Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Mosque at Ground Zero...




I don't usually weigh in on controversial topics, as I prefer to usually keep this blog inspirational and about love, but I have to say I am not in support of the Muslim desire to build so close to Ground Zero in New York City. Do they have a constitutional right to build it? Yes they do. Should they? I don't think so. I think the best analogy is one of the following:

Consider the following scenario. Let's say that there is an individual who moves into a given community, and one day he decides to kidnap a young child walking home from school. He does many horrible things to her, but ultimately the man is caught before he can do any fatal harm to the girl. The girl is, however, severely traumatized, as is the community. The man ultimately receives a 25-year prison sentence, but is paroled after seven. He is now considered a Sexually Violent Predator and must register as such for the rest of his life. He sincerely believes he is reformed, however, and wants to move back to the same community where this terrible offense occurred. How would you, as a hypothetical person living in this community, feel about this situation? Would you support him taking up residence in the same area where he committed his crime? I think not. There is no doubt there are peace-loving moderate Muslims, but because we were violated and lost our innocence in the destruction of the twin towers on 9/11 it is NOT a popular decision at all, much like the above hypothetical situation I mention. Have a good day everyone.

Friday, August 06, 2010

Hero Grandmother



Sharrel Blankenbaker was an ordinary everyday person. She was a grandmother, mother and wife. Last Tuesday she became an extraordinary person when she was shot and killed saving the life of her granddaughter Cassidy from a kidnapper at a Love's convenience store near Amarillo, Texas. She also was a strong Christian, who for 12 years was involved in the Kiros prison ministry. Says Cassidy: "She would do anything for anyone.. She prayed with us when we were going thru something hard...she was so great." Yes, Mrs. Blankenbaker exemplifies John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Or, in this case, granddaughters.