I am a "Dangerous - Rightwing Extemist", maybe even a 'Terrorist'....

.....at least according to the Homeland Security report that came out just prior to the T.E.A. Parties which were held on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

(Really, who in their right mind would trust this face?)

Here's a brief description of what happened:

Tens of thousands of protesters staged "TEA parties" around the country Wednesday to tap into the collective angst stirred up by a bad economy, government spending, and bailouts.
The "Taxed Enough Already" (TEA) rallies were directed at President Barack Obama's new administration on a symbolic day: the deadline to file income taxes. The tea parties were promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who is now a lobbyist. Organizers said the movement developed organically through online social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and through exposure on Fox News.

According to the AFA (American Family Association), "Hundreds of thousands attended approximately 3,000 rallies."

I attended a rally along with my Pastor and a few friends from work and church on the corner of 11 Mile Rd. and Harper in St. Clair Shores. I wasn't sure what kind of turnout there would be, and the organizers of this particular event anticipated about 50 people. I did not take an actual headcount, but would say that there was at least 200 in attendance; all in unity on the issues (none looking like they were from extremely "rich" neighborhoods as reported by certain media). We had about a 99% positive response from passersby.

And, here's a taste of what went on locally in Michigan by others who attended rallies in the area:

At the GP War Memorial. 300-400 people. "A large group of us lined the streets with posters and flags. Cars honked as they drove by. 1500 cars came thru the parking lot dropping off $1 for envelope, stamp and tea bag that would be mailed to DC."

"I thought that I would drive into downtown Plymouth to grab a coffee for the ride back to SCS to make the tea party in my town. As I tried to find a parking place in Plymouth to grab my road java, I could not find a single parking place. Come to find out there was a massive tea party going on in downtown Plymouth. Somebody said over a thousand people, so I stayed and participated in a very uplifting pro American experience I have ever witnessed. Thaddeus McCotter(R) the Rep from that district gave a incredible speech, the band played God Bless America, we recited the Pledge of Allegiance. And yes, Channel 2 had news truck there, they even broadcast some video on the 10PM news."

In Lansing, Michigan, outside the state Capitol, another 4,000 people (reported by OneNewsNow.com)

These people all sound pretty "dangerous" to me!

As usual, there was either no news reporting at all on the event, or it was so blatenly negative that you wouldn't even know we all lived in the same country!

It was reported by Fox News the day after the event that a Whitehouse spokesperson, when asked for the President's response, stated "President Obama is not aware of any TEA Parties."

One particular report stood out to me,(and this just a sample of the many others out there):

CNN correspondent Susan Roesgen was interviewing a Chicago TEA party ("Taxed Enough Already") participant when she evidently did not approve of what he was saying about President Obama's tax policies, talked over him as he responded to her question, and began to editorialize.
Roesgen: "I think you get the general tenor of this [rally]. It's anti-government, anti-CNN -- since this is highly promoted by the right-wing conservative network Fox. And since I can't really hear much more -- and I think this is not really family viewing -- I'll toss it back to you, Kyra." (I bolded the statements that stood out to me as a 'slap in the face' to all participants)

Below is a link to view a copy of the report put out by the DHS:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=490506

So, if you are for lower taxes and less spending, opposed to abortion, illegal immigration, homosexual marriage, a returning veteran from Iraq, and a host of other issues, your government considers you a potentional terrorist!

(Oh, just for the record, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano apologized to the Veterans!)

YOU WILL SEE ME AT FUTURE PROTESTS! Won't you join me?

Calling all Bloggers...............Help!

A lot of people think I know a lot about computers,

and for the most part, I can hold my own;

but I am finding myself Blogspot challenged these past

few months. I see all these great backgrounds, and

videos on other sites, and I can't seem to get past an

error screen after copying background codes or

trying to download new backgrounds. I did find on

one site that their code would not work with

Internet Explorer, so does everyone but me have Firefox,

or is there some other way around it?

And video is another story!

Anyone up to the challenge of walking me through the process?

A Current-Day Tea Party - Will it make a difference?

I found myself wondering this morning if getting involved in the April 15th (tomorrow) T.E.A. Party (Taxed Enough Already) would really make a difference.
Then, a well-known quote came to mind:
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke). That thought was followed by, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," (Santayana's Aphorism on Repetitive Consequences)

Here's a brief review, for those who - like me - need a refresher:

The Boston Tea Party was the culmination of a long period of stress between England and the Colonies over taxation, and was a key event in the growth of the American Revolution (aka The American War of Independence). It was held in December, 1773, when about sixty men, disguised as Indians, boarded two vessels laden with tea, tore open the hatches, and threw 340 chests overboard, as a protest against the levy of taxes without the consent of the people. This ultimately resulted in the Declaration of Independence and the reshaping of our nation.

The deciding factor for me was God's Word for the day from

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

So, I will be there. Even if it is just to stand off to the side and pray. What about you?

For more information about this nationwide event, go to: http://www.teapartyday.com/

Easter Blessings!

Blessing #1
Chris, Kaylah and Gracie join

us at church for Easter Service Blessing #2

Daddy's and Daughters

hanging out at Aunt Tina's

Blessing #3

A phone call from Mike

& Samie, and picture of

their Easter spread

(Summer's 1st Easter, but she couldn't wait for the feast!)

Blessing #4

Kherington's 1st Easter too!

Girl's Night out to see "Riverdance" at the Fox

It was my Mom's Birthday on March 24th, so I wanted to find something that she would like. What better gift than a night out with her favorite girls? :)

Riverdance - On a stage bathed in the blues and greens of the Irish sea, in a Celtic-looking, rock-like setting worthy of Stonehenge, a thunderous battalion of Irish step dancers, furious fiddlers, and sonorous voices tell a story of ancient Celtic mythology and Irish history.

The first Act speaks of a primitive and powerful world, where the ancestors knew fear and joy and fire, worked wood and stone and water to make a place they could call home. The first peoples knew the world as a place of power; their songs and dances and stories are negotiations with elemental powers.

In Act 2, war, famine and slavery shattered the ancient bonds between people and place. Forced dislocations marked and altered the histories of the native peoples. As they came into history, they learned to guard what they valued, to accomodate themselves to others, to learn new ways of being themselves, to embrace new kinds of courage. Cast out and momentarily orphaned, they learned to belong to the world.

The only sad thing, in my opinion, is that God doesn't seem to be anywhere in the mix (in Riverdance I mean, not Irish history). Just a thought......

Haggadah

I was invited last night to a Seder

where the story of Passover was told.

They had a Seder plate in the middle of each table,

along with a whisk to remove the leaven (sin),

a candle, the Matzoh, the bowl for washing the hands,

and the 4 cups (Sanctification, Deliverance, Redemption & Praise).

The Passover Seder Plate Hebrew: ke'ara (קערה) is

a special plate containing symbolic foods used by

Jews during the Passover Seder.

Each of the six items arranged on the plate

has special significance to the retelling of the story

of the exodus from Egypt, which is the focus of this ritual meal.

The ceremony lasted for about an hour and a half

and ended with a celebration dance.

I have always been interested in learning

of Old Testament practice relating to the coming

of the Messiah, and considered it a blessing

to be at this Christian held event.

Did you know that when each man took a lamb

for his family, that they had to keep it among

themselves (in the house, with the family)

for 4 days before they would sacrifice it?

And, did you know that

when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey,

He was there 4 days before He was crucified?

JESUS - The Lamb of God!

Amen

The Toddler Class

Since we only had two kids last Sunday,

we had a little extra time for...............

.........Worship - 2 yr-old style!

Of course, we did the lesson too! (see, here's proof!)

We even had a special "pop-in" visit!

I love those kids!

Stepping out in faith

What does it mean?

God assigns the task - THEN He equips us.

It's the difference between: "If the Lord would give me wings, I would fly", and "If God bids me fly, I will trust Him for the wings".

One of my favorite scenes in the film 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' is when Indian Jones is standing at the edge of deep, deep valley that seems to plunge down forever. On the other side of this valley is The Holy Grail - just what Indiana has spent his life searching for. But there appears no way across the valley. What can he do? Luckily for Mr Jones he has a parchment he can consult. On the parchment it shows an old faded drawing of a man seemingly walking on air. This must be a leap of faith, says Indiana. So he steps out into what seems like fresh air and finds a bridge waiting for him, and within a couple of steps the Holy Grail is in reach.

If God has given you a task or a special work that seems scary to do, it is your responsibility to step out and do it, and His to see you through.

When we sing: "Where You go, I go; what You say, I say; what you pray, I pray, God"... do we really mean it?

His word to us is: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go". (Josh. 1:9)

(a paraphrase from Richard De Haan in Our Daily Bread)