The Great Separation

Today's Sermon Devotional.

Afternoon Folks,

Before launching into today's sermon devotional, everyone should read young Ivory's prayer left as a comment to my post, "Pray for Our Soldiers and Iraq." And then please pray.

Here's today's sermon devotional from the church bullettin where I attend (my father's the pastor).

Mark 2 details how Jesus relates to all of mankind. Not only does Jesus relate to all mankind, but He is able to identify with the needs and problems each of us face every day. Not only does Jesus relate and identify with our needs Jesus is able to give us answers to them.

Jesus sees deep within us and knows what it is that we really need to bring about what we long for in our hearts. Most of the time we think we know what we want, but when we get it there is something still missing. What we got doesn't really fulfill that inner longing that we are trying to fill. Jesus knows just what it will take, what things will really bring that inner warmth of satisfaction.

Jesus came that we might have life, abundant life here and now and for eternity. Jesus says to all, "Come unto me and I will give you rest". Jesus says to come to Him and He will forgive you your sins and you can be born again. He offers us a new life that is never ending.

Jesus sees you as you really are, yet still says, "Come". Jesus relates and cares about all of mankind and wants to elevates us to heirs of the King. Jesus says come and be born again, becoming My Brothers and Sisters.

Jesus says with outstretched arms to all, "Come".

MARK 2
JOHN 9
JOHN 8
JOHN 10
MATTHEW 11
JOHN 16
PHILIPPIANS 4
HEBREWS 6

This is just CRAZY!

local6.com - News - Woman Knocked Unconscious By Wal-Mart Shoppers

A 41-year-old woman was knocked unconscious and then trampled by a mob of shoppers who continued to step over her as she suffered a seizure during a Friday sale at Wal-Mart in Orange City, Fla., according to Local 6 News.

This really saddens me. And it isn't the only incident of bad behavior on the part of shoppers this year. Last night on the news I saw a video taped argument that went physical in front of a Toys'R'Us.

What in the world are people thinking?!

Day After Thanksgiving Stuff[ed]!

Hey Folks,

I hope your holiday was wonderful. I imagine a few of you are still on holiday and I think I'm going to take advantage of the idea and just relax some today. That means just pulling back a bit on the stuff I typically do in the day. I still need to get some work done, but it will all be light stuff I hope.

I dared to go out into the retail world today. Things looked good. Business was busy, but attitudes of some people were bad. I tried to cheer one older worker at WallyWorld up but she didn't want to be cheered. Others returned smiles. Actually had a pleasant exchange with another customer who I helped find a CD she was looking for for her son.

I worked this day for nine years in a mall and I don't envy those folk working out there today. I only went out to go with my brother who wanted to see about getting a Game Cube at WallyWorld. They have a real good deal today at $80 with the new zelda title.

We figured they'd be sold out but were very surprised to find they still had a bunch.

We also journeyed to Circuit City. They were packed. They are running a music CD sale of $9.99 for all titles that fall within the regular price of $11 and $14. So I picked up a Contact By Benjamin Gate. I've been wanting to get one of their albums. Great vocals and wonderful guitar and rythms. It's a different sound than the normal Christian fair of music CD's. At least the ones that I own.

How about the President yesterday? I was totally impressed with him as a man. He is most definitely a leader. All that talk about gravitas the dems put out during the campaign is coming back to haunt them, I think. The emotion in his face and voice really hit home with me. The fact that he was willing to put his life on the line, and face the sure coming criticism that I know the dem pundits will throw, so that he could show his love for the people he has asked to stand in the gap really shows how concerned he is for them. There is nothing better he could have done for those troops than what he did. Talk about a boost for morale and a show of commitment.

He lifted me up and made me proud yesterday. Proud of my country and proud of those that serve her.

Well, that's it for today. I'm going to get some left overs, maybe make a soup, and do a little work.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey folks,

I hope you are all well and getting ready for a wonderful day to give thanks with family and friends.

I'd like to say thank you to all of you that have become a part of my life through this little piece of the web world.

Have a great day and here is a quote that I posted on my Quote of Today weblog that I think bears repeating here:

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.

Attribution: Denis Waitley.

May the true God of Heaven bless you today,
Hal

U.S. Campus Hosts Rally of Terror.

Did I say U.S.? - The Ohio State University just hosted The Third Annual National Student Conference On Palestine Solidarity. Lee Kaplan was there to cover it and everyone needs to read Kaplan's report.

Here's an excerpt from the report on FrontPage magazine.com:

For three days, Islamist radicals gathered in America’s heartland to openly call for the destruction of Israel, the overthrow of the U.S. government and to take the side of the murderers in the War on Terrorism.

The terrorist get-together included some interesting groups and peoples:

WHILE SOME PANEL GUESTS tried to obscure their family connections to death, others openly advocated murder at the conference. Vernon Bellecourt of the American Indian Movement (AIM), a group known for murdering two FBI agents in a 1975 shooting. Bellecourt, who introduced himself as AIM's "foreign minister," explained his group's relationship with the Palestinian movement started when AIM was invited on an all-expense-paid trip to Libya by terrorist chief-of-state Mohammar Quaddafi. Bellecourt called for activists to overthrow the U.S. government and declared the presidential candidates of both major parties as "war criminals," calling for "a people's tribunal to carry out a (death) sentence." Then he wrapped himself in an Arafat-style keffiyah as a gesture of his solidarity with the PLO. "I, too, am a Palestinian," he said.

I highly suggest you stop by for a read of Kaplan's piece. It's eye opening and reminds me of some of the stuff that took place pre-World War Two in Hitler's camp.

A Haggis Hunting We will Go.

Scotland Hunting Tours? - Somebody in Scotland has done some research and found that around a third of American's visiting the shores of Scotland, come thinking that Haggis is an animal that wanders the countryside.

In fact, Ananova™ reports:

US tour operators are even selling haggis hunting tours.

Of course, the trouble is, Haggis isn't an animal. Well, yes, it's made of animal, but there isn't a Haggis creature running around on all fours.

What is it?

The recipe for haggis varies but it can be made using a sheep's stomach bag filled with a mix of sheep's liver, heart and lung, oatmeal, suet, stock, onions and spices.

Sounds appetizing doesn't it? ;-)

I'll try anything once. Well, almost anything.

San Fran Judge Applauds Suer After Ruling There is No Case.

Judicial Prejudice In the U.S.A.? - I'm a bit baffled over this bit of news out of San Francisco. But it is San Fran. after all.

The report is from Joe Garofoli of the San Francisco Chronicle and it details a small claims suit against a Catholic Church brought by a man living within hearing distance of the bell tower.

On September 11, 2002 the church apparently rang the bells early in the morning to remember the victims of the attack on America by terrorists the year before. The man who brought the suit claimed that the ringing of the bells disturbed his peaceful sleep which he was doing in remembrance of the victims of the attack.

Here's an excerpt from Garofoli's piece:

A San Francisco judge dismissed a claim Monday by a North Beach resident who said the early-morning bell-ringing from a nearby Catholic Church during a Sept. 11 ceremony disturbed his sleep and prevented him from commemorating the anniversary of the terrorist attacks in a quiet way.

The man that brought the suit is also upset by the noise that Fleet Week brought to the San Francisco area and is, I guess, running some sort of campaign to lessen the noise levels in his neighborhood. And that's his right, but maybe he should consider moving out of a city environment - my opinion of course.

The troubling bit of news in this article for me was one little paragraph on the case:

Nevertheless, the judge praised Coe's effort and encouraged him to contact an attorney and pursue the case in civil court.

Am I the only one that finds that odd? Why would this judge who has just ruled that the guy bringing the suit, "lacked standing," and lacked, "burden of proof," turn around and praise the man's efforts and recommend he get a lawyer to sue in civil court?

Seems odd to me.

(Hat tip to Romenesko's Obscure Store & Reading Room)

China's Continued Persecution of Christians.

Guangxi province, China - WorldNetDaily™ has more evidence of China's hatred for Christians and freedom of religion.

In China, if you are a Christian who does not accept the government limiting of your beliefs and doctrines then you are mentally ill; as one policeman said of a Christian they arrested:

"Zhang [the arrested Christian] doesn't have a criminal problem. He has a mind problem. He is too superstitious."

According to the WND article, with the new leadership of China by President Hu Jintao, a new rash of crack downs on "illegal religious organizations" are taking place across China. And if you have a Bible and you are caught with it, then you can expect a trip to a re-education camp and your family will likely not be notified of the trip.

Owners of Bibles are the target of a crackdown on "illegal religious organizations" by police in southern China's Guangxi province.

Up to 40 policemen descended on the homes of Christians in villages in Xilin county in the middle of the night, ransacking them in search of Bibles and other religious materials, according to written testimony supplied to Agence France-Presse.

Those of us who are the redeemed of Christ must faithfully hold up in prayer our brothers and sisters in China. They are as lambs led to slaughter. May their witness and testimony bring new life to those trapped in sin and the final death it brings.

The Great Separation continues.

Postings May be a Little Slow.

Hey folks that read The Great Separation. You know who you are.

Ummm. At least I hope you know who you are. ;-)

Anyway, I'm not sure how postings will work out over the next several weeks. I've taken a holiday job to earn some extra cash. I guess you could call it a night job. Because, well, it's at night.

So postings may drop off some until I'm done. Sleep being a factor and everything. I just started last night. The job, not sleeping. I've been sleeping since the womb.

So if things drop off some, that is the reason. Just thought I should let folks know ahead of time; time being something in short supply.

Thanks,
Hal

UPDATE: Lt. Col. West's Trial.

Here's an update on the situation with Lt. Col. West's trial.

Otto Kreisher for San Diego Tribune reports:

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, has joined an effort to stop the Army from punishing an officer who used force to get information from an Iraqi policeman about possible pending sniper attacks against U.S. forces by insurgents.

In a letter to the acting Secretary of the Army, Hunter and a senior member of his committee said they were "highly disturbed" that the Army was considering criminal action against Lt. Col. Allen B. West for his treatment of an Iraqi policeman who an informant said knew about a planned sniper attack on his soldiers.