turn east onto Lucius Avenue. He said the man was African-American between 5' 8" and 5' 10" with a medium build.

While the church community is devastated by this tragedy, Saint Dominic's did not want to comment on the murder at this time.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT

2010-01-23T21:13:00.002-05:00

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT

WEB SPINNING STRATEGIES The individual, operating under the jezebel spirit, begins to secretly spin her web by winning the trust and confidence of those she wants to control. She works undercover and does not want to be exposed. Once acceptance is established, she begins to use truth, seasoned with well placed lies, to clandestinely spin a web of deception and entanglement. Clever methods induce fear in others. She then draws power and authority from their fear. Such individuals have mastered a sophisticated ability to manipulate and control without physical force. A jezebel:

• May appear loyal and might volunteer for special service.
• Seeks teaching/leadership positions to gain position in organizations.
• Probes people’s character to locate weak areas and identify breaches that she can exploit.
• Exaggerate her own problems to flush out others.
• Betrays leadership through knowledge of their personal lives and blackmails them into compromise.
• Uses either truth or lies to destroy reputations.
• Uses or asserts another’s authority.
• Gains power by making political alliances, often in a seemingly submissive and demeaning manner.
• Wears individuals down to usurp their authority.
• Labels God’s prophets as false prophets.
• Orchestrates highs and lows in self and those she manipulates.
• Builds up and then tears down; stirs up or pacifies; is very positive or very negative depending on the situation.
• May be loud and bold, or quiet and cunning, depending on situation.
• Works friends against friends and destroys relationships.
• Mingles truth with lies and occasionally contradicts self - when challenged claims to have been misunderstood.
• Changes opinions according to situation and will compromise when necessary.
• Often manipulates several at one time. • Plays one person/group against another.
• Will enlist false witnesses to testify against others.
• Talks and pulls strings behind people’s backs.
• Undermines self worth and confidence in others.
• Will attack anyone who gets between her, her goals, and those she controls.
• Sets people up and springs ambushes/traps.
• Sometimes pretends submission to gain a strategic advantage.
• Stimulates, seduces, entices, persuades, provokes, sets up, stirs up.
• Uses masculine/feminine charms which are deceitful or enticing to manipulate or sexually harass.
• Dramatic and freely uses emotions to advantage.
• May use silent treatment at times or pout.
• Becomes rejected and depressed to gain an advantage.
• May repent verbally, but not from the heart.
• Those around her never know how to take her.
• Presumes God will not judge them–the fear of the Lord is absent–opening the door to their own destruction.
• When two people under the jezebel spirit are together, they usually contend with each other unless it is to their advantage to form an alliance to attain personal goals.

RESPONSE Be compassionate toward people operating under the influence of jezebel, do practical acts of love and kindness as the Lord directs, pray for their eyes to be opened, and for strength to enable them to stand against this spirit and repent. But have no mercy, no compromise or sympathy toward the jezebel spirit itself. Do not tolerate the spirit of jezebel in any way!

WHAT IF HE IS RIGHT?!

2010-01-22T13:22:00.000-05:00

David Kaiser is a respected historian whose published works have covered a broad range of topics, from European Warfare to American League Baseball. Born in 1947, the son of a diplomat, Kaiser spent his childhood in three capital cities: Washington D.C. , Albany , New York , and Dakar , Senegal .. He attended Harvard University , graduating there in 1969 with a B.A. in history. He then spent several years more at Harvard, gaining a PhD in history, which he obtained in 1976. He served in the Army Reserve from 1970 to 1976.

He is a professor in the Strategy and Policy Department of the United States Naval War College . He has previously taught at Carnegie Mellon, Williams College and Harvard University . Kaiser's latest book, The Road to Dallas , about the Kennedy assassination, was just published by Harvard University Press.

Dr. David Kaiser

History Unfolding

I am a student of history. Professionally, I have written 15 books on history that have been published in six languages, and I have studied history all my life. I have come to think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is simply a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes these exist, but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.

Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about ten to fifteen years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.

We demand and then codify into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people we know they can never pay back?

Why?

We learned just days ago that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has "loaned" two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700 billion we all argued about so strenuously just this past September. Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of "we the people," who loaned our powers to our elected leaders.. Apparently not.

We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy..

Why?

We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving. Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity.

Why?

We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it simply wants marriage to remain defined as between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?) We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?

Why?

Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, social security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and I know precisely what I am talking about) - the list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth.. It is potentially 1929 x ten...And we are at war with an enemy we cannot even name for fear of offending people of the same religion, who, in turn, cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.

And finally, we have elected a man that no one really knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla , Alaska .. All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe are more important.)

Mr.. Obama's winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change. Why?

I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now.

This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.

And that is only the beginning..

As a serious student of history, I thought I would never come to experience what the ordinary, moral German must have felt in the mid-1930s In those times, the "savior" was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing.. What they should have known was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory. Conservative "losers" read it right now.

And there were the promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and frowned and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his "brown shirts" would bully and beat them into submission. Which they did - regularly. And then, he was duly elected to office, while a full-throttled economic crisis bloomed at hand - the Great Depression. Slowly, but surely he seized the controls of government power, person by person, department by department, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The children of German citizens were at first, encouraged to join a Youth Movement in his name where they were taught exactly what to think. Later, they were required to do so. No Jews of course,

How did he get people on his side? He did it by promising jobs to the jobless, money to the money-less, and rewards for the military-industrial complex.. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe , and across the world. He did it with a compliant media - did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and ..... . .. change... And the people surely got what they voted for.

If you think I am exaggerating, look it up. It's all there in the history books.

So read your history books. Many people of conscience objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and ridiculed. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though. And the world came to regret that he was not listened to.

Do not forget that Germany was the most educated, the most cultured country in Europe . It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And yet, in less than six years (a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency) it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors.. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.

As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong by closing my eyes, having another latte, and ignoring what is transpiring around me..

I choose to believe the evidence. No doubt some people will scoff at me, others laugh, or think I am foolish, naive, or both. To some degree, perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe-and why I believe it.

I pray I am wrong. I do not think I am. Perhaps the only hope is our vote in the next elections..

David Kaiser

Jamestown , Rhode Island

United States

Chattanooga Police Arrest Sex Offender For Operating Church

2010-01-18T15:56:00.002-05:00

Chattanooga police have arrested a man for violating the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry after he set up a makeshift church on E. 39th Street after authorities told him to avoid church work and being employed near schools.

Police say Edward Hughes was working at the same church he operated when he raped someone in 2005. He later pleaded guilty to the crime and agreed not to work within 1,000 feet of a school, lead a church or work with children, said Lt. Kim Noorbergen, Chattanooga police spokeswoman.

She said that on Saturday night around 7 p.m. police arrested Mr. Hughes at Bethlehem Evangelistic Mission, which is within 1,000 feet of East Lake Elementary School. Lt. Noorbergen said the church was running off an electric generator and had no power meter.

Mr. Hughes was holding 6:15 p.m. Saturday services, she said.

Church Bus Shot At.....

2010-01-17T18:15:00.000-05:00

Bus shot after leaving a church function

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News

Published January 15, 2010

TEXAS CITY — No one was injured when a bullet pierced the rear and front windows of a church bus, authorities said Thursday. Police were not sure the bus was the intended target.

The bus driver at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday left First Love Church, 2420 36th St. N., after a function with six passengers, including two young children, Texas City police Sgt. Joe Stanton said.

When the driver was just south of soccer fields on 34th Street, he heard a loud noise that shook the bus, Stanton said. The driver stopped, and the passengers got out, Stanton said.

A woman had shattered glass on her face. She was seen by an ambulance crew but not taken to the hospital, Stanton said.

The damage was caused by a bullet that entered the rear window and went through the front windshield, Stanton said.

A passenger told police he saw a black man wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, blue jean shorts and white shoes walking north along 34th Street, Stanton said. The passenger couldn’t confirm whether the man fired the shot, Stanton said.

Church Kidnapping

2010-01-12T00:03:00.000-05:00

Police: Robber Kidnaps 2 Women From NC Church

Police told multiple media outlets the man let the women go unhurt after using their ATM cards to get money during the Thursday afternoon robbery.

Authorities say a masked man walked into a North Carolina church, demanding money then kidnapping two women after finding out the church safe was empty.

Police told multiple media outlets the man let the women go unhurt after using their ATM cards to get money during the Thursday afternoon robbery.

The Rev. Donald Shuman says the suspect was wearing a ski mask and gloves when he came to Broad Street United Methodist Church in Statesville, sticking a gun in the face of the church's receptionist and business manager.

Police say the women did what the robber demanded, begging him to not harm them.

A surveillance camera at one of the ATMs got a picture of the suspect, who investigators have not identified.

There is NO excuse for not performing background checks!

2010-01-07T20:43:00.000-05:00

A sex offender who was released from prison in April has been charged with fondling an 11-year-old girl in a Southwest Baltimore church, according to court records.

Police said Rodney Earl Key, 46, was in St. James Church's sanctuary in the 200 block of S. Augusta Ave. on Sunday when he put the girl on his lap and put his hand up her dress, records show.

The girl asked Key what he was doing and he said he was "going to give her a spanking but he couldn't because she was too sweet," according to charging documents. Key then told her that she was to keep the touching to herself, police say.

Police said the girl was a parishioner and that Key had been hired by the pastor to do work. The alleged incident did not occur during services but a "gathering about church affairs," according to Nicole Monroe, a city police spokeswoman.

Key has been charged with second-, third-, and fourth-degree sex offenses, sex abuse of a minor, and second-degree assault.

Key is a registered sex offender in Baltimore County, police said. Court records show that Key pleaded guilty in Talbot County Circuit Court in 2001 to child abuse by a parent for crimes that occurred between 1990 and 1998. He received 30 years in prison, with all but 14 years suspended.

David Blumberg of the Maryland Parole Commission said Key was twice turned down for parole but was released in April and placed on mandatory supervision until 2015.

In the Maryland Sex Offender Registry, Key's address is listed as 55 Wade Ave. in Catonsville, which is the location of Spring Grove Hospital, but police wrote in charging documents that he had just moved to the 3100 block of Stafford St. in Baltimore. Monroe said Key had been living at a homeless shelter, and state officials say he was compliant with the terms of the registry.

A Bucket List For America by Jim H. Ainsworth

2010-01-01T22:00:00.002-05:00

Truth -- the unvarnished, non-manipulative, forthcoming kind -- is no longer a stranger inside the Beltway.
Contracts are once again honored, words kept, and the government stops invalidating valid contracts.
The government gets off small businesses' backs and allows them to create real jobs.
People go back to saving for home down payments and making sacrifices in order to own homes. Those who will not save or sacrifice go back to renting.
Soldiers are no longer prosecuted for bloodying terrorist lips. They are no longer accused of murder (without evidence) by members of Congress.
Soldiers become more important than politics or a socialist agenda.
Rules of engagement are changed to allow our soldiers to fight to win and come home.
The government stops "helping" the economy by creating jobs that must be paid for by the real job-creators.
Failure is once again punished in the marketplace instead of rewarded in Washington. That will scale back unreasonable pay more than any pay czar ever could.
The president mistakenly appoints several cabinet members (maybe a czar or two) who have solid private-sector experience. (He would never do it on purpose.)
Voters begin the process of enacting a constitutional amendment for term limits. Until said amendment passes, they require every candidate to sign a binding personal services contract to serve no longer than three terms in the House or two terms in the Senate. Heavy penalties would apply to transgressors.
Viable candidates with private-sector experience come forward to run for Congress. Any party? Anyone?
American voters learn the difference between eloquence and intelligence, education and experience, and charm and leadership.
Too-big-to-fail businesses are allowed to fail or become smaller. (Guess which one they will choose.)
Voters wake up from a prolonged slumber and become an informed citizenry once again.
Legislative and executive branches of government learn that you cannot tax your way out of massive debt.
Taxpayers begin to starve the beast that has been created in Washington.
Freedom and national security are no longer sacrificed on the altars of social justice, diversity, and tolerance.
We negotiate with terrorist and dictator regimes from a position of strength, not one of appeasement and apology.
Marxist voter-manipulation groups like ACORN lose taxpayer funding permanently, not just temporarily.
Political correctness is rudely swept out of the halls of Congress, out of airports, out of classrooms, and out of businesses so that leaders can govern, business leaders can run businesses, security forces can target terrorists instead of luggage, and teachers can teach.
Lawyers and politicians are removed from doctors' offices, hospitals, and our health care delivery system.
Current politicians with no private-sector experience or scientific background stop believing that they are smart enough to run the American economy or change the weather. (Okay, that's right up there with "when pigs fly.")

Sign of the Times

2009-12-25T19:41:00.002-05:00

Salvation Army Major Fatally Shot in Front of His Children

Friday, December 25, 2009

Philip Wise

Arkansas police are searching for two men who shot and killed a Salvation Army major Christmas Eve outside the organization’s community center in North Little Rock as his three young children looked on.

Pulaski County Coroner Garland Camper said two men accosted Philip Wise and his children — ages, 4, 6 and 8 — about 4 p.m. Thursday. He says one man pulled a gun, demanded money and then shot Wise.

Wise's wife, Cindy, also a major in the Salvation Army, was inside the center and called 911.

North Little Rock Police Sgt. Terry Kuykendall calls the shooting a tragedy for the community. Wise had worked in the neighborhood for years, helping run youth programs, a food pantry and church services.

According to Arkansas Online, the 40-year-old father has been a member of the charitable organization for 16 years

Friends and colleagues mourned Wise’s death, describing him as an “all-around good guy” and “a big teddy bear who loved sports.”

The Salvation Army told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that any donations made in Wise’s name will go toward a music program at the organization’s summer camp.

Who Will You Put Your Trust In?

2009-12-21T10:10:00.001-05:00

I was sent this and thought you would like it...

Subject: Great Sermon

RECENT VIRGINIA CHURCH SERVICE -STIMULUS SERMON Genesis 47:13-27

I would love to give the Pastor of this predominantly black church in Virginia a hug and a high five. This guy is obviously a leader and not one of the sheep. Perhaps we should each decide who our real leader is..... It is amazing to see that very little has changed in 4,000 years.

Good morning, brothers and sisters ; it's always a delight to see the pews crowded on Sunday morning, and so eager to get into God's Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will to the 47th chapter of Genesis, we'll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27.

Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us?
.....(reading)...

Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray... So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt , and the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built. So the people brought their money to Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their money ran out, and they were hungry again.

So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their livestock -their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey - to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only took them through the end of that year..

But the famine wasn't over, was it? So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. "There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh." So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real estate to Pharaoh's government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain. What can we learn from this, brothers and sisters?

That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery? Yes. That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master? Yes.

But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters! Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt , in the land of Goshen .. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly." God provided for His people, just as always has! They didn't end up giving all their possessions to government, no, it says they gained possessions! But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one. We see the same thing happening today - the government today wants to "share the wealth "once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us. It wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us, and when government rations it, then government decides who gets it, and how much, and what kind. And if we go along with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years ago - as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders.

What Mr. Obama's government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh's government did then, and it will end the same. And a lot of people like to call Mr. Obama a "Messiah," don't they? Is he a Messiah? A savior? Didn't the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, "You have saved our lives ; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh"?

Well, I tell you this - I know the Messiah ; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. Obama is no Messiah! No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh.

Bow with me in prayer, if you will. Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, and we rely on You, and You alone. We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never rightly will be. We read in the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says "And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to you because of the ruler that we have chosen for ourselves as a nation. Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for deliverance from those who would be our masters. Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of Pharaoh's government. In God We Trust....

WILD!

2009-12-04T14:59:00.000-05:00

http://ow.ly/Ihok

WHY ARE THEY HERE?

2009-11-09T21:07:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhHYiWCm8Gs

The Enemy Within (originally posted by Nomad)

2009-11-08T16:49:00.000-05:00

Yet another terror attack that will more than likely go unanswered in the name of Political Correctness. A Muslim soldier calmly fired over 50 shots while reciting, "Allahu Akbar" into a crowded room of American Soldiers who were getting set to deploy and still we refuse to identify the motive for this shooting as a religious hate crime. President Obama recently met with the FBI director and they are still emphasizing that the motive for this act of terror is unclear. Taking the fact that he methodically shot over 40 people, killing 13 of our fine heroes while calming saying God is Great there can be no other motive than Jihad. We should aggressively hunt down his support network and permanently shut them down. Instead, the Military command will more than likely develop programs that will aim to make people like this mass murderer feel more comfortable in the military. The issue will most likely become the way this terrorist was made to feel by the other soldiers, some of whom did their part and turned him in because of his suspicious actions, instead of the fact that he was committed to Jihad and actively sought to destroy America from within.

You Could Have Heard A Pin Drop

2009-11-04T12:00:00.003-05:00

When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.
He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.'
You could have heard a pin drop.

There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent
an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What
does he intended to do, bomb them?'
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they
are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and
from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does
France have?'
You could have heard a pin drop.

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included
Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French
Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those
countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped
their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these
conferences rather than speaking French?' Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians,
Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak
German.'
You could have heard a pin drop.

Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he
took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer
asked sarcastically.Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.'Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.'The American said, 'The last time I was here, I
didn't have to show it.' "Impossible.
Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!'
The American senior gave the
Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, 'Well, when I
came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this
country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport
to.'
You could have heard a pin drop.

Thomas Paine:

2009-11-02T11:12:00.001-05:00

“ It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and all the other sciences, and subjects of natural philosophy, as accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all the principles of science are of divine origin. Man cannot make, or invent, or contrive principles: he can only discover them; and he ought to look through the discovery to the Author.”
“ The evil that has resulted from the error of the schools, in teaching natural philosophy as an accomplishment only, has been that of generating in the pupils a species of atheism. Instead of looking through the works of creation to the Creator himself, they stop short, and employ the knowledge they acquire to create doubts of his existence. They labour with studied ingenuity to ascribe every thing they behold to innate properties of matter, and jump over all the rest by saying, that matter is eternal.” “The Existence of God--1810”

I wonder what Mr. Paine would think if he were here today?

From Mr. Wells

2009-11-01T08:17:00.002-05:00

Help me Understand!

2009-10-29T19:59:00.003-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/28/california.gang.rape.bystander/index.html

I need someone to help me understand. How can upwards of 20 people stand and watch a 15 year old girl be gang raped for almost 2 1/2 hours? Not only did the group watch, no one reported it...at all! She was found dumped under a park bench! What could possibly be going through your mind while you are standing with a group of others watching a child be physically and emotionally destroyed? One of the young men that played a part in the rape was charged with using an "object" in the commission of the crime.

"Phil Harris, a criminal justice professor at Temple University, who has studied juveniles and group situations for nearly three decades, offered a hypothesis on why as many as 20 witnesses failed to notify police. He said the witnesses could have been angry themselves -- or had a problem with the victim."

So as many as 20 people watched this child be violated in the most horrific way because, "the witnesses could have been angry themselves -- or had a problem with the victim?"

Mr. Harris... BULL CRAP

Parents no longer instruct, educate, or monitor their children. Latchkey children who are frequently left alone by working parents do not have proper supervision or assistance to guide them in appropriate behaviors. Morality is often learned by friends rather than family, on the fly while being left to their own devices during the day, while mom and dad are at work. Our children are being raised by MTV, JackAss, Hollywood, the Internet and the Media. Officials that "we" elect take every opportunity to remove Jesus from society and the lives of our children.

In 1963, prayer was removed from schools in yet another attempt to rid America of any reference to God. President Ronald Reagan recognized the danger of this act when he said:

“Our Pledge of Allegiance states that we are ‘one nation under God,’ and our currency bears the motto, ‘In God We Trust.’ The morality and values such faith implies are deeply embedded in our national character. Our country embraces those principles by design, and we abandon them at our peril. Yet in recent years . . . Americans . . . for the sake of religious tolerance . . have forbidden religious practice in the classrooms. The law of this land has effectively removed prayer from our classrooms. How can we hope to retain our freedom through the generations if we fail to teach our young that our liberty springs from an abiding faith in our Creator?”

We are told by our "elected" officials that we have to tolerate everything! The Political Correctness Movement restricts our freedom of speech. Toleration lead to the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973. (NO, im not saying I believe homosexuality is a mental disorder)Now it is promoted in public education. Sex before marriage became acceptable through implementing standards of "Common Law Marriage" and the convenience of abortion. Television and theaters teach our youth that premarital sex, alternative lifestyles, marital infidelity, and divorce are all to be accepted as normal. The violence from Hollywood has so inundated the minds of our youth and society, that the most horrific sights and crimes do not phase us. Hollywood floods our homes with garbage sitcoms and movies. Modern entertainment is so saturated with sex, violence and anarchy that normal relationships, respect for law and order and the value of human life are disappearing—especially in the young. The internet bombards our society with pornographic images. The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix and EarthLink. Every second - 372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines.

I started this blog with the question: How can upwards of 20 people stand and watch a 15 year old girl be gang raped for almost 2 1/2 hours? I believe I have answered my own question.
We have allowed our Savior to be removed from every aspect of our society as not to offend. Am I by myself with this thinking? WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?

Two men shot at California synagogue

2009-10-29T19:11:00.000-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/29/synagogue.shootings/index.html

A Godly Leader

2009-10-29T15:17:00.001-04:00

A Godly leader ... finds strength by realizing his weakness
finds authority by being under authority
finds direction by laying down his plans
finds vision by seeing the needs of others
finds credibility by being an example
finds loyalty by expressing compassion
finds honor by being faithful
finds greatness by being a servant

PC PREDICTIONS by Glenn Beck

2009-10-29T10:55:00.002-04:00

Political correctness is a vicious cycle. Changing words because someone thinks they're offensive is a pattern that will never stop. Here's how some of the more popular PC terms today will evolve as special interest groups take turns being insulted:

Evolution Of :" Terrorists"
Terrorists -> Insurgents -> Freedom Fighters -> Misguided Criminals -> High-Risk Offspring of Mediocre Parents -> Infrequent Law Practitioners -> Malcontents

Evolution of: "Illegal Aliens"
Illegal Aliens -> Illegal Immigrants -> Undocumented Workers -> Migrant Workers -> Guest Workers -> Imported Low Wage Workers -> Temporary U.S. citizens -> MexAmeriCanadians -> Bob

Evolution of: "Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ -> Jesus Christ -> Jesus -> That Guy on the Cross -> That Person on the Cross -> That Person -> Who?

Grandmother Accused Of Hate Crime After Complaining Of Gay Parade

2009-10-28T14:32:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx7Dx4hT6t4

Can't Be Explained Only Experienced (round 2)

2009-10-27T19:47:00.002-04:00

Well, our Mr. John has started his "telecare ministry." He called twice today. The first voice message he left today was with the Senior Elders office. He stated that he needed to speak to someone regarding his membership and getting some help with spirtiual deliverence. He said it was serious and someone needed to call him back soon.

A few minutes later he left a second voice message. This message was left on Officer Dan's extension. In this voice message he called Officer Dan a "hick house nigger." He stated: "the war is not over and you are probably @#$%ing Pastor Ron."

At what point would you decide enough is enough?

Theodore Roosevelt

2009-10-27T14:47:00.000-04:00

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.

FBI: 50 Children Rescued From Prostitution in National Sting

2009-10-26T23:10:00.001-04:00

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569593,00.html?sPage=fnc/us/crime

"I'm Tired" by Robert A. Hall USMC retired

2009-10-26T21:20:00.002-04:00

I'll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked, hard since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.
I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth around" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it. I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to " keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help, But if they bought mansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money. I'm tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros, and Hollywood entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the tolerance for Christian people of Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela. Won't multiculturalism be beautiful?
I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to. I believe "a man should be judged by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin." I'm tired of being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of US Senators from Illinois.
I think it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an All-knowing government. I'm tired of a news media that thinks Bush's fund raising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama's, at triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress. That picked over every line of Bush's military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his, that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever. Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn't vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.
I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America, while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue, or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough. I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana. I'm tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime. What's next? Calling drug dealers, undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I'm willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military... Those are the citizens we need.
I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years-and still are? Not even close. So here's the deal.
I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts,
instead of hiding from in fear. I'm tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers-bums are bipartisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois, where the "Illinois Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet as well.
I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers, and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing. I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination, or big-whatever for their problems. Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making.
I'm just sorry for my granddaughter.

Three Years

2009-10-26T10:25:00.000-04:00

Three years is how long the average convicted child molester spends in prison. They receive an average of a seven-year sentence, but only three of those years are actually spent in jail. If that doesn't convince you that we're soft on pedophiles, consider this:

About one in five child molesters in prison has previously been arrested for a sex crime against a child.
Child molesters and statutory rapists had between a 23 and 81 percent chance of being rearrested for any crime within the next three years, depending on how many times they had previously been arrested.
About half of child molesters who are released have more then threes years left on their sentences.
About 1 in 20 child molesters released from prison was rearrested for other sex crime within just three years.

Does this sound like a society that's serious about protecting it's children?

Can't Be Explained Only Experienced

2009-10-25T20:34:00.000-04:00

Now, here is "our" history with John. About 6-8 months ago he arrived at RWOC. His first day there, he began asking people for rides. Rides to church, rides to home, rides to the store, rides everywhere. Well, for several months congregation members and staff alike did their best to accommodate John's transportation needs. During this time, John never attempted to find a permanent solution to his transportation needs. He continued to bum rides to church and then blow up and use profanity with staff and congregation members when they declined to give him a ride. John spoke to Officer Dan about having the church bus or shuttle transport him to and from church. (officer Dan oversees the church's vehicle fleet) Officer Dan explained to John (several times) that the buses and shuttles don't run in his particular area due to the lack of vehicles and the higher demand in other areas of the community. John's response?: PROFANITY. So after 6-8 months of this revolving door John decided to leave Officer Dan a message. The following is the transcript of the voice mail that John left for Officer Dan a few days ago:

"Officer Dan this is John from D.C.. I been trying to get ahold of you all summer to call and tell you this stuff to your face. I guess you haven't retrieved your messages. I don't know who has told you that you have arrived, but you haven't arrived yet. Gods had our paths to cross and I'm hoping it was for the best to compel us to go to a deeper relationship but I don't know, you don't want to seem to do it that way, but that is fine with me. I really don't need you man. I just wanted you to know that you haven't arrived, and the shirts you wear are out dated and you look like a hick. You just an unsophisticated hick to me. Thats all. You got your head so far up Ron's behind that you can't see the hurt going on around you, the chaos that goes on around you. Wake up and get start living man so you know what is going on. The kind of dude you are we call that back home, we call you a house nigger, with the dookie ministry, thats what it is. Boss nose ministry thats what it is. Get your head out of Ron's behind so you can stop stroking your ego and maybe you will see what's going on around you and see all the hurt goes on around you and I will see you when I see you."

Well, today when John arrived at church I introduced myself asked him to explain to me and Officer John why he would leave such an un-christian like voice message. He stated that he said those things because Officer Dan had not called him back. At that I said, "you mean to tell me that you feel justified in calling Officer Dan a "house nigger" and insulting Pastor Ron because Officer Dan didn't return your phone call?" John said "yes." (both John and Officer Dan are African-American) John then asked me if I knew what color Jesus was. I told him that "Jesus was a Jew and thus would have had features which resemble modern-day persons of Middle Eastern descent." John's responce was. "no, he was black." I told him that was fine, but that he was not going to call the church and leave messages like that again. At that point he began to point his finger and aggression toward Officer Dan. I interupted John and told him he needed to be speaking to me. It was then that he told me that I was racist and probably did this type of thing to people like him all the time. I told John that I disagreed with him regarding my being a racist and that my purpose was to make sure there were no further inappropriate phone calls.

John continued with his accusations of my being racist as well as reassuring Officer Dan of his status as a "house nigger" as well as the location of his head up "Ron's behind." I explained to John that if he continued with his insults and language I would place him on trespass notice. To that he stated, "that don't bother me, there is other church's". So, I placed him on trespass notice and Officer Dan and I escorted him outside. I asked him how he was getting home and he stated one of the ushers brought him to church. I asked Offcer Dan and Officer Tim to stay with John while I tried to find the Usher that drove John to church. While I was searching for the usher, John proceeded to become "mouthy" with Officer Tim. At one point Officer Tim asked John why he was coming to church. His response: Im here looking for a damn wife!" "Im here for the women!" (I wish I could say he was joking)

After ten minutes of searching I located the usher and explained Johns situation. The usher stated that she did not want to leave the service. I thanked the usher and called Greenville City Police to give John a ride home.Once the officer arrived I explained to John again that if he returned to RWOC without my prior approval, he would be arrested for trespassing.

It is days like this that I have to say out loud, "It can't be explained, only experienced!"

"Borders- More Than a Bookstore by Glenn Beck

2009-10-24T20:44:00.000-04:00

Our current way of handling our borders, essentially hoping that the people who cross them are innocent workers instead of terrorist, is going to get us all killed. It may be a guy smuggling in a nuke or a couple hundred extremist coming in over the decades to preach Western hatred and Islamism- but either way, you simply cannot have a country without secure borders.

Church Janitor stabs Priest 32 times..

2009-10-24T20:19:00.000-04:00

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569427,00.html

NJ Priest found murdered

2009-10-23T23:06:00.000-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/23/priest.killed/index.html