My Two Cents--Sept. 27, 2012
Sep 26, 2012 | 2876 views | 19 19 comments | 14 14 recommendations | email to a friend | print
— After losing the White House in 2008, the Republicans hoped for a good candidate this time, but it appears they made a Mittsteak.

— It’s so fun watching the train wreck that is Romney’s campaign.

— I heard something on TV the other day about the “Arab Spring.” I thought that spring started the same day every year, no matter what nationality you are.

— A word of advice for anyone who commits a minor offense in Griffin: Opt for community service instead of a fine. If you want to know why, go to City Park on a weekend morning. The people who are supposed to be picking up trash sit around smoking and chatting while the supervising police officer is nowhere in sight. Better than paying a fine.

— To the busybody who complained about teachers making a left turn out of the Griffin High School parking lot: Why don’t you try to do something productive with your life, instead of snitching on other people?

— With respect of the office, Mr. President, you are not worthy or fit to hold the office that you do.

— The Atlanta Falcons are 3-0, but every team they have defeated is from the AFC. Players in the AFC play like girls. That is why people call it the “American Female Conference.”

— Americans have freedom, but not for long if we allow the liberal Democrats to control our lives. We know the answer to change. It’s not government. Americans must stand against same-sex marriage, failing economy, anti-Christianity, national debt, health and death taxes, illegal immigration, and a weaker military and foreign policy.

— It does not seem right that doctors make you wait in a big waiting room, then call you back to wait in a smaller waiting room. I would rather stay in the big waiting room, with other people, instead of being confined to the little room, where I feel like I am in jail.

— The choking noise that you just heard came from the Georgia Tech football team.

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KSomebody
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September 28, 2012
There is a church on the East side of town that has had white members for 50 years. This is not because the members have racial issues….it’s because black people, as well as people of other races, chose not to visit and/or attend this particular church for whatever reason. Most of them had churches of their own I would say. Before I go on with my concern there are probably some who are now poking out your bottom lip, getting defensive and bucking up at me because I am talking about whites and blacks. Rest assured, racism is NOT the case here, at least not on the white people’s side. I merely have a concern I would like to share. Let me say, too, that when this particular church has had Vacation Bible School that children of other races, in this case black children, were picked up from their homes and brought to church on the vans driven by WHITE members. This was by choice and not because it was a “requirement”. The church has an “open door” to anyone who wishes to come and worship. With this said, my intention is not to offend anyone and I apologize in advance to those of you who get offended at what I have to say. Maybe you should stop reading now to save yourself time and high blood pressure…..but I know you won’t because you’re so curious by now that you will keep reading this so consider yourself warned at this point! So, here is what I have to say….as I stated earlier there is a small church on the East side of town that has had white members for 50 years. Over the last several months black people have started attending the church services on their own free will. No one has turned them away and they have been welcomed there. However, during the last several months all the black people have done is gripe and complain about the worship style and music and have tried their best to take over the church and run the white people off. Mind you, these people are NOT members of the church….not yet anyways. That’s probably coming very soon, though. Every Sunday more and more black people show up for church services and the griping and complaining continues. None of them give one dime in the offering, but yet they constantly use the building for their own gatherings and social events. Oh, and did I mention that they don’t invite any of the white MEMBERS to their little social events they have at the church facility???? I think I forgot to mention that one. The white people are hanging on and praying this situation will work peacefully. I can tell you, though, the white people are very unhappy about it and the leader of the church is doing nothing but allowing it, but yet he tells the white people he will put a stop to it because he knows it’s not right of them to do what they’re doing. He does NOTHING about it, though. The white people are the ones who give the offerings to keep the church up and running and the white people are the ones who take care of the church and fix anything in need of repairs. The black people do NOTHING as far as that is concerned. I guess since they’re not members of the church they shouldn’t be expected to help with the upkeep or give any offering. It has been made known that the black people I’m speaking of lost their church a little while back to the bank because they couldn’t pay for it. This church they are trying to take over has been paid for in full by the white people and nothing is owed on the building. The black people have been figured out….they are wanting to run the white people off so they can have a building that’s paid for. The ring leader is the black people’s “pastor” who I will not name specifically. If I’m asked what his name is, however, I will tell you. I won’t hold back….he actually needs to be called out on this because HE is so wrong!!! He’s the one behind all of this. He is the most manipulative and hateful man and he should be ashamed to call himself a pastor in my opinion. I am trying to understand how this situation is right and am trying my best not to be angry and resentful. It’s easier said than done, though. IF this even gets posted to “My Two Cents”, which I doubt it will because it talks about whites and blacks…with the negative focused more on the blacks…..would someone please explain to me how this is right and how the white people should feel? Should the whites give the blacks what they want….a free building or should the whites stay and listen to their griping and complaining about how services are conducted and put up with them acting like they have been acting? Someone please help me understand. Makes me so angry and this is the very reason whites and blacks have issues most of the time. It’s NOT the white’s who are racist…..it’s the blacks and I won’t back down from that. If you don’t like it then TOUGH for you. I warned you, remember?
JulieBrandenburg
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September 28, 2012
KSomebody: You are truly "somebody"!! You had the guts to stand up and post. I would recommend you visit a site spbdl.com. It gives information that clearly defines what is going on in this country. I would like to visit this said church. PLEASE state which one it is. And I'm asking for the name of the pastor. I don't have a church home, I prefer not to. I don't buy in to any one doctrine and I believe a personal relationship with Christ is more important than any building and buddies you could hang with here on earth. But I will stand up for what's right, as I'm guessing a lot of other people will to. What you have described is sickening and rotten to the core.
JulieBrandenburg
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September 28, 2012
Thats sbpdl.com. Your church better not remain silent. Those people will bank on your pastor and congregation not speaking out due to being "un Christlike." You can't be afraid to speak out and holler what is right. If you are--you may as well hand over the keys.
JulieBrandenburg
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September 28, 2012
Oh, and forgive me, I didn't answer your questions at the end.

Elders should take it up with the pastor and the pastor should address during service that if anyone is not happy with how the church service is run, then they should find another church. You know, the Lord is leading them somewhere else because your service is not going to change. Period. If they continue to grumble and complain tell them "in the Spirit of Christ" you are asking them to leave. The griping and complaining is just too negative for the church and its in the best interest of everyone who is not happy to find another church. If they come back and continue--I would consider this harrassment and begin taking appropriate actions to counteract what they are doing. Don't be afraid or ashamed of this. Its all what's in your heart.



It seems as though that pastor has led his flock there with his own negative intentions. God will deal with him later, but its up to your church, if it is to remain a church, to stand against his intentions and not allow them to come to fruition.

Baptist churches have only men in all of their leadership positions, correct? They are going to have to get over the fact that this is a black and white issue, take the risk on being called racist (if that name bothers them--the race card is pulled all the time to get what people want--kind of getting old now) and not back down. Take a risk for God against what is obvious evil.

The Lord knows what's in everyone's hearts. There is no need to be upset over this. There is only call for action. You and your congregation have been placed in a very uncomfortable position but you can overcome and be stronger and closer because of it. It can be done with peace and love. The only harsh and negativity to be expected is if what you assume about this new group is true and they get angry and show out. That shows their true intent. They don't get to be members and they don't come back.

Oh, and don't let the initial name of sbpdl.com throw you off. It is an extremely informative website that, well, posts the truth. As hard as it is to swallow.
70plus
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September 29, 2012
This situation is deplorable, and Julie has given you some good advice on how to handle it. If her suggestions don't work you might need to view this from a different perspective. From your description, the actions of this group seem to have nothing to do with worshipping God. They are thieves who are trying to steal your facilities. My guess is that this group views the members of your church as fools who are easy prey. Ignore the color of their skin and that their leader calls himself a pastor, and ask your congregation what they would do if a street gang tried to take over your church. Then do what you know you have to do. What these people are doing is sinful. Doesn't the Bible teach us that sin should not be tolerated and that if it is it will destroy the church?

DavidB1980
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September 28, 2012
This special interest mindset is ripping our country apart. All this left/right, "my side is better than yours" stuff is no different from gangs fighting over some frivolous street or neighborhood. Grow up, stop acting like teenagers, and work together to correct the problems in this country.

Stop worrying about who is getting married, stop using religion to force others to do as you want, stop with all the divisiveness and concentrate on the crooks sitting in Washington (on both sides) who are running this country into the ground for their own benefit.

Jk2
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September 27, 2012
Actually, the biggest threats to American freedom are republicans who want to tell women what they can and can't do with their bodies and religious fundamentalists who meddle in federal affairs where they, according to the Constitution, don't belong. Look it up, it's called the First Amendment. Feel free to practice Christianity, just don't use it to influence matters of government.
JulieBrandenburg
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September 28, 2012
Feel free to be gay. Just don't use it to influence matters of the government.
JulieBrandenburg
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October 01, 2012
Oh, and one more thing. I am a firm believer in "say what you mean and mean what you say." Everyone could see the meaness in your "intelligence" remark in your earlier post. Not sarcasm just mean. And that's okay if that's who you are. But I'll have you know, although I find the gay/lesbian lifestyle complex at best--I almost ALMOST joined a local church until I heard "it's Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve". I chose not to attend anymore because to me, it WAS a hate message. A pastor that says that in his message needs to pray for wisdom. I won't listen to it and won't let my kids be brought up

to believe that such preaching is alright.

I also won't attend or bring my kids up in a church who's bishop Mark Hanson was quoted saying "The tragedy of Trayvon's death must move us to ask searching questions. How much longer shall any child live in fear because of the color of their skin? Are we, who are white, ready to confront our power and privilege for the sake of a more just and inclusive society? Are we as a nation ready to reform our criminal justice system?"

And for those who signed the Churches Uniting in Christ who signed the Statement on Trayvon Martin:

David R. Daniels, Jr.

President of the Council of Bishops

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Sharon E. Watkins

General Minister and President

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Thomas J. Hoyt

Senior Bishop

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

Presiding Bishop and Primate

The Episcopal Church

Mark S. Hanson

Presiding Bishop

Evangelical Lutheran Church in

America

Gradye Parsons

Stated Clerk of the General

Assembly

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Geoffrey A. Black

General Minister and President

United Church of Christ

Bishop Larry Goodpaster

President of the Council of Bishops

United Methodist Church

Churches Uniting in Christ is a covenant relationship among ten Christian communions that have pledged to live more closely together in expressing

their unity in Christ and combating racism together. The member churches of CUIC include the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African

Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Church

Each of these denominations interjected themselves in such a highly racial case--when they had no business doing so.
Jk2
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October 01, 2012
Ok, now I get it. You can call yourself a Christian, but you don't have to live your life according to ALL of Jesus' teachings, just the ones that best suit you life. It's totally fine to skim over the whole golden rule/love thy neighbor thing in order to justify racism
JulieBrandenburg
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October 01, 2012
You can also visit another one of my favorite websites: standamerica.us. This movement was started by a bishop by the name of E.W. Jackson who calls for a mass exodus of black people from the democratic party. Guess what? He's black! He has enough guts (because lets face it--you just don't see many black people that will go against the grain of the democratic party)to tell everyone just how bad the democratic party is. Alan West, Bishop Jackson, Condelezza Rice--all of these people are against what the democrats stand for. And I support each of them.

You liberals, you love to scream the race card to try to corner someone who tells the truth to try to shut them up.

There is nothing hateful about the truth. You may not want to hear it--you know--it hurts sometimes. It is what it is.
JulieBrandenburg
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October 01, 2012
JK2: As I told KSomebody. Get past the name of the website. Believe it or not, it started out as a joke a few years ago. There are far more offensive websites out there against whites--say the website for the New Black Panthers. Stuff Black People Don't Like started out as a gag against the Stuff White People Don't Like. However, the masses started posting. You won't find redneck KKK rhetoric and "we hate black people" on that site. They don't hate black people. Your typical liberal spin has already painted an ugly picture of the site. What you will find are intellectuals--both white and blacks and possibly purples and yellows--that post TRUTHFUL articles that are intended to wake America up. Enough is enough of any one group of people using the color of their skin to get what they want. If you haven't noticed we are coming up on the year 2013 in the United States of America. It's time to move on. READ THE ARTICLES on that website. Then post back here and tell me if it isn't true. Please, tell me what you read that was "hateful against black people". Please, tell me, is there any truth to this site? I posted here and put my name to it. I am not ashamed. And your questioning my christianity? I would say to you that it is the same as me questioning you being a christian if you are gay. I have stated here I don't "go" to any church. I believe that Christ died on the cross for my, yours and every other christians sins. Its not and never will be my place to question how "christian" someone is. If you aren't a christian I guess that doesn't apply to you.

I think what you don't like about that website is the fact you are probably associated with the Democratic party--you know--they fight for "your" rights. But the Democrats also represent that 47% that the libs got so upset about. That 47% that won't do anything to better themselves because they want the government to do it for them all while bringing the rest of the country down. If I were you I'd be really trying to distance myself from that too. You know, the Obama administration is the one who so strongly wanted the consensus done. Those dems, they love to count people and demographics. JK2: THE TRUTH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND WILL ALWAYS SPEAK FOR ITSELF. You can argue about the name of a website all day long, but I challenge you to spend some time reading it--you won't find the n-word or any other horrible racist name used to describe other people. What you will find is a website, using its First Ammendment right to freedom of speech--to spread the truth that ABC, NBC, CBS and even FOXNEWS won't have the guts to post.
Jk2
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October 01, 2012
Jules, I don't think you picked up on the sarcastic, cutting tone of my comment so i'll spell it out for you. How can you possibly call yourself a Christian yet at the same time recommend the website "stuff black people don't like.com?" This website is incredibly offensive. It refers to black people like they are another species out to destroy a superior race. What nonsense. Again, how can you have such hatred for black people and frankly anyone who isn't exactly like you while pronouncing your devout Christian beliefs? Something doesn't add up.

Also, dbaugh, wow, get your facts straight.
dbaugh
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September 30, 2012
I agree with Julie. Some college students want to influence government to get free birth control. I guess liberals are okay with that. So feel free to live that lifestyle but don't try to influence government to force someone else to pay for your choices. We could go on and on with this.

You should read the Constitution. Read the First Amendment part real slow. You will be surprised to learn there is nothing about separation of church and state. It says two things and they are called the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses. Congress cannot establish an official government sanctioned religion like they had in Merry Ole England, and they can make no laws that interferes with the free exercise of religion. Surprise! Surprise! Nothing about Separation there.

In fact the First Amendment only applied to laws enacted by the Congress until the middle of the 1900s. Then the Supreme Court got into the mix and stretched what the First Amendment says all out of shape. Kind of like calling a penalty for not having insurance a tax. They are so much wiser than everyone else even though they don't all agree on things. So they can’t ever possibly be wrong could they?

Did you know they held church services in the Capitol building and other federal building in Washington DC in the 1800s? Even in the Supreme Court building? Heaven forbid the atheist would climb the walls if they found out. If they found out that Thomas Jefferson was the one that started it they would go crazy. It went on until after the Civil War to. I'm amazed our country survived all that church worshiping going on back then.

Seriously, that is the truth and not what some folks go around telling about how our country was founded. Our nation’s history is founded in Biblical principles. Our freedoms come not from a man or a king but from our Creator. Oh my, that is a religious word, Creator. Atheist don't believe we were created we just sprung up from some soup that formed in the oceans. Don't know where the oceans came from the big bang I suppose. But who created the big bang? Scientist says that matter cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be changed into something else.

I’ll just end this with man cannot create matter but someone created it because it is here. We can see it, we can touch it. It is real. So the only possible answer of where it came from is it came from a force or a spirit or a higher being with more power than we can ever imagine. I believe it came from a living God.

JulieBrandenburg
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September 29, 2012
The Village Blacksmith

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Under a spreading chestnut-tree

The village smithy stands;

The smith, a mighty man is he,

With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

Are strong as iron bands.



His hair is crisp, and black, and long,

His face is like the tan;

His brow is wet with honest sweat,

He earns whate'er he can,

And looks the whole world in the face,

For he owes not any man.



Week in, week out, from morn till night,

You can hear his bellows blow;

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,

With measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village bell,

When the evening sun is low.



And children coming home from school

Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And bear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing-floor.



He goes on Sunday to the church,

And sits among his boys;

He hears the parson pray and preach,

He hears his daughter's voice,

Singing in the village choir,

And it makes his heart rejoice.



It sounds to him like her mother's voice,

Singing in Paradise!

He needs must think of her once more,

How in the grave she lies;

And with his haul, rough hand he wipes

A tear out of his eyes.



Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees it close

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night's repose.



Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,

For the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life

Our fortunes must be wrought;

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped

Each burning deed and thought.

I tend to immerse myself in the classics JK2. We probably don't have much in common. To study this poem from so long ago reminds one of what it must have been like to build this great country. Something tells me you are one of those bent on changing the greatness of this country into a cesspool of perversion and disgust. I doubt we have much in common to talk about.





dbaugh
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September 29, 2012
Where is that part in our Constitution that says, "Feel free to practice Christianity, just don't use it to influence matters of government." The only thing I remember reading was where it says our government can pass no laws establishing a religion as the official religion and they can pass no laws that prohibits the freedom to practice religion. You maybe surprised to learn that originally this only applied to the federal government up until 1947. It wasn't until later in the middle of the last century that the Supreme Court began to interpret the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses in such a way as to restrict religion in the states.

Freedom from religion and Separation of Church and State is never mentioned in the Constitution or it amendments. People like to quote that though but it is not there. Our Supreme Courts have been more concerned with the Establishment part and with little concern about the Free Exercise part. So in just my lifetime some have seen fit to stop prayer at football game or as we see today our commissioners meetings. Will they one day stop our president and others from ending a speech with God Bless America? It's coming because there are groups out there such as The Freedom From Religion group that seek to do just that.

The question is are we better off today than we were before? I say no because I have lived long enough to see what has been happening to our country and to our schools. We once were allowed to have a minister come to our school every Monday and talk to us children. It was not always the same minister and they did not come to talk to us about religion but about how to respect one another and how to treat one another as human being. It certainly did not harm us in any way. I could see the benefit.

Look at our schools today across this country. Who would have ever thought kids would carry guns to school to kill other kids? Connect the dots folks it's that simple. We have allowed a few to tell us what is best for us and we know better. We know they are wrong. What you see happening across the country can happen right here to and it probably will sooner or later. If someone could have talked at school to those kids that carried guns to school and killed those other kids it just might not have ever happened.

Think about that for a moment. Would it have been worth it? I can see a connection between what is going on today and with what we are being told we can and cannot do in our communities.
Jk2
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September 28, 2012
Welcome back, Julie, where have you been, girl? I've really missed your witty, enlightened responses. Your keen way with words reveals what must be a truly staggering intelligence. We should get together and talk about what books we're currently reading, the latest breakthroughs in science and maybe even some political philosophy.
dbaugh
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October 02, 2012
Jk2 - Please tell me which fact or facts that I have wrong? I will be more than glad to correct anything that I stated wrong.