Criminals Laugh at Liberal Policies
Drug dealers were caught on tape laughing at changes to New York's drug laws and planning more ways to victimize society. Check out this quote:

"They just gave me the free-for-all," he said. "You know what that means? I'm burnin' the streets up when I go home."

People like New York's Governor Patterson and members of the ACLU spend more time coddling criminals than caring for victims of crime. People in New York who are terrorized and murdered by drug dealers should make sure that no elected officials who supported this mess ever get elected to anything again.

Lou Dobbs Polls the Socialist/Welfare Tax System
Check out this poll at www.loudobbs.com:

Now that 60% of all voters receive more from the federal government than they pay in taxes, do you believe we are officially a welfare state?

Hmmm....I'd say...YES!

Again, I'm not saying that people who need help shouldn't get it, that's where charity comes in. Isn't it "fair" that EVERYONE contribute something to the system. Even G-d expects us all contribute something. We should not have a government-imposed class of takers and a class of givers in our society.

I have a problem with the government playing winners and losers, replacing the role of charity, and using taxation shenanigans to gain more control of our lives.

Message Reflecting an Awesome Model of the Church
The following message is from the newsletter of The Village Church in Hapeville, GA. I was quite moved by the column. I think it shows a reflection of the heart of Christ in a local assembly. So many people are turned off by church nowadays. I would encourage anyone people who may have had a bad experience, or no church experience at all, to read, reconsider and realize that there are places that try to reflect the message of the gospel.

What is unique about The Village?
by Pastor Ray Waters

The Village Church is a place where the person farthest away from God is considered of supreme worth. Because of this belief our service is user friendly to the person who does not know much about God or the Bible. That is why we try to communicate in a way that he will understand. We do not use 'Christian jargon' when we speak. We try to talk in a language the unchurched person will get. An old preacher told me once, "If I talk over their heads it doesn't mean I am smarter than they are. It might just mean I don't know how to aim."

The Village Church is a place where people who have thought themselves to be 'nobodies' can actually feel loved and honored as real 'somebodies'. I have been in church my whole life. I have not seen that value lived out like it is at The Village. We honor the men and women who have servant hearts. We honor people who have overcome difficulties to discover their faith. We honor people even when their story is different. We have a lot of really different stories represented at The Village. I love to see people honored who never thought that was a possibility in this life.

The Village is a place that teaches you can get "past your past." Most churches are clear on this point as long as your past was before you accepted Christ. But what do you do with people who have made horrific mistakes after they have become a Christian? Many churches do not address that reality. The Village believes as God's grace reveals to us our sinfulness we can come to HIM for forgiveness. And HE doesn't leave us in our broken fragmented pieces. HE takes our broken life and makes it into something better for His glory. That is Good News to people like me who have seriously blown it more than once. The Village is a place that won't give up on you. We believe this life is a process. As followers of Jesus we take two steps forward and sometimes we take a step or two back. This is not making excuses. It is the way life works. It is part of maturing.

The Village believes the message of the Bible is Good News. We are not a place that beats up sinners. That was not Jesus' style. Most sinners are painfully aware of their situation. We preach a message of hope, of redemption, of another chance. We tell people don't give up. We want the world to know God is crazy in love with them. He sent Jesus to redeem us. He is not mad at us but wants to walk with us through this life. I agree with Max Lucado who said, "If God had a refrigerator, he'd have your picture on it." The Village is a profoundly positive place dedicated to reaching as many people as possible with the saving message of Jesus.

The Village Church is a perfect place for people who aren't. May her tribe increase.

May more local churches adapt this gracious view.