The world hates Christians. That’s a given. They hate what we stand for. They hate our passion and they would rather us just flat disappear. The Bible made it clear in end times that this would occur and these same people don’t realize they are fulfilling prophecy.
But before it comes to a point in which we are all shipped off to a remote island somewhere in the Pacific let’s take a moment and think about a world without Christians and without the influences of Christianity. Then maybe the world can realize things really aren’t all that bad with us believers around…
Without Christianity there would be:
- No Christmas holiday
- No major hospital networks from the Catholics, Methodist, Baptist or Presbyterians
- No major charities such as the Red Cross
- No Sundays off of work (see China)
- No Easter to celebrate
- No Bible to hold to in tough times
- No Thanksgiving to partake in
- No major universities like Harvard, SMU, TCU, Baylor, Yale, Notre Dame, and many, many more
- No Disney World
- No children being adopted each year by the thousands
- No priests or pastors to call on
- No chaplains in the military
- No cathedrals to be in awe of
- No food pantries and outreaches to the homeless by countless churches all over America
- No kids camps in which kids learn good, wholesome values and faith
- No church groups like Texas Baptist Men going to help those in natural disasters
- No God to call on in wars, famine or chaos
- No guiding laws such as the 10 Commandments
- No Valentine’s Day
- No Pope
- No Veggie Tales
- No J.R. Tolkien
- No Mary Kay
- No Billy Graham
- No C.S. Lewis
- No Heinz ketchup
- No George Washington
- No Ronald Reagan
- No ChickFiLa, Wendy’s, Costco, Walmart, Tyson Foods, InNOut Burger, Hobby Lobby, and many other business establishments we enjoy
- No Dallas Cowboys as we know it without Tom Landry
- No Duck Dynasty
Need I go on?
Frankly, if you study real American history, there simply would be no America. If you bleed red, white and blue, you can thank us Christians for your right to hate us. For without us, there would be none. Study it and you will see. America was started by those that believed in God.
If you think the world is bad now, just imagine what it would be like with no Christians around. One day, in the end, that will occur. We will all be gone and the world will find out just what it’s like without us around to help keep chaos from ruling.
Until that day comes, it might be a good thing if we all just learned to get along…
"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” John 15:18
© 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
The Biggest Financial Secret
Some "experts" might disagree with what I am about to share, but I believe and know it personally to be true.
The best method to ensuring financial success in your personal life is to make sure you live as a giver.
To whom much is given much is expected. Give and it shall be given unto you.
These are biblical truths that stand the test of time. No other place in the Bible does God himself encourage us to "test" him other than with our money.
If you give, He will take care of you. Period. End of story.
I can personally testify to this both individually and corporately. My wife and I contribute more than 10% of our annual earnings to our church and various organizations or causes we believe in. We do so happily and joyfully. We are blessed to be able to give. I know and believe our future is taken care of. +
Corporately, Novers supports nearly a dozen different causes, ministries and organizations too including adoption and orphan care, outreach to the homeless, Christmas toy drives, church mission work, Bible translation, schools in need, and children’s camps. When there is a need we do all we can to help.
No time of year is a better reminder of this than Christmas.
Have a heart for giving and watch how things will just take care of themselves for you.
Sure, your financial future has alot to do with your earnings, savings and investments....but at the top of that list should by your habit of giving.
Trust me on this.
“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.” Deuteronomy 16:17
© 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
The best method to ensuring financial success in your personal life is to make sure you live as a giver.
To whom much is given much is expected. Give and it shall be given unto you.
These are biblical truths that stand the test of time. No other place in the Bible does God himself encourage us to "test" him other than with our money.
If you give, He will take care of you. Period. End of story.
I can personally testify to this both individually and corporately. My wife and I contribute more than 10% of our annual earnings to our church and various organizations or causes we believe in. We do so happily and joyfully. We are blessed to be able to give. I know and believe our future is taken care of. +
Corporately, Novers supports nearly a dozen different causes, ministries and organizations too including adoption and orphan care, outreach to the homeless, Christmas toy drives, church mission work, Bible translation, schools in need, and children’s camps. When there is a need we do all we can to help.
No time of year is a better reminder of this than Christmas.
Have a heart for giving and watch how things will just take care of themselves for you.
Sure, your financial future has alot to do with your earnings, savings and investments....but at the top of that list should by your habit of giving.
Trust me on this.
“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.” Deuteronomy 16:17
© 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Friday, December 21, 2012
A Different Christmas
Christmas should be a little different for each of us this year. After all, for about 40 of our fellow American moms and dads, it certainly will be after the terrible massacre that occurred in Newtown, CT.
Not since 9/11 has a tragedy stuck with me like this one has and almost everyone I have talked to says the same thing. This one just hurts nearly too bad to even think about.
We hurt. We are sad. Yet, it’s Christmas.
Miles away the holiday season has changed forever. It was senseless and more evil than any Hollywood flick and we are angry about it. Sometimes all we know to do is offer a simple prayer of "please help them God".
I’ve decided that it’s ok to pause here and there this weekend and think about those families. It’s ok to tear up looking at your little kids and even feel a little guilt for proceeding with “Christmas as usual”. All of our lives were changed by a gunman with no humanness to him. As our President said so nicely those children murdered “were all our children”. The adults that were murdered were our heroes.
As American’s we hurt together and stand together, even when we disagree with each other. So it only makes sense that each of us should find a way this Christmas to acknowledge the underlining tug on our hearts as we open presents, enjoy the company and the time off from routine. The tug we feel is the tie that binds us. The families who lost their loved ones don’t deserve for us to bury our heads in the sand just because we can’t handle thinking about it. They need us.
It could have been my Chloe, Sidney or Quinn that day. It could have been yours.
Our world is insane.
Jesus came to a dying, hurting, mean world. I don’t mean his world. I mean ours. The entire meaning of Christmas was to give a world like ours hope and the peace of knowing there would be an end to evil and eternity in our future. All we have to do is believe and tell Him so. It’s His free gift to us.
Certainly those precious children stepped into eternity instantly and are now angels in Heaven having more fun than any Christmas Day. But all the pain for those of us left here means nothing if we don’t embrace it and ask God to change us.
God will not allow evil to win even when it feels like it has. Lives will be changed and God will be at work. Our world is very, very sick. No doubt about it.
And when you are in a season like we are, we need the reason that He is.
Charlotte Bacon, Daniel Barden, Rachel Davino, Olivia Engel, Josephine Gay, Ana M. Marquez-Greene, Dylan Hockley, Dawn Hochsprung, Madeleine F. Hsu, Catherine V. Hubbard, Chase Kowalski, Jesse Lewis, James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, Anne Marie Murphy, Emilie Parker, Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman, Lauren Rousseau, Mary Sherlach, Victoria Soto, Benjamin Wheeler, Allison N. Wyatt
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
Not since 9/11 has a tragedy stuck with me like this one has and almost everyone I have talked to says the same thing. This one just hurts nearly too bad to even think about.
We hurt. We are sad. Yet, it’s Christmas.
Miles away the holiday season has changed forever. It was senseless and more evil than any Hollywood flick and we are angry about it. Sometimes all we know to do is offer a simple prayer of "please help them God".
I’ve decided that it’s ok to pause here and there this weekend and think about those families. It’s ok to tear up looking at your little kids and even feel a little guilt for proceeding with “Christmas as usual”. All of our lives were changed by a gunman with no humanness to him. As our President said so nicely those children murdered “were all our children”. The adults that were murdered were our heroes.
As American’s we hurt together and stand together, even when we disagree with each other. So it only makes sense that each of us should find a way this Christmas to acknowledge the underlining tug on our hearts as we open presents, enjoy the company and the time off from routine. The tug we feel is the tie that binds us. The families who lost their loved ones don’t deserve for us to bury our heads in the sand just because we can’t handle thinking about it. They need us.
It could have been my Chloe, Sidney or Quinn that day. It could have been yours.
Our world is insane.
Jesus came to a dying, hurting, mean world. I don’t mean his world. I mean ours. The entire meaning of Christmas was to give a world like ours hope and the peace of knowing there would be an end to evil and eternity in our future. All we have to do is believe and tell Him so. It’s His free gift to us.
Certainly those precious children stepped into eternity instantly and are now angels in Heaven having more fun than any Christmas Day. But all the pain for those of us left here means nothing if we don’t embrace it and ask God to change us.
God will not allow evil to win even when it feels like it has. Lives will be changed and God will be at work. Our world is very, very sick. No doubt about it.
And when you are in a season like we are, we need the reason that He is.
Charlotte Bacon, Daniel Barden, Rachel Davino, Olivia Engel, Josephine Gay, Ana M. Marquez-Greene, Dylan Hockley, Dawn Hochsprung, Madeleine F. Hsu, Catherine V. Hubbard, Chase Kowalski, Jesse Lewis, James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, Anne Marie Murphy, Emilie Parker, Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman, Lauren Rousseau, Mary Sherlach, Victoria Soto, Benjamin Wheeler, Allison N. Wyatt
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
Sunday, November 11, 2012
America is Changing
The re-election of President Obama and the Democratic platform of values signals a big shift in the cultural thinking of most Americans.
America is changing right in front of our eyes – and not for the better.
In a “progressive” movement away from the values of God towards the values of the world, the nation is shifting quickly. Liberalism has always been a part of our society but the agenda of the current Administration in DC is more telling than ever. For goodness sake, the word “God” was removed from their political platform before being put back in after three votes (and listening to the recordings make it clear more were opposed than in favor of).
The Bible tells us in the end times that the world would embrace earthly morals and turn further and further away from God. We are watching it take place like a virtual reality show. Each election more conservatives lose. Each election more votes go for the party that supports more abortions, more handouts, less God, and the homosexual agenda.
God help us.
It can be unsettling and very frustrating to observe our amazing country fold into itself. America has always been the light to the world in many ways. But not much anymore.
But as time marches on we must hold tight to the following truths:
1. God is in control. In the end, He will reign and every knee will bow before Him
2. He told us these times were coming and He will be with us
3. He will come for us before it gets real bad
4. We can and should focus on making a difference in our own communities
5. We need to continue to stand for the values of God even if we keep losing
I know for me, I will still love and thank God for America. I will still vote, get choked up when I hear a good national anthem and celebrate our fun patriotic holidays. We are still a nation with millions that worship Him and millions that beleive in His values. We are just not the majority anymore.
Now is the time to enjoy the family, your church, and life as you know it. Times might get even tougher. But our joy is new every morning and He is our source of happiness. Heaven is our future.
And, as the country gets darker and people struggle more and more, they are going to want to know one simple thing - how is that you can smile?
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
America is changing right in front of our eyes – and not for the better.
In a “progressive” movement away from the values of God towards the values of the world, the nation is shifting quickly. Liberalism has always been a part of our society but the agenda of the current Administration in DC is more telling than ever. For goodness sake, the word “God” was removed from their political platform before being put back in after three votes (and listening to the recordings make it clear more were opposed than in favor of).
The Bible tells us in the end times that the world would embrace earthly morals and turn further and further away from God. We are watching it take place like a virtual reality show. Each election more conservatives lose. Each election more votes go for the party that supports more abortions, more handouts, less God, and the homosexual agenda.
God help us.
It can be unsettling and very frustrating to observe our amazing country fold into itself. America has always been the light to the world in many ways. But not much anymore.
But as time marches on we must hold tight to the following truths:
1. God is in control. In the end, He will reign and every knee will bow before Him
2. He told us these times were coming and He will be with us
3. He will come for us before it gets real bad
4. We can and should focus on making a difference in our own communities
5. We need to continue to stand for the values of God even if we keep losing
I know for me, I will still love and thank God for America. I will still vote, get choked up when I hear a good national anthem and celebrate our fun patriotic holidays. We are still a nation with millions that worship Him and millions that beleive in His values. We are just not the majority anymore.
Now is the time to enjoy the family, your church, and life as you know it. Times might get even tougher. But our joy is new every morning and He is our source of happiness. Heaven is our future.
And, as the country gets darker and people struggle more and more, they are going to want to know one simple thing - how is that you can smile?
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Where I Belong
Emily was born in 2004 in a suburb of Dallas. She was so cute. A little thing, weighing just 5.7 ounces. Fit right in the palm of my hand. Her little nose was the most precious thing ever and her eyes pierced your soul.
Within a few weeks I went to see her again at the hospital and she was full of life. Grunting and squirming like the others around her. Yet, something about Emily was different. Just not sure what it was. Strange thing is she almost seemed to recognize me when I came near. Her little eyes perked up and she became more active. I enjoyed just feeding her and loving on her. She was so soft and cuddly it put tears in my eyes. I knew whoever she belonged to was certainly blessed beyond words. She had to be the joy of their life.
Nine months later I was asked to drop by and visit a local shelter for children in the area. In the States we don’t like to call them what they are – orphanages. But they do exist. Last I had heard nearly 30,000 kids alone in Fort Worth needed to be adopted and needed a family. It’s a sad truth but over 3,000,000 in these United States don’t have anyone to call “mom” or “dad”. I could never understand that. Just broke my heart.
My wife and I had thought about adopting at some point. But despite my career and volunteering efforts, we never took it any farther than just a random thought. If God wanted us to He would make it clear, right? Besides, adoption was kind of like a final option if the wife had issues having kids. We wanted to have our own children.
Making my rounds in this shelter and seeing all of the children without homes was never easy though. Kids just reflect God’s love and grace like nothing else. They loved the attention no matter the age. The baby area always got to me too. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around these little ones being homeless. But it happens.
Walking in that day I spent time going from crib to crib and bed to bed loving on those precious kids. The entire time I prayed asking God to take care of these little ones. After all, everyone deserves to be loved and everyone deserves a family.
Walking around a corner a lady approached me with a bundle in her arms.
“Can you hold her a second?” she asked. “I need to attend to something and this one has really been an issue the last few weeks. She just won’t stop crying.”
“Sure,” I said taking the bundle with a smile. I knew my magic would probably calm the little one down.
“Now, now,” I said as I looked down at the child.
Staring back at me was Emily.
I nearly lost it at that moment. Thoughts rushed through my mind faster than I could process them. I was speechless. How could this little bundle of love be in this place? Where were her parents? The outrage and pain hit me right in the chest. Didn’t she belong to someone?
Her eyes perked up and immediately she stopped crying. Piercing my mind, her eyes begged for belonging and familiarity. I was something she knew.
I didn’t know what to do in that moment but one thing was certain, I had to do something. I mean, you don’t just emotionally decide to take a child home like you would a puppy, do you? Emotions were all over the place.
I sat in a chair. Time was frozen.
Little Emily just snuggled up against me and fell asleep. Peace.
A few hours later Emily’s care worker came to get her from me. “Wow,” she said seeing her asleep. “You really do have some magic. This little girl has been a pain for months. Finally, we can get some peace around here.”
Her words weren’t mean for harm, but they hit me in the gut like a Mike Tyson punch.
“You want peace!?” I thought. “What about little Emily?”
I left that day and cried for hours on the way home. My life would never be the same.
Eighteen years later my wife and I cried once again as we watched Emily cross the stage at her graduation. Our daughter was on the way to adulthood. That same personality at 9 months of age was alive and well. She was the life of the show most of the time. Too many friends to even count. She was smarter than all of us and was headed to college in the fall to begin her career in robotic medicine. God always has a plan doesn’t He?
I still visit those children a few times a year and since then more than one friend of ours has also given a child a family to call their own.
Nearly two decades ago I had no idea how much life was about to change for so many when I walked in to that shelter that day.
But one thing will never change as long as we all shall live. Emily didn't belong in that shelter.
Emily belonged to us.
"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows." Isaiah 1:17
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
(this was a fictional account of adoption)
Within a few weeks I went to see her again at the hospital and she was full of life. Grunting and squirming like the others around her. Yet, something about Emily was different. Just not sure what it was. Strange thing is she almost seemed to recognize me when I came near. Her little eyes perked up and she became more active. I enjoyed just feeding her and loving on her. She was so soft and cuddly it put tears in my eyes. I knew whoever she belonged to was certainly blessed beyond words. She had to be the joy of their life.
Nine months later I was asked to drop by and visit a local shelter for children in the area. In the States we don’t like to call them what they are – orphanages. But they do exist. Last I had heard nearly 30,000 kids alone in Fort Worth needed to be adopted and needed a family. It’s a sad truth but over 3,000,000 in these United States don’t have anyone to call “mom” or “dad”. I could never understand that. Just broke my heart.
My wife and I had thought about adopting at some point. But despite my career and volunteering efforts, we never took it any farther than just a random thought. If God wanted us to He would make it clear, right? Besides, adoption was kind of like a final option if the wife had issues having kids. We wanted to have our own children.
Making my rounds in this shelter and seeing all of the children without homes was never easy though. Kids just reflect God’s love and grace like nothing else. They loved the attention no matter the age. The baby area always got to me too. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around these little ones being homeless. But it happens.
Walking in that day I spent time going from crib to crib and bed to bed loving on those precious kids. The entire time I prayed asking God to take care of these little ones. After all, everyone deserves to be loved and everyone deserves a family.
Walking around a corner a lady approached me with a bundle in her arms.
“Can you hold her a second?” she asked. “I need to attend to something and this one has really been an issue the last few weeks. She just won’t stop crying.”
“Sure,” I said taking the bundle with a smile. I knew my magic would probably calm the little one down.
“Now, now,” I said as I looked down at the child.
Staring back at me was Emily.
I nearly lost it at that moment. Thoughts rushed through my mind faster than I could process them. I was speechless. How could this little bundle of love be in this place? Where were her parents? The outrage and pain hit me right in the chest. Didn’t she belong to someone?
Her eyes perked up and immediately she stopped crying. Piercing my mind, her eyes begged for belonging and familiarity. I was something she knew.
I didn’t know what to do in that moment but one thing was certain, I had to do something. I mean, you don’t just emotionally decide to take a child home like you would a puppy, do you? Emotions were all over the place.
I sat in a chair. Time was frozen.
Little Emily just snuggled up against me and fell asleep. Peace.
A few hours later Emily’s care worker came to get her from me. “Wow,” she said seeing her asleep. “You really do have some magic. This little girl has been a pain for months. Finally, we can get some peace around here.”
Her words weren’t mean for harm, but they hit me in the gut like a Mike Tyson punch.
“You want peace!?” I thought. “What about little Emily?”
I left that day and cried for hours on the way home. My life would never be the same.
Eighteen years later my wife and I cried once again as we watched Emily cross the stage at her graduation. Our daughter was on the way to adulthood. That same personality at 9 months of age was alive and well. She was the life of the show most of the time. Too many friends to even count. She was smarter than all of us and was headed to college in the fall to begin her career in robotic medicine. God always has a plan doesn’t He?
I still visit those children a few times a year and since then more than one friend of ours has also given a child a family to call their own.
Nearly two decades ago I had no idea how much life was about to change for so many when I walked in to that shelter that day.
But one thing will never change as long as we all shall live. Emily didn't belong in that shelter.
Emily belonged to us.
"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows." Isaiah 1:17
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
(this was a fictional account of adoption)
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Jesus Would Vote, Just Not For Obama
This one is gonna make some mad. But, truth hurts and I make no bones about it.
In a matter of just a few weeks now, believers all across America will have an interesting political choice to make.
On one hand, we have Mitt Romney; a smart family man with a huge business background that believes in God, studies the scriptures, has ministered and helped others, and attends church regularly. The glaring problem to most Christians is that he is in fact a Mormon. Oops.
On the other hand, we have President Obama; an educated, good family man, with a desire to see people get “a fair chance”, yet who has a Muslim heritage with too many Islamic friends to count. While he claims to know Jesus, he attended a controversial “black theology” church led by the extreme radical Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Huh?
So what would Jesus do?
See the truth is God doesn’t really care about our economy. He doesn’t give a rip about bailouts, big gulp bans, taxes on the rich, healthcare, the value of the dollar or spending money on NASA so we can get to Mars. In fact, there are only a few things he would care about if he was here on November 6, 2012, and his voting results would likely be easy to follow. It’s really not that hard once you see it through the prism of the Word and break it down to the five real issues Jesus himself would truly care about.
Entitlements - The Bible makes it clear that we are to take care of those that are truly in need and/or are desperate for help and we have both Christian and worldly systems in place for those people now. The Bible also makes it clear a man is responsible to care for himself, provide for his family and work or he shall not eat. Nowhere in scripture can you see the character of God endorsing a growing system of handouts and dependency on any system made by man. In fact, Paul himself worked so that “he may not be a burden” on anyone. Nearly 50% of American’s now get some form of check or handout from the government. Slackers abound and irresponsibility has its own Twitter hash tag. As a business owner that has hired hundreds of people I have seen it first hand and it makes me sick. This growing attitude of dependency is 100% contrary to the teachings of the bible. Under President Obama handouts and dependency have grown astronomically while responsibility has been swept under the rug.
God’s Word and Values – The attack on Christian values in this country and around the world has increased tenfold in the last decade. You see it just like I do and frankly, it is scary. There is no doubt the End is near. But neither are we supposed to let the world just run ramshod over us like an old Super Dave skit without speaking out. The Bible has been and always will be the center of Truth for life. Our nation, and sadly many Christians, is caving to the pressures of various worldly, anti-God movements such as political correctness and tolerance of immorality. The fastest growing religion in the world is now Islam, with a temple near you. It is alarming to say the least. Jesus spoke out against immorality and large portions of the New Testament are about false teachers and false religions. Laws that would prohibit us from speaking the truth and proclaiming the teachings of God are being worked on now. We have to act. During the Democratic National Convention the word “God” was voluntarily removed from their platform. Under pressure it was put back in even though the vote taken audibly was clearly against it. Need I say more?
Homosexuality – God’s first ordained structure was the family, consisting of Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. The family was God’s first defense against Satan’s front line and the homosexual movement is the devil’s biggest weapon. Homosexuality is sin. Period. End of story. Those are God’s words and the popularity of legalizing homosexual marriages is tragic. Everyone sins and every sinner has a right to exist. We can and should befriend homosexuals and love them. But when laws are made to promote and condone this movement, a line has been crossed. Obama has promoted and embraced the homosexual movement more than any President in our history.
Israel – The Jewish people were promised by God a homeland and that occurred in 1948 primarily because America forced it to. For decades we have supported, protected and defended these vulnerable chosen people of God. The scripture makes it clear that those who oppose His people “will be cursed” and my guess is we don’t want to be on the wrong side of the line when God curses anything. Recent actions, even under President Bush, have brought us very close to crossing over that line. Jews will always be His people and we better get back to remembering that in a real hurry. Under the leadership of President Obama, Israel has been left in the dark. He hasn’t even visited them one time in 4 years. He is no friend of Israel. Not good.
Life – Finally and most important, Jesus would care about the sanctity and respect for the unborn. Over 50,000,000 Americans won’t be voting this year because they were killed by the lawful act of a doctor. The Word makes it clear that life begins when God says it does, not when Chris Matthews does. Obama is one of the most radical supporters of abortion in history…even infanticide. He makes Hillary Clinton look like the Pope on this issue. Romney may have once supported a woman’s right to choose, but he says his views have since changed and that’s all that matters, even if it was merely political. The Republican party will hold him accountable to standing firm in supporting the pro life movement or the Tea Party will see he is a one-term flash in the pan. Regardless of Romney, Obama hasn’t changed his views and even made it clear he would want his own daughter to have the freedom to kill his grandchild if it inconvenienced her life should she get pregnant. Look it up. This one issue alone is all any believer really needs to make their decision clear. A Christian that is pro-choice needs to make sure they have the right version of the Bible and try re-reading it.
Despite all of these completely anti-God issues, some Christians like to argue that there should be a separation between politics and faith. Many have a carefree attitude to the point of apathetic disinterest in the process. They say “God is in control, so who cares?” What they fail to realize is that God ordained the world we live in from the beginning. It was God that knew we would have governments, political systems and laws. His word clearly explains that both in the New and Old Testaments. He also knew there would be corruption, bickering, elitism and the like. After all, men run these systems and many times they are, in fact, epic failures.
Yes, Christians need to lead by example and only Jesus can change the hearts of man but worldly governments can either be run by His people or those that hate Him, and in America that is decide by voting. God expects believers to stand up for the values and expectations He gave us in His word. We need to wake up to that reality. Even the Israelites eventually had to make a stand against their ruler and in a similar way America was founded by believers that also took a stand.
Today is no different. More than ever America needs to start making a turn back to our roots and right now we are blessed that we can still do that with our votes. Judges will be appointed in the next 4-6 years that could determine all kinds of laws – either for or against the teachings expressed in God’s word.
It’s time to make people have personal responsibility. It’s time to stand up for Israel. It’s time to defend the God ordained family structure and resist the homosexual agenda. It’s time to stand up and defend the Bible and the values it demands we live by. And, most importantly to God, it’s time we stop killing babies.
Jesus stood on a cross in defense of you. The least we can do is stand at a voting booth in defense of Him.
The Democratic Party endorses abortion, promotes homosexuality, has weakened in their defense of Israel, gives applause to irresponsibility, and wants God removed from nearly everything, including their own party platform. So it’s pretty easy to see…
Jesus wouldn’t vote for Obama, will you?
“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens." Exodus 18:21
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
In a matter of just a few weeks now, believers all across America will have an interesting political choice to make.
On one hand, we have Mitt Romney; a smart family man with a huge business background that believes in God, studies the scriptures, has ministered and helped others, and attends church regularly. The glaring problem to most Christians is that he is in fact a Mormon. Oops.
On the other hand, we have President Obama; an educated, good family man, with a desire to see people get “a fair chance”, yet who has a Muslim heritage with too many Islamic friends to count. While he claims to know Jesus, he attended a controversial “black theology” church led by the extreme radical Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Huh?
So what would Jesus do?
See the truth is God doesn’t really care about our economy. He doesn’t give a rip about bailouts, big gulp bans, taxes on the rich, healthcare, the value of the dollar or spending money on NASA so we can get to Mars. In fact, there are only a few things he would care about if he was here on November 6, 2012, and his voting results would likely be easy to follow. It’s really not that hard once you see it through the prism of the Word and break it down to the five real issues Jesus himself would truly care about.
Entitlements - The Bible makes it clear that we are to take care of those that are truly in need and/or are desperate for help and we have both Christian and worldly systems in place for those people now. The Bible also makes it clear a man is responsible to care for himself, provide for his family and work or he shall not eat. Nowhere in scripture can you see the character of God endorsing a growing system of handouts and dependency on any system made by man. In fact, Paul himself worked so that “he may not be a burden” on anyone. Nearly 50% of American’s now get some form of check or handout from the government. Slackers abound and irresponsibility has its own Twitter hash tag. As a business owner that has hired hundreds of people I have seen it first hand and it makes me sick. This growing attitude of dependency is 100% contrary to the teachings of the bible. Under President Obama handouts and dependency have grown astronomically while responsibility has been swept under the rug.
God’s Word and Values – The attack on Christian values in this country and around the world has increased tenfold in the last decade. You see it just like I do and frankly, it is scary. There is no doubt the End is near. But neither are we supposed to let the world just run ramshod over us like an old Super Dave skit without speaking out. The Bible has been and always will be the center of Truth for life. Our nation, and sadly many Christians, is caving to the pressures of various worldly, anti-God movements such as political correctness and tolerance of immorality. The fastest growing religion in the world is now Islam, with a temple near you. It is alarming to say the least. Jesus spoke out against immorality and large portions of the New Testament are about false teachers and false religions. Laws that would prohibit us from speaking the truth and proclaiming the teachings of God are being worked on now. We have to act. During the Democratic National Convention the word “God” was voluntarily removed from their platform. Under pressure it was put back in even though the vote taken audibly was clearly against it. Need I say more?
Homosexuality – God’s first ordained structure was the family, consisting of Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. The family was God’s first defense against Satan’s front line and the homosexual movement is the devil’s biggest weapon. Homosexuality is sin. Period. End of story. Those are God’s words and the popularity of legalizing homosexual marriages is tragic. Everyone sins and every sinner has a right to exist. We can and should befriend homosexuals and love them. But when laws are made to promote and condone this movement, a line has been crossed. Obama has promoted and embraced the homosexual movement more than any President in our history.
Israel – The Jewish people were promised by God a homeland and that occurred in 1948 primarily because America forced it to. For decades we have supported, protected and defended these vulnerable chosen people of God. The scripture makes it clear that those who oppose His people “will be cursed” and my guess is we don’t want to be on the wrong side of the line when God curses anything. Recent actions, even under President Bush, have brought us very close to crossing over that line. Jews will always be His people and we better get back to remembering that in a real hurry. Under the leadership of President Obama, Israel has been left in the dark. He hasn’t even visited them one time in 4 years. He is no friend of Israel. Not good.
Life – Finally and most important, Jesus would care about the sanctity and respect for the unborn. Over 50,000,000 Americans won’t be voting this year because they were killed by the lawful act of a doctor. The Word makes it clear that life begins when God says it does, not when Chris Matthews does. Obama is one of the most radical supporters of abortion in history…even infanticide. He makes Hillary Clinton look like the Pope on this issue. Romney may have once supported a woman’s right to choose, but he says his views have since changed and that’s all that matters, even if it was merely political. The Republican party will hold him accountable to standing firm in supporting the pro life movement or the Tea Party will see he is a one-term flash in the pan. Regardless of Romney, Obama hasn’t changed his views and even made it clear he would want his own daughter to have the freedom to kill his grandchild if it inconvenienced her life should she get pregnant. Look it up. This one issue alone is all any believer really needs to make their decision clear. A Christian that is pro-choice needs to make sure they have the right version of the Bible and try re-reading it.
Despite all of these completely anti-God issues, some Christians like to argue that there should be a separation between politics and faith. Many have a carefree attitude to the point of apathetic disinterest in the process. They say “God is in control, so who cares?” What they fail to realize is that God ordained the world we live in from the beginning. It was God that knew we would have governments, political systems and laws. His word clearly explains that both in the New and Old Testaments. He also knew there would be corruption, bickering, elitism and the like. After all, men run these systems and many times they are, in fact, epic failures.
Yes, Christians need to lead by example and only Jesus can change the hearts of man but worldly governments can either be run by His people or those that hate Him, and in America that is decide by voting. God expects believers to stand up for the values and expectations He gave us in His word. We need to wake up to that reality. Even the Israelites eventually had to make a stand against their ruler and in a similar way America was founded by believers that also took a stand.
Today is no different. More than ever America needs to start making a turn back to our roots and right now we are blessed that we can still do that with our votes. Judges will be appointed in the next 4-6 years that could determine all kinds of laws – either for or against the teachings expressed in God’s word.
It’s time to make people have personal responsibility. It’s time to stand up for Israel. It’s time to defend the God ordained family structure and resist the homosexual agenda. It’s time to stand up and defend the Bible and the values it demands we live by. And, most importantly to God, it’s time we stop killing babies.
Jesus stood on a cross in defense of you. The least we can do is stand at a voting booth in defense of Him.
The Democratic Party endorses abortion, promotes homosexuality, has weakened in their defense of Israel, gives applause to irresponsibility, and wants God removed from nearly everything, including their own party platform. So it’s pretty easy to see…
Jesus wouldn’t vote for Obama, will you?
“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens." Exodus 18:21
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Winners that Cheat Are Losers
One of the main lessons any good parent tries to teach their children is to be honest and never cheat.
I guess Lance Armstrong either was never taught that lesson or simply forgot it.
Armstrong took the sports world by storm by winning seven Tour De France bike racing titles and putting the cycling sport on the map. Because of him we all now worry about running over riders during rush hour each day. Bikers are everywhere, all the time. Even I have one, though it is begging me to take her out for a ride.
For years this man was an American hero, even overcoming cancer during the process and inspiring people all over the world. What he had done was amazing; a record most agree was up there with the likes of Nolan Ryan's 5,000 strikeouts. It was a record most agree would never be broken again.
Too bad the record no longer stands.
Armstrong retired amidst a storm of controversy surrounding allegations of sports enhancement drug use. Though he never tested positive, most know athletes these days can beat nearly any drug test even those done without warning. Apparently, this man was proud and open about his use of the drugs, including his teammates and friends in his scheme. As most cheaters do, he felt invincible and never even thought about all that was at stake.
Well, the heat soon got too hot to stand ending in him being banned for life from the sport he loved and having all of his titles scratched from the record books.
It wasn't his enemies that did him in and called him out. It was his closest friends who finally spoke the truth.
Honesty and integrity are hard to find these days. Kids see other kids cheating, watch TV stars and other "idols" get away with lying and see too many adults that are just as bad. Even our nation's leaders appear to mislead and lie in attempts to win.
No one is perfect and all of us have likely crossed the lines between truth and untruths, but now more than ever we need to rise above the mediocrity and do our best to go against the tide - even if that means we lose.
Winning by cheating may feel good for a minute. It may even last a few years. But in the end a cheater is still just a loser in costume.
True winners don't cheat.
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
I guess Lance Armstrong either was never taught that lesson or simply forgot it.
Armstrong took the sports world by storm by winning seven Tour De France bike racing titles and putting the cycling sport on the map. Because of him we all now worry about running over riders during rush hour each day. Bikers are everywhere, all the time. Even I have one, though it is begging me to take her out for a ride.
For years this man was an American hero, even overcoming cancer during the process and inspiring people all over the world. What he had done was amazing; a record most agree was up there with the likes of Nolan Ryan's 5,000 strikeouts. It was a record most agree would never be broken again.
Too bad the record no longer stands.
Armstrong retired amidst a storm of controversy surrounding allegations of sports enhancement drug use. Though he never tested positive, most know athletes these days can beat nearly any drug test even those done without warning. Apparently, this man was proud and open about his use of the drugs, including his teammates and friends in his scheme. As most cheaters do, he felt invincible and never even thought about all that was at stake.
Well, the heat soon got too hot to stand ending in him being banned for life from the sport he loved and having all of his titles scratched from the record books.
It wasn't his enemies that did him in and called him out. It was his closest friends who finally spoke the truth.
Honesty and integrity are hard to find these days. Kids see other kids cheating, watch TV stars and other "idols" get away with lying and see too many adults that are just as bad. Even our nation's leaders appear to mislead and lie in attempts to win.
No one is perfect and all of us have likely crossed the lines between truth and untruths, but now more than ever we need to rise above the mediocrity and do our best to go against the tide - even if that means we lose.
Winning by cheating may feel good for a minute. It may even last a few years. But in the end a cheater is still just a loser in costume.
True winners don't cheat.
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Cowboys All About Profits
There just aren’t many bigger Dallas Cowboys fans than me. I have shrines celebrating Cowboys history in my home office as well as my main office. I worked part-time for the team back in the early 90s just so I could go to games for free. I go to training camp for a few days by myself just to study and prepare for the season. I owned a suite at one time and I’ve had season tickets since the early 2000s.
But at the end of last year I came to this reality: Jerry Jones has substituted winning for profits and ruined my team.
In the last 246 games, the team has gone 123-123 under his ownership and direction as the general manager. We have won one playoff game since 1996 much less sniff a SuperBowl.
The Cowboys now offer a mediocre product for the highest price and Jones is laughing all the way to the bank. The pride of the Schramm and Landry days are long gone. Even Jimmy Johnson is an old memory now. Put it this way, teams like the Raiders, Seahawks and Saints have won more in the last decade than we have and all three of those have been to a SuperBowl!
In any other real business world, a company that couldn’t improve its services or products for nearly two decades wouldn’t last even a few years. Yet Cowboys fans like me keep drinking the cool-aid in hopes one days Jones’ idiocy will win anyway.
I sent Jones a letter telling him goodbye last year and explained the above to him in clear detail. Now I go to a few games a year and buy some other schmucks tickets instead for about 1/5th the price.
If he cared so much about winning he would realize he is the common denominator each year and he would remove himself from personnel and team moves. I feel bad for the players and coaches to be honest.
Needless to say I am bitter about the whole thing. Can you tell? I love football and I love my Cowboys. It is my drug. Instead of hard working players eager to please and scared of losing their incomes, Jones and the NFL in general have created a money making monster of unreal proportions. Even the famed pink “Breast Cancer Awareness” push each year is more about money than the sad disease.
Maybe one day things will change. If not, I can only pray and hope my favorite time of the year ends with a Cowboys team finding a way to rise above blandness and win something on accident.
Because until it hits Jerry in the pocketbook; cash will be king.
Winning isn’t even on tap.
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…” I Timothy 6:10
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
But at the end of last year I came to this reality: Jerry Jones has substituted winning for profits and ruined my team.
In the last 246 games, the team has gone 123-123 under his ownership and direction as the general manager. We have won one playoff game since 1996 much less sniff a SuperBowl.
The Cowboys now offer a mediocre product for the highest price and Jones is laughing all the way to the bank. The pride of the Schramm and Landry days are long gone. Even Jimmy Johnson is an old memory now. Put it this way, teams like the Raiders, Seahawks and Saints have won more in the last decade than we have and all three of those have been to a SuperBowl!
In any other real business world, a company that couldn’t improve its services or products for nearly two decades wouldn’t last even a few years. Yet Cowboys fans like me keep drinking the cool-aid in hopes one days Jones’ idiocy will win anyway.
I sent Jones a letter telling him goodbye last year and explained the above to him in clear detail. Now I go to a few games a year and buy some other schmucks tickets instead for about 1/5th the price.
If he cared so much about winning he would realize he is the common denominator each year and he would remove himself from personnel and team moves. I feel bad for the players and coaches to be honest.
Needless to say I am bitter about the whole thing. Can you tell? I love football and I love my Cowboys. It is my drug. Instead of hard working players eager to please and scared of losing their incomes, Jones and the NFL in general have created a money making monster of unreal proportions. Even the famed pink “Breast Cancer Awareness” push each year is more about money than the sad disease.
Maybe one day things will change. If not, I can only pray and hope my favorite time of the year ends with a Cowboys team finding a way to rise above blandness and win something on accident.
Because until it hits Jerry in the pocketbook; cash will be king.
Winning isn’t even on tap.
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…” I Timothy 6:10
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Spoons, Forks and the Fellas
One thing is certain. Nothing means more to me than friends and family. Nothing.
Business is a challenge and it pays the bills and my sports teams give me that rush throughout the seasons. But nothing comes close to being with those you love. And rarely do I laugh more than when I’m acting stupid with my buddies.
Over the decades God has blessed me beyond measure with a group of close friends, some of which have known each other since the mid 80s. We call each other “the fellas”.
Today’s fellas derived from a group called “the dwellos” formed at Howard Payne University back in the early 90s but over the last two decades the group has grown to include others diversifying the group’s background and pushing the gang to over 10 members strong. I could name them all, but they know who they are.
As we have all moved farther apart, gotten older, and busier with work and kids, we rarely get to see or even talk to each other these days; especially not as a group at the same time. In the old days, the original members would have to find things to do like create the classic home movie Attack of the Killer Spoons in 1992.
In the summer of 2007 one of those rare times occurred at my home in Mansfield at “Fellas Weekend III”, in which most of us were able to gather for a quick reunion. What started off as a fellas take-over of Fort Worth and the Stockyards, ended with the filming of a new movie that paid homage to Spoons called Revenge of the Forks.
It took us 5 years, but in the fall of 2012 it was completed and released. As of this writing, it has well over 75 hits on YouTube, setting some new records. Just not sure which ones…
The world premier night was another one of those funny and rare fellas events. Spread all over the place between Denver, New Jersey, Dallas and San Antonio, we grabbed a hold of modern day technology to join together and watch it live as one. We started out with Facebook chatting, then moved to a conference call party line where the next 10 minutes was spent in total chaos as each of us tried to give the other a hard time. It had been more than 5 years since we had spent any kind of time together so a lot of ribbing had to be done.
A few minutes later “Dave” started the live streaming of the 8 minute horror classic we had created and the laughter began. Though a little more technology was used than in Spoons, Forks was truly a perfect sequel. After we spent another 10 minutes telling each other how stupidly hilarious it was and catching up some, the night ended as most of us had to tend to kids or get ready for the next day.
Life always happens.
I’m not sure if the fellas will ever unite again under one roof for Sliced by the Blades or some other stupid event. With kids and life being the way it is in your 40s, it may be eternity before we have that kind of time, or at the least we will likely be learning the secrets to wheel chair racing. But one thing is clear – we are all greatly blessed to know each other and have been brought together over the years.
Most people spend their lives hoping to have 1-2 friends they could trust with their lives. We just happen to have about 10 and none of us really know why.
I love my fellas. More than most of them will ever know.
God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." Colossians 3:16
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
Business is a challenge and it pays the bills and my sports teams give me that rush throughout the seasons. But nothing comes close to being with those you love. And rarely do I laugh more than when I’m acting stupid with my buddies.
Over the decades God has blessed me beyond measure with a group of close friends, some of which have known each other since the mid 80s. We call each other “the fellas”.
Today’s fellas derived from a group called “the dwellos” formed at Howard Payne University back in the early 90s but over the last two decades the group has grown to include others diversifying the group’s background and pushing the gang to over 10 members strong. I could name them all, but they know who they are.
As we have all moved farther apart, gotten older, and busier with work and kids, we rarely get to see or even talk to each other these days; especially not as a group at the same time. In the old days, the original members would have to find things to do like create the classic home movie Attack of the Killer Spoons in 1992.
In the summer of 2007 one of those rare times occurred at my home in Mansfield at “Fellas Weekend III”, in which most of us were able to gather for a quick reunion. What started off as a fellas take-over of Fort Worth and the Stockyards, ended with the filming of a new movie that paid homage to Spoons called Revenge of the Forks.
It took us 5 years, but in the fall of 2012 it was completed and released. As of this writing, it has well over 75 hits on YouTube, setting some new records. Just not sure which ones…
The world premier night was another one of those funny and rare fellas events. Spread all over the place between Denver, New Jersey, Dallas and San Antonio, we grabbed a hold of modern day technology to join together and watch it live as one. We started out with Facebook chatting, then moved to a conference call party line where the next 10 minutes was spent in total chaos as each of us tried to give the other a hard time. It had been more than 5 years since we had spent any kind of time together so a lot of ribbing had to be done.
A few minutes later “Dave” started the live streaming of the 8 minute horror classic we had created and the laughter began. Though a little more technology was used than in Spoons, Forks was truly a perfect sequel. After we spent another 10 minutes telling each other how stupidly hilarious it was and catching up some, the night ended as most of us had to tend to kids or get ready for the next day.
Life always happens.
I’m not sure if the fellas will ever unite again under one roof for Sliced by the Blades or some other stupid event. With kids and life being the way it is in your 40s, it may be eternity before we have that kind of time, or at the least we will likely be learning the secrets to wheel chair racing. But one thing is clear – we are all greatly blessed to know each other and have been brought together over the years.
Most people spend their lives hoping to have 1-2 friends they could trust with their lives. We just happen to have about 10 and none of us really know why.
I love my fellas. More than most of them will ever know.
God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." Colossians 3:16
(c) 2012, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it.”
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Last American Hero?
Think about this for just one second:
You move your foot off a step and slowly, nervously place it....
...on the flippin' moon!
Over your shoulder is home, in the minds eye position usually reserved for the very thing you just put your foot down on. The man on the moon is now your neighbor. Earth is a color marble hanging in the stars and you have no idea if your vehicle will really get you back. No internet, smart phones, or texting. Just you, a few other crazies like you and God.
That was Neil Armstrong's very experience in 1969 when he became the essential American icon of all time and a hero to us all. Hundreds of thousands of miles away was everything he knew. Yet he and his crew did this to make America stand taller than all the rest. And because everyone else was simply too afraid.
The moon?? Really?
It's still amazing to think of even now, 43 years later.
That's what makes his recent passing so historical and captivating.
At a time when the cold war was a daily threat, civil rights was a heated movement, and a President had been assassinated just a few years prior, the country was in need of something to hang on to.
We needed a hero and Neil Armstrong stepped up to the plate by stepping onto the moon.
Our world is once again in chaos and it needs heroes more than ever before.
You might not be able to put your boot on the moon. But one thing you can count on: God has a plan for you, and it's not just sitting by watching the rest of us. Adopt a child, volunteer more, give more, stand up for your faith, help someone in need, or just be a better friend. Do something.
Find "your mission" and grab a hold of it. Be a hero.
And like his family asked us to do, throw a wink up towards Neil the next time you see that big glowing sphere lighting up the night.
One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained." Psalms 8:3
© 2012, J. Brady Speers
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
sponsored by http://www.bradyspeers.net/
You move your foot off a step and slowly, nervously place it....
...on the flippin' moon!
Over your shoulder is home, in the minds eye position usually reserved for the very thing you just put your foot down on. The man on the moon is now your neighbor. Earth is a color marble hanging in the stars and you have no idea if your vehicle will really get you back. No internet, smart phones, or texting. Just you, a few other crazies like you and God.
That was Neil Armstrong's very experience in 1969 when he became the essential American icon of all time and a hero to us all. Hundreds of thousands of miles away was everything he knew. Yet he and his crew did this to make America stand taller than all the rest. And because everyone else was simply too afraid.
The moon?? Really?
It's still amazing to think of even now, 43 years later.
That's what makes his recent passing so historical and captivating.
At a time when the cold war was a daily threat, civil rights was a heated movement, and a President had been assassinated just a few years prior, the country was in need of something to hang on to.
We needed a hero and Neil Armstrong stepped up to the plate by stepping onto the moon.
Our world is once again in chaos and it needs heroes more than ever before.
You might not be able to put your boot on the moon. But one thing you can count on: God has a plan for you, and it's not just sitting by watching the rest of us. Adopt a child, volunteer more, give more, stand up for your faith, help someone in need, or just be a better friend. Do something.
Find "your mission" and grab a hold of it. Be a hero.
And like his family asked us to do, throw a wink up towards Neil the next time you see that big glowing sphere lighting up the night.
One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained." Psalms 8:3
© 2012, J. Brady Speers
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
sponsored by http://www.bradyspeers.net/
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Is it Black Night?
What kids Say Is Not What They Mean...
Earlier this week, it was a daddy night for me and the kiddos. Julie's business had her out for the evening and I needed some time with the kids so it was a perfect excuse to load them up the in minivan and head out to dinner some place.
Spaghetti Warehouse it was.
Now let me say, having dinner with six year old twins and a four year old boy is always an interesting experience, chopped full of me saying things like: "stop that", "sit down", "get that out of your mouth", "put that down", "get busy eating", "why did you lick that?", "stop starring", "say excuse me", "no more of...", "it's ok, it was an accident", "why did you do that?", "why didn't you tell me earlier?", etc. But the time usually involves some laughter too.
Kids know how to say the funniest things and this was one of those nights.
As the four of us are enjoying the remnants of our Italian feast at a table crammed into the famous Spaghetti Warehouse trolley car, I noticed (in my peripheral vision) a couple and their kids walking right past us and then being seated right next to us. For some reason my mind made a note that they were all wearing black of some kind.
It was then that one of my 6 year old girls said "Daddy, is it black night?".
And mind you, she asked this loud enough for most in the entire trolley car to hear.
I gave her "the look" and took a quick glance at the family.It was then I noted something else about this family.
They were African American. Yep, and they were wearing mostly all black.
All of this transpired in a matter of milliseconds mind you, but I was now horrified and truly embarrassed. I quickly recovered by saying loudly, "Yes honey, allot of people are WEARING black here tonight. People like all colors. See allot of others are wearing red." Then I proceeded to have a little conversation with my sweeties about not starring and not talking about people - much less those that are 48 inches away, and how it's just rude.
I doubt the family even noticed, but we swiftly paid our bill and made our way out leaving these people in the little trolley car to eat their meals in peace and without any further comments that could possibly be construed in some other fashion.
After we left I frankly broke down in complete laughter. Kids. What are the odds? And talk about timing. I mean, really.
The honest truth is that we are about as far from a racist family as one could ever know. It's just not an issue in our home, but boy how that comment could have made the news!
The sad truth is though God made each of us different and did so to glorify his creative abilities, our world still seems content on dividing us by color of skin, origin, geography, social status, and religion now more so than ever.
This funny little moment won't be remembered at all by my three kids years from now. But for me, it was a real reminder that we need to continue to teach others by example that God created each and every one of us and we should spend our lives loving and embracing one another, regardless of our creative differences.
After all, everyone is different in their own way.
Even when many are wearing black.
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
© 2012, J. Brady Speers
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
sponsored by http://www.bradyspeers.net/
Earlier this week, it was a daddy night for me and the kiddos. Julie's business had her out for the evening and I needed some time with the kids so it was a perfect excuse to load them up the in minivan and head out to dinner some place.
Spaghetti Warehouse it was.
Now let me say, having dinner with six year old twins and a four year old boy is always an interesting experience, chopped full of me saying things like: "stop that", "sit down", "get that out of your mouth", "put that down", "get busy eating", "why did you lick that?", "stop starring", "say excuse me", "no more of...", "it's ok, it was an accident", "why did you do that?", "why didn't you tell me earlier?", etc. But the time usually involves some laughter too.
Kids know how to say the funniest things and this was one of those nights.
As the four of us are enjoying the remnants of our Italian feast at a table crammed into the famous Spaghetti Warehouse trolley car, I noticed (in my peripheral vision) a couple and their kids walking right past us and then being seated right next to us. For some reason my mind made a note that they were all wearing black of some kind.
It was then that one of my 6 year old girls said "Daddy, is it black night?".
And mind you, she asked this loud enough for most in the entire trolley car to hear.
I gave her "the look" and took a quick glance at the family.It was then I noted something else about this family.
They were African American. Yep, and they were wearing mostly all black.
All of this transpired in a matter of milliseconds mind you, but I was now horrified and truly embarrassed. I quickly recovered by saying loudly, "Yes honey, allot of people are WEARING black here tonight. People like all colors. See allot of others are wearing red." Then I proceeded to have a little conversation with my sweeties about not starring and not talking about people - much less those that are 48 inches away, and how it's just rude.
I doubt the family even noticed, but we swiftly paid our bill and made our way out leaving these people in the little trolley car to eat their meals in peace and without any further comments that could possibly be construed in some other fashion.
After we left I frankly broke down in complete laughter. Kids. What are the odds? And talk about timing. I mean, really.
The honest truth is that we are about as far from a racist family as one could ever know. It's just not an issue in our home, but boy how that comment could have made the news!
The sad truth is though God made each of us different and did so to glorify his creative abilities, our world still seems content on dividing us by color of skin, origin, geography, social status, and religion now more so than ever.
This funny little moment won't be remembered at all by my three kids years from now. But for me, it was a real reminder that we need to continue to teach others by example that God created each and every one of us and we should spend our lives loving and embracing one another, regardless of our creative differences.
After all, everyone is different in their own way.
Even when many are wearing black.
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
© 2012, J. Brady Speers
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
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