September is here
It seems like an eternity since I have been around. Actually it has only been Tuesday since my last post, but I usually don’t go that long. I think what happened is that September snuck up on me. Does anyone else feel that way? I mean…I remember looking at my September calendar back in August and thinking, "Wow…this September doesn’t look as bad as past years." I guess I brought it upon myself. Why couldn’t I keep my big mouth shut? Now I look at my September calendar and think, "Now that is more like it." But, in all seriousness, I would have been worried if it were not busy in September…so I guess I should say, "Thanks God?" 😐
Scary envelop
I went to get the mail on Friday and a certain envelop got my heart beating a little faster than normal. The return address said, "Court Administrator". I remember thinking, "Oh crap!…what did I do." Then I really got nervous thinking maybe I was being summoned for jury duty. So I hesitantly opened the envelop and held the single piece on paper in my hands. I almost didn’t want to open it. Eventually I did and found out that somehow, someway I got put on the Jackson County Domestic Violence Awareness Council. The first meeting is coming up on Sept. 10. The letter was signed by the judge of the district court here in Jackson. I guess maybe I should go. At least it is not a parking ticket or jury duty.
Ray
This past Sunday I asked you to pray for Ray and his family. Ray suffered a stroke two weeks ago this Sunday. On Tuesday Sept. 4 Ray died. Without a feeding tube I expected Ray to hang on a lot longer than 5 days, but I guess Ray was ready to go and God was ready to receive him. Ray was 89 years old and had lived a long, fruitful, fulfilling and busy life. When I read his obituary last night I was blown away by how much Ray was involved in the community and the church. The years I knew Ray his health had declined to such a place where he could not really communicate with me. I have learned more about Ray this past week than I have in the three years I knew him. I am going to miss Ray.
P.S. The Celebration of New Life service (funeral) is today, Saturday, Sept. 8 at 1pm.
LaMar
On Tuesday of this week I wrote a post titled Kicked in the butt by God where I told the story of a man name LaMar. Well…LaMar called me yesterday. He told me that he contacted the Catholic church in town, where he left his dead car, and told them he was coming to get it fix today. LaMar was then told by the church secretary that his car had already been towed. He was blown away. Now…I am not exactly sure what happened. LaMar claims he had something worked out with the church and the police, but apparently there has been some miscommunication. If it is not one thing it is another. I feel for LaMar. I hope he figures something out. And I hope that if God needs me to help in someway that I will respond.
Scripture
The scripture verse I have taped to my computer is this: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary, the devil, prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (1 Peter 5:6-9)
Somehow those verses seem fitting this week. Take care and God bless.
-edh-
The Heart of a Pastor 
Please let the churches get involved with domestic violence. The present solutions being applied are not working because they do not match scripture as to how this should be handled. We are lacking the guts to do the right thing with domestic violence. Instead we are choose not to be like the Good Samaritan but to walk on by and pretend we dont notice. I am a survivor of domestic violence and knowing that God loved me is the only thing that gave me hope to escape the terror of the abuse. The victims of abuse need to know that God loves them and the churches need to get more involved for this reason. The present situation does not allow God’s name to even be mentioned.
There is a greater opportunity here if Bishop Weeks would take advantage of this for the greater good all. We hear a lot about victims and in fact I have written a book titled FAMILY TERROR available at http://www.familyterror.com as I am a survivor of domestic violence.
You see the problem is that we are addressing the wrong side of domestic violence. Everything is for the shelters to protect and hide the victims. If the abusers were made to step up and be responsible for their actions there could be much pain and suffering saved.
If an abuser would commit himself to another location and enter a half-way house type setting, counseling and help for the problem could be addressed ( and it is not a anger management issue), the family and children could not be disturbed which would be much better for the children, the children could be told the truth (that daddy or mommy loved them but they are sick and are going away to get better) and not be hauled off to jail in a sense the child will never forget, etc. If the abuser would take responsibility and sincerely want help for the problem, the abuser would not want to endanger or harm his family any further.
Christians should demand the abuser step forward and accept responsibility. Hiding the victim and letting the abuser go free is not the scriptural way things should be handled. Therefore it is no wonder the problem is growing and not decreasing. We are feeding the problem. Just ask yourself this. Wouldn’t Jesus act the same way he did concerning the money changers in the temple when he violently through the marketers out of the temple. This would be a matter Jesus would have reacted violently and not permitted. He would have glared right at the abuser. He would not have thought it was right to participate in secret hide-a-ways. But we Christian want to pretend it does not exist. Again, like the Good Samaritan that stopped to help while all the others walked on by and refused assistance along the road to the man. It is Bishop Weeks that can change history here and has the strongest ministry to offer as it is not a duplication of another, and it is the right thing to do for a man to guide others to be responsible.
80% of incarcerated individuals are from domestic violent homes. As children are growing up and seeing there family not be protected by the laws of our country and they also see the good Christian people pass on by and pretend they don’t see their pain, it is no wonder. These children grow up not respecting the laws. These children also grow up to think that God does not love them because of the actions of Christians to ignore their pain.
The scriptures tell us to address this differently than is being done. Christians are the ones that are going to have to step up to the plate.
Deb — I apologize. I did not mean to make light of this appointment to this very important council. Thank you for what you said. You are right, “Christians are the ones that are going to have to step up to the plate.” Thank you for your passion in working with domestic violence. We need more people like you. I just hope and pray God will use me and this whole group I am part of, to promote healing in families. I am new to this issue and am looking forward to learning more.
Thanks for stopping by and for your comments. They are much appreciated.