God Bless Chick Fil A

Tim Hawkins wrote this song in 2010, actually he wrote another song as well that is pretty good as well. (it is under values/marriage label)  This was before the big ruckus over their support of traditional marriage? Funny thing- I support Traditional Marriage as well, but have I made the news? Actually I appreciate Billy Grahams and Mike Huckabees support of Chik Fil A- it is about time Christians support Christians when they take a stand. I think of the Pope, Jerry Falwell and others who took a stand in the past and no one stood with them? I respect your right not to boycott Starbucks, Target, or  JC Penney- that is your right, as is Rosanne Barr's choice to "wish cancer on anyone who supports traditional marriage" or the Muppet's who will not do business with a business who follows Bible principals. I  should remind you I also respect your boycott of porn sites, strip clubs, casinos. alcohol, tobacco- sure you don't like to call it a boycott,  I was raised in a church that also boycotted bowling alleys and theatres so I understand. (I was even taught to boycott certain church's??) I am appalled that any government official would deny a building permit based one's religious beliefs? That is wrong, a violation of our free speech and a violation of separation of church/state.  It is good to see business's follow a Biblical standard and I salute you Cathy Family- thank You and May God Bless you for that.

Media Invents Story That Chick-fil-A President Condemned Gay Marriage

11:42 AM, Jul 24, 2012 • By MARK HEMINGWAY

 CNN, Time and many other news organizations owe Cathy and Chick-fil-A some serious corrections and/or clarifications. It should further cause news organizations -- particularly in the wake of ABC's absurd speculation that the Aurora killings were done by a Tea Partier and many news organizations falling for Greenpeace's intentionally deceptive campaign against Shell Oil -- to reflect on why these kinds of egregrious media errors habitually reflect left-wing political narratives.

UPDATE: A reader informs me Cathy also gave a radio interview on the topic last week where he said, among other things, "I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.'" Again, if you listen to the the interview he doesn't utter the words "gay marriage," and it's clear that in the broader context Cathy is speaking about many different issues leading to the general breakdown of the family.

When I wrote, "The president of Chick-fil-A never actually said anything condemning gay marriage," I was referring specifically to the Baptist Press interview that formed the basis of the attack by CNN and many other news outlets. It's also been known for decades that Chick-fil-A is run by devout Christians that support traditional famly values, yet only now has there been a national furor over Cathy and his company's position on this. That controversy came only by taking his quotes out of context to suggest he was attacking supporters of gay marriage rather than defending his own beliefs. And it certainly doesn't justify supposedly mainstream news organizations calling him "homophobic" -- an astonishingly biased and juvenile way of framing what he said.

Last week, reports emerged that Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy had condemned gay marriage. It's no secret that the company is run by devout Christians, but this still caused an uproar. Boston's mayor threatened to deny the company business permits, celebrities condemned the company, and the Muppets announced fast food chain wouldn't be able to license any new toys for their kids meals.

One small problem: The president of Chick-fil-A never actually said anything condemning gay marriage. Here's how CNN reported the story:

(CNN)–The fact that Chick-fil-A is a company that espouses Christian values is no secret. The fact that its 1,600 fast-food chicken restaurants across the country are closed on Sundays has long been testament to that.

But the comments of company President Dan Cathy about gay marriage to Baptist Press on Monday have ignited a social media wildfire.

"Guilty as charged,", Cathy said when asked about his company's support of the traditional family unit as opposed to gay marriage.

"We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that," Cathy is quoted as saying.

But Terry Mattingly at the website GetReligion (where I am an occasional contributor) notes that if you look at the original context of the interview, Cathy wasn't asked specifically asked about gay marriage nor did he say anything about it. Here's the actual interview CNN and others cited from the Biblical Recorder and that was carried by the Baptist Press:

“We don’t claim to be a Christian business,” Cathy told the Biblical Recorder in a recent visit to North Carolina. He attended a business leadership conference many years ago where he heard Christian businessman Fred Roach say, “There is no such thing as a Christian business.”

“That got my attention,” Cathy said. Roach went on to say, “Christ never died for a corporation. He died for you and me.”

In that spirit … [Christianity] is about a personal relationship. Companies are not lost or saved, but certainly individuals are,” Cathy added. “But as an organization we can operate on biblical principles. So that is what we claim to be. [We are] based on biblical principles, asking God and pleading with God to give us wisdom on decisions we make about people and the programs and partnerships we have. And He has blessed us.”

And here's what Cathy says about marriage:

The company invests in Christian growth and ministry through its WinShape Foundation (WinShape.com). The name comes from the idea of shaping people to be winners. It began as a college scholarship and expanded to a foster care program, an international ministry, and a conference and retreat center modeled after the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove.

“That morphed into a marriage program in conjunction with national marriage ministries,” Cathy added.

Some have opposed the company’s support of the traditional family. “Well, guilty as charged,” said Cathy when asked about the company’s position. “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. …

“We are very much committed to that,” Cathy emphasized. “We intend to stay the course,” he said. “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”

To say that Cathy condemned gay marriage is stunningly dishonest. And yet, Cathy's had to endure headlines such as, "Boston Mayor Blocks Chick-fil-A Franchise from City over Homophobic Attitude" -- and that headline comes from Time, which is allegedly one of the more responsible media outlets.

First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me

The Sound-Through The Decades

I love music. Music Changes. On this date 58 years ago a man called Elvis Presley changed the style of music in 1954. There are many styles of music for the same song. Someone said Amazing Grace has been recorded by over 3,000 people, each one singing it differently I would guess. I heard the group "The Sound' in our church years ago, I do not know  if they are singing together still or not- but I so enjoyed this song on their CD called "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms- Through the Decades". So next time you think your style of music is the only style there is, think of this song and how music seems to change every 10 years or so. It could also remind you of the one thing that does not change- His Everlasting Arms....

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is a hymn published in 1887 with music by Anthony J. Showalter and lyrics by Showalter and Elisha A. Hoffman. Showalter said that he received letters from two of his former pupils saying that their wives had died. When writing letters of consolation, Showalter was inspired by the phrase in the Book of Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms".

Not to take away from the Sound- here is another clip of how worship music has evolved thru the years I bet you know most of these songs and there are many ways to worship our God. Incidentally, this is my most viewed blog I have posted.

Debt and Immorality

Chuck Colson died last Saturday- He was one politican I admired,  because of how he turned his life around and the many good things he did because of his conversion. I had wanted to do a blog on his life and this video; but in hearing last nights news- I want to focus on his video and the big mistake East Wenatchee may  be making- since you may be bailing them out. Remember- this video was made in 2010 and the debt was 130 trillion- it is now 2012 and has quietly reached 200 trillion!

When on council, I always pushed better roads. I fought to re-instate the 25/75 split for street department that was removed in East Wenatchee  budget several years ago so they could fund sprint boats and other non street projects. I fought leasing vehicles.  I also was told Leasing was the cheapest route for police cars; until last year when we paid off our police vehicle leases and saved over $6,000 in so doing?  I fought to fix 10th st. and was disappointed the local Tranporation Improvement Board removed the grant to fix that street up only to give those funds to Link and several county roads. When I asked mayor why- he said that they figured it did not need improving and others needed it worse? 

Yesterday I heard on KPQ, East Wenatchee wants to borrow 6 million to improve 10th Avenue, because its only a 1% loan? No mention of how to pay the loan off, when the present 5 year budget plan already is short of funds in two more years? No mention that the finance director and most elected officials will no longer be in office when the bonds are still due and taxes will have to be raised per the 5 year budget plan? No mention of how many years til this loan is paid off? No mention of closing costs, administrative fees or if loan funds could go for other budget areas to end the year looking better? (still no teamster union agreement reached?)  No mention why no grant funds will be used? No mention that debt is ruining this country and  the WSDOT spends almost half of its yearly budget it receives to pay off debt- not new projects?  No mention that we are spending 11 million on other street projects including 15th St. that is being overlaid simply because it is "bumpy" where they tore it up several years ago? No mention 10th st. runs in front of the Mormon Church where several city officals are members? No mention if any local match from budget will be used on 10th st, or if this project falls under the "turn key" engineer projects that are done and sitting on shelf, or if it will go to bid for that too? No mention that the city is still paying off debt for 3rd St. street loan when the mall expanded many years ago and if all that loan went only for 3rd st. project?

Dealing With The Public

Thank you, telecommunicators, for answering millions of phone calls to keep our community safe. In the last year you answered millions of 911 calls, non-emergency calls, requests from nearby agencies. You took walk-up reports and requests for information. You handled requests and radio traffic from officers. You are the vanguard of a process designed to mitigate criminal activity, protect property, and save lives. You are the forefront administrators of the criminal justice system, fire, and medical services. Thank you, telecommunicators, for being a calm and confident voice on the other end of a phone. We often comment that people don’t typically call emergency services during the best times of their lives, which is true, but doesn’t explain the full range of callers you’ve helped. You’ve comforted young kids during traumatic events and sparked action out of inaction. You’ve calmed the hysterical and saved the suicidal. You’ve played impromptu hostage negotiators and negotiated peaceful surrenders. You’ve played impromptu doctors and telephonically delivered children. You deal with non-emergencies on 911 and emergencies on the non-emergency lines. You’ve heard it all and seen none of it. Thank you, telecommunicators, for keeping our officers safe. The public often loses sight of the day to day police work that is no less inherently dangerous then events resulting in an officer’s death. Police work is likely one of the most dangerous domestic jobs, but police fatalities are still relatively uncommon because we work to keep them safe. From calltakers having intuition to ask a non-standard question to a dispatcher recognizing an officer’s shift in tone-of-voice and sending a backup unit. Telecommunicators day in and day out support the officers in the field and do everything possible from the other end of a radio and telephone to keep them safe. Only You can tell policemen and firemen where to go.

Thank you, telecommunications, for being the unseen heroes of our everyday lives. Happy National Telecommunicators Week.

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls 911. He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?"
The 911 Operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."
There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?"

You Might Be a Dispatcher If...

You can carry on more than 4 conversations simultaneously!

You have a bladder capacity of a tanker!

You can resume a conversation with co-workers 4 hours later, in mid-sentence and everyone knows that you are talking about!

You have a long term telephonic relationship with one or more paranoid schizophrenic PTSD suffering relatives of a public official.

You have ever had to explain to a college educated, gainfully employed, tax paying property owner that: His/her child's lack of interest in vegetables was not a police matter!

You inform your new teenage driver, "I will always know!"

You have ever muttered the phrase: "They let him carry a GUN?"

You find yourself typing "height" and "weight" instead of "width" and "height" when adding dimensions to the HTML "IMG SRC" tags on your web-site.

You answer your home phone "9-1-1, what is your emergency?"
You spend more on fast food than utilities.
You see nothing wrong with eating a Taco Bell Grande Meal or pizza at 3 a.m
You consider coffee an indispensable work tool.
You answer your home phone "dispatch".
You answer dispatch phone "hell" instead of "hello".
The only thing that gets your adrenaline going is the walk to and from your car.
You find humor in other people's misery.
You're only happy if you have something to complain about.
You consider patience a weakness ,not a virtue.
Your idea of a good night involves someone burning a house down, getting shot, chased or dismembered.
You have forgotten what it is like to actually eat a warm meal.
Your dog doesn't recognize you and the kids think you're just the person who drops by every now and then to bring groceries and do the laundry.
You think it's funny when a would-be suicide gets bored waiting for the gas from the stove to do it's thing and lights a cigarette to pass the time resulting in an explosion that leaves her neighbors homeless but she still survives.
You truly believe stupidity should be painful.
Dinner consist of a 2 liter bottle of soda and whatever you can scrounge out of the vending machine.
Antacid tablets, or better known as dispatcher candy, become your regular desert.
You read newspaper accounts of a major incident that occurred during your shift and can point out all the incorrect information...and then laugh about it.
Family members comment about how nice you "used" to be before you started this job.
You believe in aerial spraying of Prozac and/or birth control over certain parts of your city.
You have no idea what a holiday is, other than it's the day when everyone gets drunk and beats up their family members.
You can resume a conversation with coworkers 4 hours later in mid-sentence and everyone knows what you are talking about.
You have a long term telephonic relationship with one or more paranoid schizophrenic PTSD suffering relatives of a public official.
You inform your teenager," I will always know".
You get impatient listening to people relate a story - You want "just the facts".
You believe 90% of people can't look up a telephone number.
You get easily bored with happy content people.
You can talk on the phone, listen to the radio and type request into the computer at the same time without missing anything.
You think it is funny when a "regular client" kills himself while breaking into a business.
You can give directions to any location in your city off the top of your head.
You refuse to allow anyone to say "have a quiet shift".
You believe that the statement, "It sure is quiet!" will bring down the wrath of god upon you.
You can give anyone the exact address of every bar in your jurisdiction.
You question the motives of anyone who makes an effort to get to know you after they learn your profession.
You know the phone number of every restaurant or business that delivers food, especially late at night.
You spell everything phonetically.
You can only tell time on a 24 hour clock.
You acknowledge your friends and families remarks with the time.
You have spent time explaining to officers, firefighters or EMTs the difference between a dispatcher and a personal assistant.
You live in fear of a full moon.
You are on a first name basis with every crazy lunatic in your jurisdiction.
You find no comfort in knowing that the equipment that you depend on to do your job and protect others was purchased at the lowest bid possible.
You respond faster to the name "RADIO" or "CENTRAL" than you do to your own name.
You find yourself talking to family and friends in codes.
You have a tendency to giggle at your friends "big" problems.
You respond 10-4 when told to please pull around to the first window at a fast food restaurant.
You tell cops and firefighters where to go without fear.

Paul Harvey's Easter Message

As a child, I remember my dad listening to Paul Harvey Saturdays at noon- and I don't know how many times I heard his Easter Message.  Paul Harvey has passed on, he died in 2009,  but his Easter Message lives on in the above video.  I hope you have a wonderful Easter- See you in church on Sunday.

THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS 

At the age of 33,
Jesus was condemned to the death penalty.

At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals condemned to be crucified. Yet it was Even more dreadful for Jesus, for unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion Jesus was nailed to the cross by His hands and feet, rather than tied...

Each nail  Was 6 to 8 inches long.

The nails Were driven into His wrist. Not  Into His palms as is commonly Portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that Extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew That when the nails were being hammered into the Wrist, that tendon would tear and Break, forcing Jesus to use His back  Muscles to support himself, so that He could breathe.

Both of His feet Were nailed together. Thus He was forced to Support Himself on the single nail that Impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could Not support himself with His legs for long because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His Back and using his legs just to continue to Breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the Suffering, the courage.

Jesus endured this Reality for over 3 hours. Yes,  Over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of Suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water From his wounds.

From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side...
But do we remember the many wounds Made to his body. A hammer Driving large nails through the wrists, the feet overlapped
And a nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. And...
Before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and Beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the Flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His Face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The Crown of thorns (two to three inch thorns) cut deeply into His scalp. Most men Would not have survived this torture.
He had no more blood To bleed out, only water poured from His Wounds. The Human adult body contains about 5 liters (just over a gallon) of blood.
Jesus poured all 5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His Body; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond That, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His Chest..
All these without Mentioning the humiliation He passed after carrying His own Cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his Face and threw stones (the cross beam was almost 30 kg of weight, to which His hands were nailed).
Jesus had to endure this experience, So that you may have free access to God.
So that your sins can be "washed" away.
All of them, with no exception!
Don't ignore this.
JESUS CHRIST DIED...FOR YOU!