A Bigger Problem

I'm sure that you all have heard about what happened today in Connecticut.  My heartfelt condolences go out to all the families of the victims.  I can honestly say that this is the worst tragedy in the history of America.  When you involve children in your victim list, you are by far the worst of the worst.  And make no mistake about it, if you have to use a gun to solve your problems, you're a coward.  I'm not talking about self defense from a crook threatening your family, I'm talking about you having a personal issue with someone and using a gun to end it as opposed to talking it out like a human being.  If you involve children in your issues, whether it's a mass murder or a custody battle, you're a coward, plain and simple.  To want to hurt a child, you're a special kind of coward.

Now I'll address one thing real quick because it won't take long.  Controlling guns is a good idea in theory, but the people that do the bad things with guns are criminals.  Criminals don't follow any laws, much less tighter gun laws.  I do believe in a better, more comprehensive check into who should be allowed to purchase a gun.  I think gun shows should be revamped so that not just any person can buy any gun at any time.  There should be some regulations.  If we have to take a test to get a driver's license, we should have something in place to be sure that the people buying guns are competent enough to use said gun.  I do believe in our right to bare arms, but I also believe in my right to survive life without a nutjob trying to hurt me.

Mental health, speaking of, is a big issue too.  Probably a bigger issue than gun laws.  Every kind of serial killer or mass murderer all have mental illness.  You have to have some kind of mental illness to want to hurt innocent children.  Where was this guy's family?  How did they not know that this guy would do these terrible things?  I mean, mental illness doesn't just sneak up on you.  There are warning signs.  How can the warning signs not be seen?  We have got to be vigilant in keeping tabs on our loved ones.  If you know that someone you love isn't right, say something.  Get them checked out.  I've seen people with mental illness, and been extremely close to some.  I ignored the signs.  Don't ignore them.

People are asking a lot of questions.  Why did this happen?  How could this happen?  What is happening to our country?  Look, I honestly don't know what to say at times.  I do know this.  God needs to be back in our lives.  Yeah, yeah, if God were here, He wouldn't allow this kind of thing to happen.  I know.  However, when you tell God to stay out, God is a gentleman.  He'll stay out.  You can't ignore God, then ask why He didn't help.  However, we also have to realize that Christians are pretty sinful as well.  We Christians really shouldn't be telling people what to do.  We fail miserably at times.  Ask Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart.  Point being, God in our lives can help a lot.

The big problem in our lives is sin.  Gun control laws and mental health screenings are nothing more than a band-aid.  We are a screwed up group of humans.  We don't even think twice about sharing dirty jokes, gossiping about other people, or having hateful words for people who sin differently than us.  Make no mistake about it, the guy who committed the senseless murders in Connecticut is a sick man who obviously didn't know how to deal with his issues with his mother.  However, we can't just make more laws.  We need to just do what God would like us to do.

God wants us to love Him, and love others.  It's not that hard.  We do that, I'm pretty sure we can be a better behaved set of people.

The Storm and How to Survive It

I've always been one to be thankful for whatever happens to me because it's happening to me.  I've always been one to just be able to accept the moment because I'm in it.  Today I got some pretty disappointing news.  I won't go into detail, but I'll just say that I didn't get what I was hoping for.  And you know, I'm okay with it.

I'm a firm believer in God's will.  I'm a firm believer that there is a reason for every, and there is no such thing as happenstance and coincidence.  I think about the news I got, and I think about why it didn't happen the way I wanted it.  Then I think again and realize that Christ is in control.

I also learned that when you ask for prayers and support, nine times out of ten, you get it.  I'm blessed to have the best friends and family in the world.  I had so much support and well wishes before the news came about.  I'm thankful for that.  I don't think I've ever thought about friendship and support until this past year.  It almost overwhelmed me how supportive my friends have been.

I often wonder how people can go without support from friends and family.  I wonder how people can go without faith in God.  You probably look at this story and wonder why God didn't just give me what I hoped for.  Sometimes, that's just too easy.  Sometimes, God has a special plan and He wants you to just trust Him.  I think I can do that better.  We all can.

The storm is a tough thing to go through.  However, a good umbrella for the storm is just support from friends and family and a faith in God.  It's good shelter.

Christmas

So, Christmas is upon us.  Now is the time to show good will towards men and display peace on earth.  Of course, that will never happen.  Mostly because of the idiots who think Christmas is an offensive word.  It's not a lot of people, but just enough to be annoying enough to get their way.  Since when did we back down from being who we are?  It's saddening.  What happened to telling people what you felt?

You people who are Atheists need to listen up.  It's Christmas time.  It means that when we tell you Merry Christmas, you say, "Same to you."  You don't come at me with your "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons' Greetings."  I don't want to hear that mess.  Get over yourselves.  I get it.  You don't believe that God exists and that all Christians are stupid, science-hating, Bible thumping morons.  However, you tend to forget all the good we do for pretty much anyone, whether they believe in God or not.  So when we wish you Merry Christmas, we really do wish that your Christmas is happy and that you realize that God is a good God and loves you plenty.  I know some of us Christians can make some bad choices and we can be our own worst enemy, but rest assured, we still want Jesus to be the reason for the season.

Yes I know, you Pagans love to throw in the fact that the whole gift giving, tree decorating thing was all you. Okay, cool.  You can have it.  Us Christians just made it a tad bit better.  Yes, I'm also aware that Jesus may or may not have been born in December and that the weather was probably vastly different in Israel than it is over here in America.  However, we're celebrating Jesus' birthday now because it's nice time to have it.  So, chill out.  Relax.

Alright, now I need to go off on mistletoe.  I kind of threw it out there on my Facebook status the other day, but it bears repeating.  If a person is willing to kiss a random person at the mere sight of a plant, you have to wonder what else they do with people they may or may not know.  I'd be a little weary about allowing someone access to me simply because I'm underneath a plant.  A plant that's poisonous, by the way.  I also have a problem with the ugly Christmas sweater.  Not the parties, those can be fun.  Just don't understand what possesses these knitters to think that the design they created was so neat.  There's just nothing attractive about a wool snowman on cotton snowflakes.

As we get ready for this Christmas season, I want to let you all know that I love you all and want you to be happy.  I pray that all your wishes come true.  I pray that God blesses you with whatever your heart desires. I thank you all for your support for this blog.  Your word of mouth and support has made this blog a pretty big deal.  Merry Christmas to you.  Never forget that Jesus is the reason.

The Love of Money...You Know the Rest

Alright first and foremost, I have to give props to the Kansas City Chiefs for their win against the Carolina Panthers.  It was a hard fought victory under dubious and extenuating circumstances.  However, I have to say that there was absolutely no reason whatsoever to play that game today.

If you're not aware, Jovan Belcher of the Chiefs tragically killed his girlfriend before driving to the Chiefs' practice facility, talking to his GM and coach, and taking his own life.  This was witnessed by the head coach and GM.  This all happened yesterday.  The NFL chose to have the game played despite all this.

Now I understand that the NFL is a business.  I understand that you have to kind of keep the show going for the people who paid their money for tickets, the sponsors, the networks, and whoever else is invested in the product.  I do think that they would have totally understood postponing the game to at least Monday or Tuesday just for the sake of the team.  For a coach to have to find a way to concentrate on a game like football after seeing one of his players take his life, I commend Romeo Crennel for having the ability to keep it together.  This game should not have happened.

I don't know how those players were able to play the way they played.  They only committed one penalty all game and didn't have a turnover.  To keep that kind of concentration in the wake of that tragedy is amazing.  And to think this is only their second win all season, just amazing.

But this game shouldn't have happened.  It's all about money with the NFL.  That's what it came down to.  There is no reason to play this game other than the want for money.  It's not a need, the NFL is run by billionaires, it's a want.  Make no mistake about it, moving the game wouldn't have done anything to their pockets, but it's a matter of getting as much money as soon as possible.  It's baffling that people are this greedy for money to put a team that went through that on the field.  Props to the the Chiefs for their ability to compartmentalize this situation and play football, but they really shouldn't have been asked to do such a thing.

Black Friday...

First of all, I pray you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I hope that you all that are reading this had a chance to truly reflect on how blessed you are.  A few of you may not be believers that God is the reason for your blessings, but for us that are right, we're thankful to a God who truly blesses.  However, I have a bit of an issue.

Just a little food for thought

Now, I'm not innocent in this.  I can show some pretty ungrateful and greedy tendencies at times.  However, I'm fairly annoyed by some of the behavior of people today.  We just sat around a table all happy and thankful.  We share good times with friends and family.  Talk about how we're in America, living free from tyranny and stuff like they do in other countries.  And then stores decide to have Black Friday sales.  Now, Black Friday extends to the afternoon of Thanksgiving.  Now, I'm not upset about stores doing this.  In this economy, businesses need to gain as much money as possible and Black Friday is usually the day they go from red to black.  I have no qualms with that.  I also have no issue with people getting into huge lines to shop for major deals.  

Yep yep

It's what I just posted in the picture.  People trampling, attacking, and doing everything possible to beat other people to these deals.  It's dragging your children that should be in bed to the store.  It's pushing elderly people all over the place to get that last blender or high definition television.  It's just acting like a complete and utter barbarian for stuff.  Stuff that just three weeks ago you said you couldn't afford because a particular man became president.  Oh yes, I went there.  I don't want to hear anyone who went out hunting deals and spending money complaining about how the economy is in shambles and they can't afford anything anymore.  

Like the previous picture, we're forgetting that there are people who will never get the opportunity have a Black Friday to go all crazy for.  There are kids in other places, and in America, that just can't afford to get even the simplest of pleasures.  And it's not the kids' fault, so we should do what we can to help them.  We need to stop this whole "gotta have everything" attitude and start having a "gotta help as many as possible" attitude.  

If you want to know what I'm most thankful for, it's simple.  I'm thankful for my God who saved me Hell.  It's my family who supports me no matter what.  It's my friends who always make me smile and laugh.  I got to hang out with a wonderful friend a couple of days ago.  It was such a blessing.  I'm sure I'll see some more friends.  I'll be just as grateful.  I can afford to eat, sleep, and live in a place because of my awesome occupations.  One day, we all will get this idea that people are more important than dang near killing each other for a sale that a couple weeks ago, we weren't even thinking about going to because we were in such a terrible spot because the Evil Democrat won the election again.

Yep, I said it.  

Hectic Hump Day

I haven't done one of these in a while.  I have to say that it feels good to just chill at home for a couple of days.  Pretty cool to have a couple days off from the fella.  I've spent most of those days just catching up on doing little to nothing.

One of the things I did was have a lunch/dinner at a place called Jerusalem Restaurant.  If you're in Roanoke, it's on Williamson Road, near the Shell Station across from Long John Silvers.  Their pizza is amazing.  I'd suggest anyone to get the Meat Lovers pizza.  They deliver, so don't worry about the whole going out to dinner thing.  Also, if you do want to go out to eat, don't let the interior fool you.  The booths are kind of ugly, but the food is pretty good.

I seem to have upset some people with yesterday's blog.  That's okay with me.  Mostly because I want to engage my readers in discussion about things.  I want to know what others are thinking when I post.  I don't want people blindly agreeing with me.  I'd rather have spirited discussion about things.  With that being said, let me just say that I stand by my opinion.  My opinion that there are a lot of people who discredit and disrespect the President because he's a man of color is backed with pretty decent evidence.  I've never seen a President get the amount of disrespect and bashing that President Obama gets in my life.  The fact that he's a black man isn't a coincidence.  I do believe that a lot of people disagree with his policies.  I believe that his ideals are polarizing.  However, we can't discount the fact that his ideas and policies have been on other politicians' agendas for years, yet only now are we calling the President "unconstitutional."  I'm just saying.

Apparently there's a new product out call the WaxVac.  It's supposed to vacuum out earwax and water from your earlobes.  The commercial showed the "dangers" of using a cotton swab in your ear.  The man screamed bloody murder.  Now look, I'm all for making products look a little better than they are for posterity's sake, but that's a little ridiculous.  I don't think a Q-Tip can cause that kind of injury.  Maybe if you put it in someone's eyeball.

If you live in Miami, I'm very sorry about your Marlins.  I'm very sorry that you are going to be paying tons of tax dollars towards building a stadium for a lousy team in it.  Also feel bad that they made you think they'd be good enough to justify the tax money.  It's kind of unfair.

Not sure when I'll be able to post again.  I have to report back to the fella tomorrow.  Till then...

This is Getting Out of Hand

By now, you all know that Barack Obama successfully was re-elected President of the United States.  Apparently, the hard feelings haven't subsided.  In fact, I'd say they've gotten pretty amped up.  It's sad, really.  The fact that there are 20+ states filing petitions for secession from the United States just baffles my mind.

I understand that President Obama was a terrible choice for all the Fox News/Republican contingent.  I even understand having some hard feelings towards the man for some of his policies.  However, to go through the process of actually trying to leave the greatest country in the world because of it?  That's a little extreme, don't you think?

Look, I'm all for freedom of speech.  I'm all for freedom of expression.  I'm totally against censorship.  However, how can someone want to leave?  How can someone hate a person in power so much that they want to start a petition to leave a country?  And I'll go ahead and say that all this secession talk is code for "we don't want to be run by a black man for another four years."  I know that's a hard nut to swallow, but racism and hatred are still prevalent in this country.  It's bordering on ridiculous.

Now, to any of you that are reading this and signed the petition, I have one thing to say.  Go ahead and leave the country.  It's obvious that you don't want to be the bigger person and accept your fate.  However, don't go to Canada.  They're more liberal than Obama.  Don't go to Mexico, the water is bad.  I'd move to Antarctica if I were you.  No wait, the penguins are black and white.  Don't want none of that mixing going on there.

Seriously though, this whole thought of secession is stupid.  Like I said in previous blog, it could be God's will that Obama is president.  Let go of this whole idea and just keep praying to God for him.  Give God the glory and just roll with this.  Don't try to leave.  Don't try to make a stink about being your own country.  And I don't care about how "peaceful" this petition is, you're being hateful.