Jason E. Fort's Blog, page 9

Stealing Your Heart

Exodus 20: 15You shall not steal.That's pretty black and white, no pun intended in reference to the image of the word above. But God was about as straight forward with that commandment as He could be. And the commandment that I posted about last week is directly related to stealing.If I want something that doesn't belong to me, I covet. And if I decide to take that which I want that doesn't belong to me, I steal. Pretty simple concept.So why do we do it?Folks of all races, religions, cultures - they all know it's wrong. Even little kids learn from an early age that it is not the right thing to do. And yet at some point we do it.We can be guilty of stealing all sorts of things. Of course criminals are most notorious for stealing objects of value, such as jewelry, cars, weapons, and money. But artists and innovators can be guilty of stealing ideas. Jealous competitors can steal opportunity. Computer hackers steal access. Human traffickers steal lives. And most importantly, the Devil steals hearts.Yet if I can prevent that last one, the others don't happen. Now don't get me wrong; Satan is a powerful adversary. I am not about to say just anyone can take him on, or that anyone can resist him. Although I think a select few can, I know that if we ask God to help us, any one of us can prevent Satan from stealing our hearts. But you see, if we give into the temptation to steal, or take, what doesn't belong to us, we have basically given control of our hearts over to the Devil himself. After all, isn't taking what isn't mine one of the ultimate examples of selfishness? And who better reflects selfishness than Satan?Going back to what I was saying about coveting in my last post, I think stealing that which doesn't belong to us has led to several of the other problems we have in this world. First of all, theft of valuables is probably one of the most common offenses that land criminals into real jail time. Plagiarism and people taking credit for someone else's work, politicians jealous of other politicians' power or influence, and computer hackers have led to some of the most dangerous or volatile situations in society today.  And all of these things have come about because an individual or individuals have given in to Satan and his temptations, and therefore given him control. But in order to fight Satan's urge for you to take something that doesn't belong, we must first ask God to help us not be tempted by what we wanted in the first place. Can you see how the two go hand in hand - coveting and stealing?Another way to not want the wrong things, or other people's property, or luxuries, is to not place ourselves in the position where we are more likely to want such things. We can also avoid hanging out with those who may influence us to make poor decisions and try to take things that don't belong to us. But when you get right down to it, it comes back to your heart, and who is in control. If any one of us lets the Devil take control, it is that much easier to do what isn't right. And I think most of us can see, falling further into this selfish sin isn't good for anyone.What about in your own personal life? Are there things you 'steal'? Are there moments when you have given into taking that item or thing, or idea, that belonged to someone else? What did you do about it after it happened? How old were you? Did you get caught? If you have a story to tell, I'd love to hear from you. Perhaps I will tell you one of mine.And when you were caught, did you tell the whole truth about what happened, or why you did what you did? Often times, telling a lie is done simply to try to avoid getting caught, or admitting wrong-doing. A little more on that, next time.

Thou Shalt NOT Covet

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”Exodus 20:17 tells us we shouldn't want what doesn't belong to us; that we shouldn't want to have something someone else has.Yet I see the really sharp looking, fully accessorized pickup truck pictured above...let me go ahead and tell you - I am guilty of some coveting.Think about the diversity of people you know. Think about all the things they own. It is at least understandable, even if you are a person who has always been of simple means and never looked for extravagance, to realize why one person might be tempted to take possession or just have temporary ownership of someone else's stuff. If this were not true, then why in the world would we ever have the old adage of "Keeping up with the Joneses?"Call me crazy, but I have a feeling the good Lord knew what He was doing when He commanded us not to do this. Perhaps He knew all the different problems we would run into by wanting to have what other people have. From politics, to spirituality, to our own self-esteem, there is a wide gambit of aspects of our lives that can be effected by the mere act of coveting.Haven't wars been started because one person or particular group of people wanted something that another person or group of people had in their possession? Let me throw a few examples of things at you that may or may not have been fought over: gold...treasure...oil...money...weapons...territory............women? As a matter of fact, you may be surprised at what you will find in the history books or internet archives relating to reasons countries or clans have gone to war.Want more politics? How about entitlement, and anything related to it? Sure, there are certain things that even Thomas Jefferson stated were unalienable rights that all members of mankind SHOULD have...Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness. But notice, he did not say...the same stuff your neighbor has. Yet if you see how divided we are on social issues in this country, and how certain people think this group deserves this, and that group deserves that...and this group needs to pay more to help make up the shortcomings of the other groups, etc., you would think everyone is owed so much more than the cards they're dealt, a if LIFE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FAIR?Funny - I don't remember life ever being that way. I think some folks are missing a valuable lesson here.Wait a minute; what did Jefferson say again? We should all have the right to LIFE (hmmm, those unborn babies - they don't get much say in the matter do they), Liberty (freedom from being controlled), and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS (not a guarantee that you will have happiness). This does not mean we should all be able to afford the same things. This does not mean we should all be paid the same thing, no matter what service we provide... life doesn't work that way. We should all be able to have our own impact on trying to make some of these things happen - but it is not owed to us. I think this is lost on many of the minds in our country.What about our spirituality? Though I may not have as specific of an example, what about from a broad perspective? If we are constantly concerned with this group of people getting to do this, and this other group getting to do that - will we not lose sight of what really makes us content in the first place? And of course, depending on your beliefs of the human spirit, and perhaps the afterlife - that may effect who you think needs contentment in the first place. You? Or others?What about our own self-esteem? What makes me happy in the first place? If I am suddenly concerned about what someone else has, what does that have to do with me? What if someone looks the way I want to look? Is it healthy for me to want to look like that guy? What about someone else's skills? What if I want to be able to do that particular skill as well as that guy? (For example, I sure wish I could draw as effortlessly and skillfully as my book illustrator). If I become too obsessive with this fascination and focus on what other people have; what other people can do; what other people look like - couldn't that impact my own opinion of myself?I don't have all the answers, but I wanted to bring this up so people might think about this command from God. Did He know what He was doing? Did He know how we would act anyway? Of course we could get further into the theology - but before we go and dwell too much on what someone else has, shouldn't we count our blessings and what we ourselves have...maybe not worry so much about the other folks?

Nothing in the World like Family

Ain't nothin' in the world like family - isn't that how the saying goes?I just finished a novel written by a fellow Christian author, and his story really focused on the importance of family. I have always considered myself to be a family man, and I owe it to my own family and the way I was raised for being that way. But Randy Tramp's story, Night to Knight, really put into perspective how without family, we become incomplete individuals. It's not that we should depend on our family for happiness; it's that when we are united with family, and I mean in unity with one another, we can be a more fulfilled individual. If you help meet the needs of those in your family, it will also be fulfilling for you. I personally think my wife understands this more than the average human being is capable, and this book helped me realize that I have, without intention, taken that for granted.Let's go back to Randy's novel for a second. In the book, there is a man who is conflicted between wanting to help other people's families unite, and putting efforts into meeting the needs of his own family. It is a constant struggle with the character, Mark Steel. Without giving too much away, Steel has to come to a point where he has to choose which part of his life he needs to keep the focus. Although I have never been in quite the predicament Randy's character faces, I am sure we can all relate. And the funny thing is, we can probably often times justify why it is so important for our family's needs indirectly that we accomplish the more personally-driven, selfish task.For example, I know that every time I have completed a novel, and realize its potential sales could benefit my family one day, I use the excuse of taking time to write in the next writing project to perhaps skip out on potential leisure time with my wife or son, occasionally even when they ask me to join them. I justify the action by saying simply, "I would Honey, but I need to write."And yet, it is so much more fulfilling when I spend that time with my little family, and my wife tells me afterwards what a good day she had, or thanks me for spending my day with her and our son, Jay.Now I will go back to my wife, and how she seems to get this so much better than I do. Ever since we got married, she has gone out of her way to do nice things for me, or fun things with our son. Totally unannounced, she has offered to cook this meal or that meal; offered to take Jay to spend money on this necessity or that; or out of the blue ask if there was anything I needed. This is who she is - but why? I honestly think because it is just that rewarding for her...not because she gets something back, but because that is who she is. This goes well beyond us humans for her. She adopted our first two dogs, and developed an affinity for animals. This caused her to want to help other dogs, and she fostered neglected or abused animals. Of course, what happened from there? Well, our little family expanded, and we adopted two of those fostered dogs. So now the people in our house are outnumbered by the canines! While this can be a laughable situation, I think it is a true reflection of my wife's heart.But this is not a foreign concept. If you've ever helped someone who wasn't even in your family, it probably felt better to you afterward than it did to the person you helped. This is not something to boost your ego or make you feel better...this is just an intrinsically rewarding experience. I truly believe God designed us this way. I have experienced this when I used to teach small kids. I have felt this when helping someone in law enforcement. And I have definitely felt this way when I did something nice for a member of my family.So why can't I do this as naturally as my wife, if I know how it feels everytime?Well, other than chalking it up to my shortcomings, I daresay that we all falter at some point, for a myriad of reasons - selfish or not. But isn't it good to realize it, and maybe strive to do better?What about the giant heart my wife forced to be contagious for our newly adopted dogs? I was the one in the family, for whatever reason, who thought two little dogs was plenty; why did we need to increase the size of the family anymore? Yet since we took the two other animals in, and their sweet personalities impacted me, the heart somehow found room to grow.Hang on - isn't this a Godly principle? Doesn't God want us to rejoice in the growth of family? It seems there is the whole baptism into the family of God for believers-thing, or am I mistaken?What if we could somehow shake off our habits? What if each and every person with a conscience listened to that conscience, and that voice that is telling us to say something about God to someone in the hopes of expanding His family? When we get right down to it, that is how important family is.Even gang members and the mafia understand the importance of family. God did not create us to be alone; to face this world alone.Never forget the importance of family...if you or someone you know doesn't have family, start a new one...but you can always join one - the family of God.---Now the real question - how do we get a new family photo now that the animals outnumber the people in the household (Our latest addition, Gracie, is not in the picture above)?

All the Untold Stories

My son and I just visited Washington, D.C. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the emotional impact the trip had on me, especially after seeing all the various monuments and memorials that display representatives of all the untold stories.The picture above is the perfect example. If you follow some of the gravestones around some of the trees, you can see that they spread out almost as far as the eye can see. Each one of those gravestones represents someone I never met; someone I never knew; yet they lived a life that was worthy of remembering them in America's most sacred shrine to remember those that have passed away. And there are so many, I couldn't begin to count them. And yet, in D.C., Arlington was not the only such place.We visited the Vietnam War Memorial wall, on the outskirts of the National Mall. As you walk down past the memorial wall, the column of names gets taller, and taller, until you are walking past a section of wall that is taller than any man. And on this wall, there are names of individuals. All these individuals, whether they went along with the war voluntarily or not, gave their lives for actions that our national government deemed worthy enough to pursue. These men and women died away from family back home, and of course far away from the millions of Americans back home. And each and every one of those names represents a story...an untold story, that really only God knows completely.And as I sit here and type, my eyes fill with tears as I remember visiting the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. This one hit home to me, even though the memorial itself is built of very humble design, blending into the urban landscape of Judiciary Square in the heart of Washington, D.C. On the outer border of the Memorial are two walls beside each sidewalk. Each sidewalk is guarded at each end by statues of lions, under which there are words of tribute for those police officers who have died in the line of duty. Although the walls along the sidewalks are only perhaps four and a half feet high, they stretch the entire length of the curved sidewalks, and names fill the space in between, from the sidewalk to the top of the wall...thousands of names. Since I work in law enforcement myself, it hit me that the potential of someone close to me, or my own name, could be on that wall, and it made me appreciate those names even more. And yet I have strategically chosen a path in my law enforcement profession that lessens the odds of having to face a day where my own untold story would be represented - on a wall. I was reminded of Officer Allen Jacobs, of my own hometown of Greenville City Police Department, and how he was shot to death, and yet there were too many names on the wall for me to find him.It seemed each and every memorial in DC that we visited, name upon name upon name, represented an untold story that I yearned to hear, even though my heart probably wouldn't be able to take exposure to that much heroism at one time. But someone thought it important enough to pay tribute in memoriam. And for that I am thankful.So why did I want to write about this experience? Why is this experience any different than so many others who have visited these sacred places?I think many others have shared the same emotional reaction to such places as I...but something occurred to me as we made our long way home via interstate and backroads.Everyone knows about monuments in our nation's capitol, and everyone knows the stories of George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson, and the basic history of World War Two. Those stories have all been told, and told often. And I was in awe of such memorials.Yet the biggest impact on me personally on the whole trip, the memorials that hit me deep in the heart, where nobody else can see; where emotions bubble forth that I seem to be unable to control sometimes -the memorials that I will remember the most, for the rest of my life, are those monuments raised that are filled with anonymous gravestones, and named gravestones, and walls covered with names.And each name or stone represents thousands and thousands of untold stories. We may never know but one or a few, a tiny fraction of the stories behind those names and gravestones. But God knows their stories - and although peace was not what ended most of their stories here on Earth, I pray God helped their stories, somehow, some way - each and every last one of them, find peace in the end.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

In the Bible, Matthew 5:9 reads, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God"...or in more modern translation, 'children of God'. I wanted to take a moment to help some people understand just a few possible reasons why peacemakers, protectors, conflict resolutionists, etc... why they might be considered 'blessed' in what they do.Now, right off the bat, I know why some detractors of law enforcement would shrug their shoulders at that verse as it relates to the professional law enforcement officer. I know that some people out there, of the very pacifist side (and I am not saying there is something wrong with being a pacifist), will question what, if anything, is peaceful about a man or woman having to carry a gun on their hip. I understand their point of view - but if we all shared that point of view, we'd have no police officers, and people who want to hurt other people will have no consequences for their actions, and they won't have anyone to stop them from hurting others. So, while it may not be something we like to talk about or consider, a pacifist's opinion in this matter may or may not be a little skewed.However, I also know there are those out there who just think police officers do what they do because they get their jollies from being in charge, or in control. They think cops just enjoy pushing others around because they think the badge on their chest or the patch on their shoulder gives them a free pass to do so. While there are some officers out there who seem to have this mentality, I am here to tell you, they are the minority. And if you are one of the unfortunate folks out there who have had nothing but negative encounters with the police, then I think you need to evaluate two things: 1)What are your thoughts on obligation to follow the law? 2)Who are you hanging out with every day?And then of course there are those numerous people out there who fully support law enforcement and security for what they do, but perhaps they haven't taken a hard look at how Matthew 5:9 applies to them.Can each and every one of us be peacemakers? Absolutely...but just like I think all of us are teachers to someone at one point or another in our life, and there are different levels of teaching - I think there are different levels of being a peacemaker as well. But I will not discount that first small point; all of us can be peacemakers.If you ever broke up a fight between siblings, you were a peacemaker. If you ever stood up for a friend against bullies, you were a peacemaker. If you helped two people see different sides to an argument, you were a peacemaker in that moment. If you have ever felt bad about harming or letting down another individual, but you apologized and made up the actions to the hurt individual, you were acting as a peacemaker. And if you've ever been a part of those situations and helped it come to a peaceful conclusion - you were blessed by the sense of peace itself.But let's take a look at the other facets of being a peacemaker. And we can start with law and order.What would happen to society if we did not have laws? In a word - chaos. Anarchy; people would govern themselves, and if you understand the Bible, people just being trusted to govern themselves eventually leads to selfish actions by one person or another, which inevitably will become evil actions at one point or another; history proves this eventuality. So we have laws in place in each community, and those laws provide a structure and framework to help maintain order in the society. Now, see the book of Genesis in the Bible for what happens if we trust people to just do what is right on their own; let's breeze on forward past Sodom and Gomorrah, Noah's flood, the Tower of Babel; the Middle Ages, and so on; enter, stage right...the law enforcement officer. Someone has to exist to enforce the law; to make sure people are following those laws. This enforcement can be done through deterrence, through presence, and through direction. However, for those who refuse to follow the law, the enforcers of that law can detain, issue financial penalties and summons to court, arrest and deny some liberties, and in extreme situations - kill in order to stop or prevent the worst evil from happening. As one can imagine, officers around the world can see things resolved in the most positive ways, or the worst ways imaginable. Yet once a resolution has happened, you can bet that most officers, if they are wired the least bit like me, can find some peace - if the people they thought they were helping found peace as well. I am not talking about some peace brought about by self-righteousness, though that can happen. But I am talking about a deep satisfaction that the person who needed them most, at that particular time, found peace...or found an answer.While most who would never consider this position in life would doubt the sanity of those individuals that do, there is something to be said for when gratitude is sent in the direction of an officer, deputy, agent, etc. who helps solve citizens' conflicts. One may even consider that a form of...blessing.There are different levels of peacemaking if you ask me. I think officers or protectors from all backgrounds face a variety of opportunities to peacefully resolve conflict, or bring an eventuality of peace, despite very dangerous or violent surroundings or circumstances. I instruct people every day on the importance of verbal de-escalation. I stress that the goal to resolve a conflict for everyone should be that nobody has to put hands on anyone. But I also point out that unfortunately, the no-hands-on approach will not always come to fruition. The reality that there are simply some evil people in this world who want to harm others becomes very evident to those who work in law enforcement. This is a reality that the average citizen doesn't want to admit. This truth is unsettling to most outside of the fields of law enforcement and security. Yet someone has to face it. I am a firm believer that true blessings to a person, blessings from God, are intangible. And I think that as warped as it sounds, those of us that wish to help others feel safe, feel blessed for the opportunity to do so. So yes, I can speak for most protectors I know when I say, if possible, I would prefer to find a peaceful solution every time without having to resort to force of any kind. But when evil presents itself, no matter what form, someone has to either stop it, or let evil have its way. There's no middle ground when it comes to evil.But do you know where the real blessings can come, for a peace officer; an officer of the law; a sheriff's deputy; a federal agent; a Narc; a Secret Service Agent? I guarantee you that the greatest blessing for any officer who is worth his or her salt is the sheer number of lives, throughout their career, on which they know they had a positive impact. That in and of itself can bring peace to one's soul. And it's not so much because we feel like we are good people for doing so, but because we feel like it is exactly what we were wired to do. It's probably worth a whole other blog post, and I probably have an old one somewhere in the internet - but I have always viewed law enforcement and security as a calling. If you're just looking for a paycheck, you might want to check your priorities.Now let's go back to the role of the average person to be a peacemaker. You might not get to save someone's life. You might not get to train others in ways to handle volatile situations. You may not be in charge of protecting this client or that client. But if your goal in every encounter with other people is to have a peaceful encounter, and you make that shine through in the way you treat others every day, you are also a peacemaker. What if each and every one of us put effort in this, every single day. Can you imagine how much more peaceful the world would be? So if you read all this, I have a challenge for you. If you want to experience some of God's blessings, ask yourself this every time you're about to speak to someone, whether you know them or not. What can I say to this person to let them see that I am peaceful? Maybe then, you, too, can be one of the blessed peacemakers.But the secret to peace for your soul, especially as it relates to eternity? Well, that's another story-

Evil Escalates, Until It's Outmatched, or Stopped Outright

I thought I'd start this post with the cover of my first novel, because the main character of my first book illustrates just how evil naturally escalates. Of course he is the extreme version...but in many ways, evil can get to the extreme point of killing multiple victims from the tiniest evidence of its presence. Working in law enforcement, one gets to see and hear, and in some cases, stop such escalation. My main character in my first book, starts out as a special forces operator. His death dealing doesn't start, though, until his family is killed, and he seeks vengeance. Vengeance belongs to God - not us. If we take vengeance, it is evil. And my character not only escalates his behavior, but he takes more and more risks. He pushes the envelope as revenge takes a hold of his every thought...even into his prayers. One can imagine how unhappy that would actually make God.Yet this is how evil works. Let's take a basic look at domestic violence between a divorced couple. At first, the disgruntled husband may have trouble letting go of his ex, so he may start to call her house, but just hang up when his ex-wife answers. At first, it may seem like nothing, but after some repetition in the behavior, the ex-wife becomes afraid. In many of these cases, because the ex-husband got away with the first line of offenses, he begins to call and leave harassing messages. If he catches her on the phone, he may say some disturbing things that cause either more fear, or anger. Many times, if law enforcement does not get involved, the ex-husband becomes even bolder. He may start to follow his ex. He may purposely make himself seen at random times, in awkward places, just to make his ex feel uncomfortable; to the point that she feels like she can't control it or him. As he increases his nerve, he may even confront his ex. Many times this is were violence occurs. Police almost always end up being involved if the first time isn't deadly, but there is enough evidence to prove the wife was harmed. Of course there are exceptions...but in most cases, if this type of incident happens twice, but the wife moves on with minor injuries the first couple of times, this emboldens the abusive husband or ex-husband even more. Unless something happens to completely remove the woman from the situation, such as she skips town and loses all touch with the ex, these situations typically end one way: Either the abuser escalates things to the point that it forces a life or death showdown with police, the abuser kills his victim, or both. Now I know nobody wants to hear about these situations, but they are very real - and if it has started happening to anyone out there - TAKE ACTION. There is an inevitable course of events unless that evil is outmatched, or stopped outright.Let's look at this with a different common scenario; school bullying. A girl gets cut from the cheerleading squad. Because she was unique from the clique of girls that fit the mold for the select cheerleading group, one or more of the girls, for whatever reason, send little messages to the girl. Let's say the girl tries to ignore these messages at first, so the 'mean girls' send more vulgar messages, or try to do subtle things to put the bullied girl in the spotlight. Perhaps this girl doesn't have many friends and is an introvert, and hides in a shell and isolates herself because she doesn't know how to handle or respond to this abuse. The timidity shown by the girl who didn't make the squad emboldens those doing the evil actions. They start to say intentionally hurtful things; it becomes a competition amongst the bullies, who can make the girl feel worst. Next thing you know, one day, the poor introverted girl takes her own life at a tender age, because of the evil actions taken by others.Serial killers; look at all the serial killers on record. There is blatant evidence that each killer started with perhaps killing just one person. If they never get caught for that one murder, and they are contemplating doing it again, the second murder comes easier to them. Finally, you have a killer on the loose, who feels so confident because he hides in plain sight, and takes his victims unaware. His methods become more violent many times when they feel like they will be caught soon. Or, in some sick way, they begin to feel some warped sense of remorse, so they almost want to get caught. This escalation to evil has always existed. Take a look at the book of Job. How did Satan attack Job? He kept raising the stakes with God at the expense of Job. Why? Well, in Satan's case, it's because he was allowed to. There could be a whole separate theological discussion as to why God allowed this...but Satan escalated because he was not stopped - and God chose, for that particular sequence of events, not to overmatch him.See, I think we are coming to a point where too many people are doing things to embolden evil. Look at radical Islamic terrorism. Look - the peacefulness of the actual religion of Islam can be debated all day long...but the intentions and the ACTIONS of terrorists that practice a RADICAL religion, which happens to be based on actual teachings contained in the history of Islam, are undeniable. Yet people, to this day, are still playing the 'you're just going to upset them' card by talking about it? This is sheer idiocy. This is worse than the undeniable evidence to a spouse that her husband or ex is going to kill her, because the abuser has a psycholigical advantage. But here, in good ol' USA, we are out of excuses. Read this carefully, as I will type it slow. YOU ARE EMBOLDENING THE TERRORISTS!Guess what happens when an attacker enounters a timid individual who shuns away from their presence in fear; who shrinks down away from the threat? The attacker POUNCES; they dominate; they become relentless. This is what Americans who want to play nice with desperately evil people are doing, with their false words of coddling...you're shrinking away from the problem. You understand what happened the last time we did that, right? Heard of the USS Cole? 9/11/2001 (of course some will debate that one)? Benghazi? I teach folks in self defense classes, and even in de-escalation classes to deal with behavioral patients - if you encounter someone who wants to hurt you, you have to be assertive! The only way to handle violence, once present, is to either escape it (which just makes them want to come again), or stop it!Why am I saying all this, you may ask? Because I am sick of it; I have been wired my whole life to be aware of things when they are about to go south. Have I been wrong on occasion? Sure - but sometimes, the evidence is so compelling, that you just have no excuse. Does this sound like I am talking down to some folks? You betcha - because if a football coach sees his player getting smoked by the same player, the same way, over and over again, eventually he has to put his foot down. Grow a pair America. Stop coddling these yahoos in Iraq, and Syria, and Yemen, and Iran, and any of the countries where the more intelligent community has actually realized the threat. Show these cowards that they're overmatched, and stop them outright!

When What We Knew as Right was Right

There was a time, when I was growing up, when what we knew as the right way of things was just known to be the right way. There was a time when our nation valued what was right. Those values were instilled by the Judeo-Christian ideals found in the history of both the Jewish and Christian religious systems. Those ideals were supported by an omnipotent God, who gave us the Ten Commandments, which stated such straight forward commands, that even kids in elementary school could understand them. Yet somehow, we have found ways to justify breaking not just these commandments, but pretty much everything else viewed sacred at one point or another by most religions of the world.So how did this happen?Looking back, there was a time when police officers were some of the most revered, respected, safest people to look up to. Granted, I did not grow up in intercity Chicago, but when I was a kid, we had Officer Friendly. A police officer would visit our elementary school, come into various classes each week, and talk to kids about crime prevention, stranger danger (at my school, it was House-Wise, Street Wise), and saying NO to drugs. My mom and dad both told me when we were in crowded places, "Son, if you get lost and see a police officer, walk up to him and tell him you can't find your parents." Police officers on TV were some of the coolest chracters to watch, and I remember how cool I thought it would be to wear some kind of badge of honor one day, and help people feel safe. As I got older, I realized if a police officer pulled you over because you were speeding, you did what they asked, and there seemed to be no problems. As a college student, it didn't take me long, through the handy skills of observation, to see that if you provided resistence to what officers told you to do, there were consequences - usually involving those shiny bracelets. This was enough for me to understand all the various reasons police officers were there, and what law enforcement meant. But times, they have changed!Now, I know there is a large number of people that still show support and trust in the direction of law enforcement, but I would say because some bad apples tried their hand at treating people differently from the way officers are supposed to treat people, such as in the case of Rodney King, many police officers have earned a bad rap because of more and more of the bad guys gaining access to guns through illegal means. Criminals became more emboldened over the years, putting more and more officers in danger, forcing officers to think quicker on their feet, and resisting arrest more often because of the thought of being able to get away with their crimes; especially if they had a means to fight the cops. The cops were still seen as the good guys for the most part, with an admitted understanding that corruption did exist, until a certain wing of the media and a certain Administration took over, and for a long while - cops were suddenly the bad guys. The change was obvious. I wasn't a police officer back then, and I still noticed it. And because of the direction of my life choices, I found myself in law enforcement, and it was all the more evident. And the ideas I had of police officers when I was a kid were not being shared by many in the public, and the news showed people like me, and people I worked with, as always being the guys in the wrong. My, how the times have changed. But will it stop there?I don't think so; not by a long shot.Not only has it become common place to resist the authorities who are charged with ENFORCING our laws, but people are actually trying to buck the NATURAL law and order of things. Case and point: the Transgender IDEOLOGY!I remember when the whole concept of cross-dressing was a big joke. There was some Dustin Hoffman movie, where he dressed as a woman. He was praised for his role because of his ability to ACT like a woman. But it was a comedy...he was ACTING. Yet now we are just supposed to be ok with men wanting to use women's restrooms, because they wear women's clothes and it makes them feel better about themselves?This will offend some people, but at this point, I don't care; politics matter not when it comes to the right way and wrong way of things. We've known, as a society, going way back through history, that people are born as either A) a boy, or B) a girl. Now, if you want to argue with me about genetics, and things on a cellular level - well, I'm not that guy, so don't bother. I dwell in the realm of common sense. And what used to be common sense tells me that if you were born with a certain necessary body part or without said body part - THAT WAS HOW GOD MADE YOU. Now, if you're an atheist, fine - ignore me for the next little bit, especially if you need a safe space. But if you claim to be a Christian, than you should understand that God doesn't make mistakes. Yet the entire Transgender movement fights for blanket ACCEPTANCE of their thinking? I am sorry, but my God will not let me accept this thinking. If that is how THEY feel - fine. I will not judge; but I will also not condone or support it. There is a big difference between wanting people to accept you for who you are, and forcing people to accept something that to them is morally wrong as fact...and forcing them to agree with you. The irony is anything related to this issue is that the preaching of TOLERANCE is INTOLERANT with anyone who disagrees with their point of view.That could be another topic altogether...and out of respect for some friends who are professed homosexuals, I won't even touch the topic of marriage in this one (See The Bible).But wait; there's more.What about what society deems acceptable on television and movies for certain viewers, of certain ages? I can think back to when I was a kid, and material in a Hardees commercial today would've forced a movie with the same scene back in the day to be at a minimum, rated PG-13. Remember the movie 'Six Pack' with Kenny Rogers? When I was little, that was a movie my mother was hesitant to let me watch...man, times they have changed!What about network TV; news and other shows? Things like sexuality, foul language, and high violence are shown on the mainstream networks before bedtime for many kids; scenes for which my parents probably would've asked me to leave the room when I was little. Scenes of protests, with people dressed like anatomical features, or grotesque language and scenes depicted on posters and picket signs. What about what is shown on the news? Sure, they will warn viewers right before they show it...but there are some things that the news should probably just leave in the narrative form; no pictures needed, if it is from a scene of violence...unless of course they want to de-sensitize the mainstream from seeing such things as blood running down someone's face as shocking. Look, I'm a grown man, and I have even exposed my 14 year old to some things just so he is not caught off guard...but when did this become the norm?Where does it stop? When do we start showing the beheadings committed by ISIS on the mainstream? We shouldn't should we - that would be ridiculous. Yet, how do you know where to draw the line?The Bible is God's Word, and it tells us what is right. It contains violence, and everything you could expect in an R-rated epic movie. Yet, the entire story is told teaching the understanding of what is right, and what is wrong in the eyes of God.For far too long, we as a nation have turned away from Biblical principles that helped formulate laws in this country. Yes, there is separation of Church and State. But emotional thinking, and people in the MINORITY were given too loud of a voice over time, and the INTOLERANCE of the minority to anyone who disagrees has superceded societal trends in the good ol' USA. I pray every day for our country, and I also see little things every day that make me still hold on to hope that we will come up out of this downward spiral of division and immoral standards. But there was a time when we respected the majority, and the majority had a better grasp of right and wrong. Without God, you really have no need for a right or wrong, but I digress. Continue to pray that God is victorious in the end as He says, but our brightest days might just be behind us.

Convenience Store Clerks, and Harboring Fugitives

It has occurred to me that many people have misplaced the new Administration's view on immigration and building a wall, along with not supporting sanctuary cities, as racist - or the great and trendy word of the year, 'xenophobic'. Furthermore, the critics are saying it is not civil, and it is showing a lack of compassion. These critics, in my view, are way out of touch with reality, and lack what I now deem as Un-Common Sense (formerly known as common sense). So I thought of some simple analogies to help people understand how these large-scale moves by the newest Administration of our Executive Branch actually are quite practical, concern being caring on a grand scale, and make perfect sense for all parties involved (except the bad guys).First of all- the WALL! This is one of the single greatest solutions to a YUGE portion of our country's problems. And you can look no further than the reinforced glass barriers you find at convenience stores to protect their cash registers and clerks to understand the concept. Now although not every gas station or convenience store has these well-protected glass barriers around the cashier or clerk, MOST of the smarter store owners or business owners located near high crime areas, have such protective measures in place. Now for those people who are not aware, reinforced glass, and some plexi-glass typically will slow down small caliber bullets and at least change the path of the bullets that can penetrate. And of course this hard glass keeps anyone from entering the work area of the cashier and cash register of these stores. And yet, there is a way that the occupant of this work area can allow someone to enter if they do not pose a threat. There is also a way to exchange cash and change for goods. And some goods are even stored behind this hard glass to send through the small opening for monetary exchange. So one could easily see how this measure keeps the person within the barrier safe, and also see how the loss of money is prevented.The Wall to be built across our nation's southern border with Mexico would be built to protect us from a 'high crime' area. Facts speak for themselves, and the tradition of making a run for the border from American law goes back to the Old West. Only, now, criminals are finding their way back over our border and into our cities and towns. This is just a fact. Are all the people sneaking over violent criminals? No; but all of those who come over outside the parameters of the law are criminals - violent or not. But we only want to let in certain people from that outside area; thus you would have controlled access in and through the wall, but you would still focus on keeping the dangerous law breakers, the real threats, out. Same goes for the money; our banks; money used to manage the law breakers, in a sense, wouldn't have to be spent, because there will be less violent offenders coming through. And of course, if they can't get through, that's fewer actual stores, banks, businesses they can effect with their crime. So just imagine that great big wall or large double fenced barrier as that hard plexiglass, and we are the cashiers on the other side. And you see, trade can even still go on between people from Mexico and the United States - but it is all controlled. So that addresses the big WALL issue.Now what seems to get lost in all of this is the fact that people should follow laws. The opponents to all these security and safety standards are thinking about their great big feelings with their great big hearts for all the families that will be harmed if the government doesn't support sanctuary cities. They are missing the whole big picture here, and the fact that the biggest problem with sanctuary cities is the fact they are full of fugitives - lawbreakers wanted for breaking the law. These cities and their mayors, or their city councils, that want to protect these criminals who happen to be from south of the border - are simply guilty of harboring fugitives, plain and simple. That's not sugar coating; that's real talk. When I worked as a sheriff's deputy, and we went to serve warrants, and we had reason to believe someone was helping a fugitive from justice escape police, you can bet we wouldn't hesitate to arrest those people who helped that fugitive if they knowingly deceived the police, and there was evidence and probable cause to believe they did so. How are the large cities who want to keep these known criminals safe from deportation any different? Simple answer - they're not.Now, if you go back through the last three paragraphs, is there anything that mentions race or ethnicity? No - because everything is based on people's action. And the fact that on the grander scale, Mexico happens to be that high crime area, it is just a matter of circumstances and fact that most of the people that we need to protect our country from happen to be Hispanic. Add to that the fact that Islamic terrorists also try to infiltrate our borders through the weaker defenses, and you have even more reason to build that wall, and even more reason why sanctuary cities shouldn't even exist. Of course, as usual, that's just my two cents - maybe it just makes too much sense.

Love Wins

Ah, the good ol’ Tsarnaev brothers, from the Boston Marathon bombing…perhaps not many events have taken place that helped demonstrate how love wins better than the despicable events brought about by these two cowards. These two are just one small example, but after the FBI did some homework on both of these characters, their hate for America was evident, and the hate they intended to carry out against Boston did cost human lives and tragic loss of life and limb. Yet in the end, love wins. Bombs were left in the most crowded places, with metal shrapnel built in to spread out and inflict as much harm as possible. And the cowardice misguided Tsarnaev boys thought they would bring the city of Boston to its knees.And yet when the horrific incident occurred, instead of people just taking care of themselves, first responders and bystanders went towards the smoke, towards the carnage, and helped people who had somehow survived. The love of life defeated hate in an instant. And although there was a manhunt for the evil brothers later, the country reached out to Boston. Families clung to each other, and the city so full of tough Bostonians, bounced back and still hosted the iconic race, with resolve and a happy spirit..and victims of the race bombings overcoming and participating in the race. And the phrase Boston Strong caught fire, and that verbiage was used in similar tragic events in other communities.But Boston and the act of hatred committed there is just one example. Thousands of other examples have occurred that nobody will know about, every time ISIS executes someone for being a Christian. ISIS terrorists can hold a blade to someone’s neck, and yell in Arabic about their prophet all they want, but all that hate and absurd behavior cannot change the love and faith in the heart of that believer. So even if that person loses their life to the radicals, their love for God still overcame the hate and evil acted out against them. Love beats hate, and love beats evil, and love beats suffering every. Single. Time. People who suffer at the time may not even be able to see that for quite some time, but love triumphs over the bad things of this world because that is exactly how God meant for things to be. That is why Jesus will have the ultimate victory in the end, because God is Love.The Townville, SC school shooting, brought about such a strong example of love in the community, because of the loss of a child. The verbiage went from Boston Strong, to Townville Strong, to Jacob Strong, for the love of that little boy. And the amazing news that came out of that triumph over evil was how much that little boy Jacob loved God. If one paid attention during those difficult days in the upstate South Carolina area, the love demonstrated in this area was infectious. As a police officer at the largest local hospital in the area, I even observed different behavior from the public in general in events surrounding that tragic incident. Love won again.People can demonstrate hate by rioting in the streets, and that solves nothing. Meanwhile, a young black man can try to hug disgruntled citizens and police officers, and the love can overcome these rough places. Now I’m not saying some protective, or even offensive action doesn’t have to be taken against evil. But what if – just what if – we start focusing on love more often than just when violent tragedies brought about by hate occur. If those of us who are believers do this more often, instead of wanting to be so right (trust me, I am guilty of this one), don’t you think someone may be more willing to listen and open their ears and hearts to the possibility that there is a Lord and Savior who gave everything for them? This is something I intend to improve upon in my own life.The divided politics of this nation can’t be an excuse for us; if we love people, let’s let the overwhelming power to treat people with love and respect defeat our urge to prove points and argue; once again, this is advice for myself as well as anyone else out there who sees how no matter how evil things seem, love still wins in the end.Since we believers know God wins in the end, shouldn’t we at least wear the colors of the winning team if that’s the team we want to be on? God is love; may we all try a little harder to put on the right jersey, and maybe the battle between good and evil will look that much more one-sided. My two cents.

Spiritual Warfare - What if?

An ongoing battle between good and evil…is it happening today? If it is, how would we know? What evidence do we have that this kind of thing is going on?First of all, there is nothing I can tell you to answer these questions in some finite, concrete way. I think first and foremost, you have to have a faith or belief in such possibilities. I don’t think an atheist could ever see such creatures unless God wanted them to; I think an atheist would probably just meet death before either an angel or demon, even though I believe they are real. I think that’s kind of how it works. If you’re not even willing to admit their existence, why would they reveal themselves to you? What would be the purpose? Unless of course, God wanted to give any given person at any given time the abilitiy to see such things…I don’t know – but I’ve always thought it was an interesting subject.Now there are going to be people who read the first few lines of this and think I am just some nut, and that’s fine…but I must tell you, I have never personally seen either agent, of good or evil. But that doesn’t mean I can’t believe they exist. I’ve never personally seen the wind either, yet I know it exists; I feel its effects; I’ve witnessed its impact.But think about this; how can a person explain all the unexplained phenomenon out there regarding ghosts, and impossible events? What about evil itself? Scientists have trouble even defining it, other than “a purely neurological glitch or malformation in the wiring of the physical brain, in eliminating the element of freely willed conscious choice.” (http://www.slate.com/articles/health_... what?!Seriously think about all those people out there who seem to have no moral code, or a twisted moral code that, to them, justifies such heinous acts as murder. How do you explain this? I, for one, think some evil people can be acting a certain way because they are possessed. I think some of our so-called ‘crazy’ people could be possessed as well. Jesus Himself cast out demons; so did his disciples. Who’s to say that those beings can’t possess someone or something today?What about those strange coincidences where horrific accidents happen, or even something like a terrorist act is perpetrated against many people in a crowded setting – and yet there are a few miraculous escapes and survival stories? How can some of these folks ,through the strangest of circumstances, make it out alive, sometimes even unharmed? Many people chalk it up to coincidence, or luck. But what if it happened because an angel somehow physically effected the events?See, I think the Bible is not just a book of actual history, but a book full of miracles…the supernatural. And I don’t think the supernatural just went away just because time has gone by, and the years of antiquity happen to be when the Bible was written. Quite to the contrary, I believe our modern times are just a continuation of that great book, the Holy Bible. And I think the angels and demons are kind of like the human fingers going across the keyboard, forcing errors along the way – or editing, correcting, and even saving us along the way, while the story is happening in the pages of time. And since God tells us He is in control, like the author typing or writing the story, He can reach in and intervene, manage His angels, stop a demon, you name it – whenever He pleases. And of course, He plans to intervene for one last time at the end of days.Again, I’ve never seen or witnessed the supernatural take place; perhaps the unexplained, but no supernatural beings that presented themselves to me. And this is going to sound crazy, but I think there are some folks out there who God has gifted with the ability to see both angels and demons. I think it would be like the ultimate peak performance level of the gift to discern good and evil. Although I think God has given me the gift of telling some people’s true intent, I am not at that level of discernment, and maybe never will be. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe it.See how closely faith would have to be tied to this concept? If it is something you never thought about, take some time and read up about the possibilities. All I know is, if the Bible is God’s word, and is as true as I believe it to be, but for some reason angels and demons aren’t with us now – then there is some major explaining to do by The Almighty when I see Him – but then again, if I believe He exists, why wouldn’t I believe in the other stuff? Food for thought – enjoy untangling this mess later…