Newest Priest in Brownsville

The Rev. Keith Pozzuto was ordained into the Sacred Order of Priests on Dec 12. A blessing for the church and the community! The Brownsville Telegraph covered the service and took photos.

The Telegraph Article

Meditations on Hate

I am perplexed, concerned and preoccupied by hate. It’s nothing personal, it just seems that if hate isn’t in the news it is making the news.

On the first thought, look toward the political season where folks on both sides of issues and candidates accuse the other of hate. On the latter, hate consistently makes the news… most recently in the terrorist acts in Mumbai.

There is True Hatred and Counterfeit Hatred.

Counterfeit Hatred is convenient, it is accusatory, it is a deflection, it is ignorance. It is an ad hominem argument. It takes the form “If you disagree with me, you must be filled with hate.”

True Hatred and Counterfeit Hatred are sometimes exchanged and are frequently found together but they are intensely different.

True Hatred is directed at someone or something. True Hatred cherishes animosity.

Perhaps you are familiar with the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-51)? The story begins and ends with True Hatred.

Joseph was one of 12 brothers. He had the love of his father, a robe, and dreams of grandeur. His brothers were jealous and hated him for this.

The brother’s feelings were dear to them; they cherished this animosity, nurtured it and fostered it in their hearts and with each other. Encouraging it and perhaps treating it with tenderness and affection just as a mother looks upon her child. But this child is vile and contemptuous; it is hideous to the eye and would be reviled by anyone not caught in its spell. Their delight in this evil would lead to active enmity and violence against their brother.

Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him but then opted to strip him, throw him into a well and sell him into slavery. They hated him and rid themselves of his presence. Joseph lived in slavery, then imprisonment but in the end gained the favor of pharaoh and became the viceroy over all Egypt during a great famine. It was at this time where Joseph’s brothers, in search of wheat, were reunited with Joseph. They feared that Joseph would repay their evil with evil… that he hated them.

They lived in this fear and when their father died, it came to light one final time. "When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" … But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

They believed that Joseph had cherished his animosity all these years and would now unleash this enmity at the death of his father. But Joseph had forgiven his brothers and not only saw the completeness of God’s plan but lived in and experienced its peace. Forgiveness triumphed over hatred.

These are my meditations on hate:

Hatred is a condition of the heart. It often ends in violence but it is born from pride, jealousy, envy, fear,… Jesus said "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

Few people experience True Hatred in the first person… a concerted and direct animosity from cherished sin intended to destroy – be it emotional, spiritual or physical destruction. I can think of 2, maybe 3 times in my life where I can say that I was the recipient of True Hatred.

Hatred changes the countenance of man. In perhaps the first manifestation of recorded hatred, it is obvious that hatred changed the countenance of Cain. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 5)

Hatred separates us from God. King David, also of the Old Testament, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66)

Hatred is a choice. By the grace of God, it is within our ability to escape its grasp through repentance. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15)

Discerning Moments

. . . it highly concerns us to know by what methods [nations] were founded; by what steps they rose to that exalted pitch of grandeur which we so much admire; what it was that constituted their true glory and felicity; and what were the causes of their declension and fall.

But another object of infinitely greater importance, claims our attention . . . [History] proclaims universally the greatness of the Almighty, his power, his justice, and, above all, the admirable wisdom with which His Providence governs the universe . . . that God disposes all events as supreme Lord and Sovereign; that he alone determines the fate of kings and the duration of empires; and that he transfers the government of kingdoms from one nation to another because of the unrighteous dealings and wickedness committed therein.

If the blessings of liberty are to be maintained, they need to be carefully identified and cherished by each generation. Let us not break faith with those whose blood was shed in behalf of us--their posterity. Let us be faithful to the next generations who follow us.

Rollin's Ancient History, 1730 quoted in Verna Hall's
The Christian History of the American Revolution: Consider and Ponder, p. 602, 604-605.

Political Numeracy

It's election day and I'm sitting in the lobby of a Fortune 500 company watching capitalism at work. (Note that I voted by absentee ballot). Any post on this site can represent 1 to 10+ hours of reading, thinking, researching, etc. And for every post you see, there are at least 5-10 that I haven't written but have thought about.

The number of politically related posts have increased with the election season... but admittedly many are superficial. I was inspired to start something new (and still keep The Brownsville Experience).

So today, I am announcing the launch of Political Numeracy. The first post is scheduled for January 20, 2009.

2008 Voter's Guide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PENNSYLVANIA FAMILY iNSTITUTE PUBLISHES NON-PARTISAN VOTER INFORMATION
October 30, 2008

Harrisburg, PA– Good news! More than four thousand Pennsylvania citizens are logging onto PAvoter.info, the latest family-friendly, interactive Web site for voter information!

The Pennsylvania Family Institute has published an easy-to-use, interactive, non-partisan Voter Guide available at PAvoter.info. The site employs the latest technology to allow users to enter their zip code to access all candidates on their local ballot, their views on key issues, and campaign contact information.

The Pennsylvania Family Institute has been publishing impartial, non-partisan voter information since 1991. This year PAvoter.info will cover the races for President, U.S. House, State Row offices, state House and state Senate.
"Pennsylvania voters want to know where the candidates stand on issues and how to contact their campaigns, and they have the right to know", stated Michael Geer, President of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

"Candidates are spending millions of dollars trying to convince voters to remember a name or a face or a sound bite. PAvoter.info digs deeper to the level where issues intersect faith, family and Pennsylvania's future."

To view the Presidential portion of the Pennsylvania Family Institute voter guide, please visit www.PAfamily.org.

Pennsylvania Family Institute, 23 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101

Obama Record and Policy Statements on Abortion

According to CatholicVote.com...

1. Obama is undecided on whether life begins at conception - Saddleback Church Forum Aug 16th, 2008. Obama voted against born alive protections for abortion survivors four times, and voted against a ban on partial-birth abortion in the Illinois state senateSOURCES: http://www.bornalivetruth.orgAudacity of Hope written by Barack Obama

2. Obama has pledged to Planned Parenthood to sign The Freedom of Choice Act, a law which would cancel every state, federal, and local regulation of abortion, no matter how modest or reasonable. It would even abolish all state restrictions on government funding for abortions. Catholics that pay income tax will be paying an abortionist to perform an abortion. It would also abolish state laws that protect Catholic doctors and nurses from losing their jobs if they refuse to participate in abortions. It would abolish requirements for parental notification and informed consent for mothers who consider the procedure. – Obama speech to Planned Parenthood, July 17, 2007 He is endorsed by pro-Abortion industry leader Planned Parenthood and has a 100% NARAL voting record. -
SOURCES: http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/campaigns/barack-obama-endorsement-111.htmhttp://www.naral.org/elections/statements/obama.html

3. Obama would repeal the Mexico City policy, which bars federal funding for international nongovernmental organizations involved in abortion-related services and would pit the US against the Vatican on the international fight against abortion.
SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

4. He strongly supports the 1973 Supreme Court decision on abortion rights and says he will oppose any constitutional measure to overturn it. - SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

5. Obama has pledged to choose Justices with a Pro Abortion agenda and he voted against Roberts and Alito. SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

6. Obama voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions and prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

7. Obama supports the destruction of embryos for experimentation and voted to expand research to more embryonic stem cell lines. SOURCE: http://obama.senate.gov/press/070411-obama_renews_su/

8. He voted yes on $100M to fund contraceptives for teens and sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

9. Voted no on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP a program that gives funds to states in order to provide health insurance to families with children. SOURCE: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/15942

10. He opposed the federal marriage amendment in 2006 and also favors repealing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which gives a state the right not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in another state. SOURCE: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20080719_6257.php

PAID FOR BY CATHOLICVOTE.COMA PROJECT OF THE FIDELIS CENTER FOR LAW & POLICY
Contact (312) 201-6559 or www.CatholicVote.com

Don't Complain

I count my family and friends among my greatest blessings. This past weekend provided a powerful reminder of the love borne from the intimacy of family and the love that transcends culture, distance and infrequent visit. We were truly blessed to host Father Robert and his wife Mariam who are visiting the States from Tanzania. We spent the weekend eating (a lot), telling stories, taking hayrides, roasting marshmallows, picking pumpkins…

The kids enjoyed the near singular focus on having fun and especially Robert’s mesmerizing stories of encounters with giant snakes, lions and elephants. I doubt I will forget the picture of Robert sitting on the floor and the face of the kids as he weaved the story of starting an elephant stampede while riding his bicycle… lesson: don’t ring a bell to move an elephant.

Robert’s visit has a very serious nature. Quite frankly, it makes the current “crisis” in the United States look more like an “event” or maybe a “mild debacle”. The AIDs epidemic in Tanzania has claimed over one-third of the population and has created 1,500,000 orphans. The numbers and the need are staggering.

Robert and Mariam, in their love for God, have great compassion on the orphans of Tanzania. They began by bringing in 8 orphans to their home in 1996 and now run an orphanage with 120 children and an additional 80 for whom they care. Life is not easy in the orphanage with only six helpers, no electricity, and clean water two miles away.

They have a vision of hope. Real hope in the midst of real suffering. A hope that comes from the simple gratitude for food, clothing and shelter… of being educated to serve community, country and God… and being adopted into a family temporal and eternal.

Robert’s message on Sunday was simple: don’t complain. God provides, God sustains, God blesses.

This week, I have complained about bad weather, late flights, inadequate hotel accommodations, late dinners, too much work, other people, sore muscles, … shall I go on?

I hear Robert’s deep voice as he surveys my family… “Mark, you are truly blessed.” I am.

And… You are.

The needs of the orphanage are simple: electricity and water. To connect to the “grid” is costly, about $25,000. I can choose to hide behind economic certainty, too many bills, too much need. Or I can choose to give out of a multitude of blessing. We will do the latter and have pledged $1,000 to Good Samaritan Orphanage.

If you feel compelled to help, please contact me and I will provide the details.

You can also visit the Good Samaritan Orphanage website and donate there.

http://www.gsotanzania.org/index.html

Racist Western Pennsylvania

Not only does John Murtha refer to his constituents as racists but also "confused, despondent and unhappy." Unbelievable.

Around the Dinner Table

Politicians love to connect with the American public by presuming they know what we discuss “around the dinner table”. Over the past few weeks, I have had numerous dinner conversations with many people from many walks of life from many parts of the world.

The obvious common threads include the US election and the global economy. I hear some of the usual sound bites about McCain, Palin and Obama. And I am quick to relay my sentiment that none of the candidates represent my view of government, industry or religion. I express my disappoint in the collective lack of experience, lack of plan and lack of inspiration. I am finding that many people agree.

This is, of course, an unscientific focus group. But, then again, so is the presumption that Biden or Palin (as in the VP debate) know what we are talking about. In fact, we are not talking about a paycheck, we are not talking about our health care and we are not talking about our mortgage. We are collectively wondering, “Is this the best America has to offer?”

Where is the genius of Adams? The ability in inspire government like Henry? The clear articulation of Jefferson? The perseverance of Lincoln?

Where is sacrifice? Where is humility? Where is might? Where is truth? Where is righteousness? Where is leadership?

Where are the great men who stood with these great leaders? Where is the church? Where is the fire of the revolution? Where is America?

I lament. I weep.

I was recently at dinner with a multi-national group of businessmen. The conversation deepened with a man from France and a man from Spain. They wondered, with admiration, how can a nation that is so different remain so united. I quickly turned them to one of the greatest vision statements ever written “We the People of the United States of America.”

A statement so simple and profound but yet would bind together a dispersed and diverse group of people, give birth to a nation and hold her together for over 200 years.

Read the Preamble and know who we are. Know justice, liberty and freedom and you know what we cherish. Know God and you know who gives us hope, who inspires, and who comforts.

It is not time for America to change. It is time for her to return to the ideals that make her great and to the God who demonstrates his mercies and is always ready to forgive and welcome.

And the truth is… I must be ready to return.

I must be quick to offer forgiveness, to show compassion and to love.

Not just some distant people or those on the other side of the aisle but my friends, my family and my neighbor.

Change, whether its revival or revolution, starts in the heart of man.

How is your heart?

DeWeese Knew of Bonuses

The former chief of staff to House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese testified in court Wednesday that DeWeese knew bonuses were paid to reward legislative employees for their help on political campaigns. See full story...

Observer Reporter Story 10/08/08

Diocese of Pittsburgh Votes for Realignment

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh overwhelmingly votes for realignment.

Clergy 121 aye and 33 nay

Laity 191 aye and 69 nay

Get Out the Vote

Join me on CatholicVote.com.

It is an exciting opportunity to be part of the start of something new.

We can help shape the movement and have a voice in its future.

I hope you will join. www.catholicvote.com

The Brownsville Economy

There are about 1,560 working age adults living in the Brownsville Borough. At any one time, we employ 25-30 drug dealers in the community. Dealers don’t typically work alone. If you count their familial support, their runners, their attorneys, their friends who serve as eyes and ears… it’s not hard to imagine 100-150 folks involved in the supply side of this economy. That’s about 10% of our population. Clearly it is one of the biggest employers in the community. The Brownsville Economy is a Drug Economy.

And I have known many dealers over the years. They are kids, neighbors, friends, grandmothers. They are black, they are white. Some consistently elude the law, many are incarcerated, some are dead.

I have had frightening encounters, thoughtful conversations and shocking points of view from dealers.

We have a very active and brazen dealer still living on our block and selling on our corner. Three times in the past few weeks we have run right into a deal. The unpredictability of a wild animal protecting its home and territory is the best way to describe such an encounter.

I have counseled and prayed with men at my kitchen table who believe they are morally justified in selling drugs as long as the money is used to put food on the table.

I have listened to men use oppression and racism as an excuse to lash back and seek vengeance through selling drugs to those of a different color.

There is not a single reason why the dealer exists. There is not a single solution to the problem. The “War on Drugs” may be a great description of what happens in Columbia, along our borders and against the cartels. But in Brownsville and neighborhoods across our country, the war is against kids, neighbors and families. It’s against a culture, against apathy and even oppression.

And the cost is found in despair, destroyed lives, and the “hard cost” of addictions, law enforcement, treatment and crime that is estimated to be nearly $181 billion (ONDCP Study).

Who can help?

Government. But laws and regulation won’t overcome corruption and the inability to enforce.

Business. But economic opportunity won’t overcome sloth and hatred.

The Church. But silence must be replaced by action.

It will take all and all working and all working together.

Choose Wisely

Over the past several months, the corporate parties have worked hard to establish the brand of their candidates. Yet, the best marketing in the world can’t change their experience, their policies and their gaffes. In November, we can choose…

We can choose a ticket that thinks that the pledge was written by the Founding Fathers or a ticket that believes there are 57 states.

We can choose a ticket that doesn’t have the discipline to graduate college in four years or a ticket that doesn’t have the discipline to stop smoking.

We can choose a ticket that has the experience of a mayor of a small community or a ticket that has the experience of a community organizer.

We can choose a ticket with no significant foreign policy or economic experience or a ticket with no significant foreign policy or economic experience.

We can choose a ticket that has voted with Bush over 60% of the time or a ticket that has voted with Bush 90% of the time.

We can choose a ticket that doesn’t know what the Bush Doctrine is or one that agrees with its principles more than they admit.

We can choose a ticket with strong rhetorical skills and mediocre substance or a ticket with little rhetorical skills and some substance.

We can choose based on gender, race or age.

We can choose based on policy positions.

We can choose based on world view, moral compass, or religious roots.

We can choose on information or we can choose on misinformation.

The choice is yours. How you choose is yours.

"But choose wisely, for while the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you."

Coach DeWeese

In football, the coach never scores a touchdown, never throws the ball, never runs and barely places his foot on the field. He has to deal with players, managers, assistants, the media and the fans. He has to delegate the work and deal with so many people. How could he ever be held accountable for losing?

Such is the logic presented by The Bill DeWeese Campaign Committee in a letter I received today... "Bill leads a staff of nearly 900"... "Bill trusted his subordinates"... "The Grand Jury findings did not contain any indication that Bill knew about the behavior"

The democratic leadership wants him to go and now the polls are saying that Pennsylvanians want him to go. Grassroots.com is reporting that polling shows only 36% support for DeWeese in district.

It's about time.

Mattress Fire

Last Saturday was a beauty in Brownsville... sunny, blue skies, mid seventies. A great day to open the windows and breathe in the air only Brownsville can produce. Burning shingles, mattresses, couches, asbestos, etc. It's burn day in Brownsville, and we LOVE to burn!

Except that the borough has an ordinance against it. So we called 911, asked the police to come out and enforce the law. The neighbor was burning debris from a remodeling job and had a queen size mattress as an accelerant. I ran into the officer as he was contemplating doing his job. He dutifully took my name and then informed me it is OK to burn mattresses in Brownsville. My first thought was to highlight this with the visitor's bureau or a better way to market the community.

Give me your tired, your old,Your disregarded furniture to burn as we yearn to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the mattresses, shingles, couches, to me:
Visit Brownsville's smoldering doors.

Wow, I digress.

I dutifully informed the officer that, in fact, this resident was actually violating three portions of the code (1) only burn yard debris (2) tend the fire and (3) can't be a nuisance. He did have a chat with the neighbor and they did let the fire burn out, some 2 days later.

I was doing some yard work across the street later that day and I heard from their porch... "he's the one that called the police on us".... a few minutes later "he's the one that called the police on us"... a few minutes later "the officer told me that he's the one that called the police on us".

This had to happen at least six times. I choose to ignore it, was not taking the bait that day.

Makes you wonder about privacy laws when your identity from 911 calls is not held in confidence.

To protect and serve.

A Surprising Endorsement

Something I came across in my travels...

Senate Republican Ted Stevens (R) Who is a Republican from Alaska is Indicted

A federal grand jury has indicted longtime Senator Ted Stevens, Republican of Alaska, on charges of failing to disclose receiving gifts of services and construction work as part of a wide-ranging corruption inquiry involving public officials and corporations in his home state. (NY Times)

But Mr. Stevens’s constituents have a right to wonder why their revered senator, a Republican who has served them fiercely for four decades, ever agreed to have his home richly upgraded by someone so obviously hunting for the inside track to politicians. (NY Times Op)

Republican White House hopeful John McCain's campaign said on Wednesday the indictment of fellow Republican Sen. Ted Stevens was a "sad reminder" the next president will face a tough task rebuilding the public trust. (Reuters)

Eighty-four-year-old Republican Ted Stevens of Alaska, newly charged by the feds with corruption-related offenses, walked over to the desk of 90-year-old Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia yesterday morning. Byrd, in a wheelchair, clasped his friend's hands, then squinted up at him and shouted, "Say it ain't so!" (Washington Post)

Stevens is the Senate's longest-serving Republican and has been a dominant figure in congressional politics for a generation (AP)

The indictment of Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens strengthened forecasts that Democrats will gain Senate seats on Election Day. (WSJ)

Some observers think the reputation of the longest-serving Republican senator may weather this scandal. The former chairman and now ranking Republican on the influential U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Stevens is known as a master of pork barrel politics, with a record of channeling billions of federal dollars to his home state. (LA Times)

In case you missed it, Ted Stevens is a Republican.

Back in March of this year, I posted a few lines about Eliot Spitzer. It was on a whim and timely as I had a number of posts back then about government, common good, and integrity. I never mentioned his name but I did mention that he is a Democrat. Why did I do that?

First, let me say that blogging has given me an opportunity to practice those forms of speech I learned in 8th grade English class and honed in 10th grade speech class: satire, sarcasm, alliteration, onamonapea, irony, parallel sentence structure,…

Second, when the Spitzer story broke I was annoyed that I could not find a single article that listed his party affiliation. In fact, I had to search his bio on Wikipedia. So I deployed an ironic device and listed his party affiliation… which had nothing to do with the post and everything to do with the media’s inability to report this simple fact. So, I was “hiding what is actually reality in order to obtain a desired oratorical or artistic effect.”

Now for some more irony. It worked. The eight sentence Spitzer post is one of my most viewed and commented posts. I chuckled when I was gently reminded by an anonymous comment that Democrats don’t have the birthright to corruption. Indeed, that was half the point.

Corruption is truly a bipartisan issue. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Largest Drug Sweep in County History

The DA's office reported that over 100 arrest warrants were issued on Monday in a drug sweep, nearly two-thirds resulted in an arrest; the remaining are at large. At least 12 were served in Brownsville, including the Mayor's brother.

Score one for the good guys, trying to confirm if our neighborhood drug dealer was on the list.

Here is the story with all the names.

Herald Standard Story on Drug Arrests

Hope in What or Who

Our Founding Fathers were radicals, fundamentalists and zealots. Among them were men who invoked the Name of God and professed faith in Christ. They were intolerant, warmongers, and stubborn. They were the Right in men like John Adams. They were the Left in men like Thomas Jefferson. They were all patriots. They were willing to die for their country. They were willing to live for their country. Why? They had purpose, they had calling, and they had hope.

Their hope was not in government, not in the military, not in the economy, and not even in their fellow man. Their hope was in a God who provides, directs and sustains.

How times have changed! Our politicians preach hope in government, the military and the economy. Our citizens put into action the words from the pulpit (grassroots), evangelize the message (campaign) and come to the altar (of subsidy, welfare and rebate). That is the New Religion. Government is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.

Government becomes God.

How times remain the same! Government is not god in the same way the ancient kings and rulers proclaimed their divinity. We are too sophisticated for that. But yet, the end will be the same.

A reminder…

Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. (Jesus in Matthew 22:21)

The Three Plagues of Pearl Street

There is an expected lack of control in life. Accepting the expected is the challenge. Life in Brownsville is no different. We are living through the Three Plagues of Pearl Street.

First there are the criminals. Specifically, the drug activity has sky rocketed with the new neighbors. They live on the next block, but why deal drugs out of your house when you can use other people’s property? They are brazen and aggressive. Just yesterday, I saw two men in an old white pick-up truck with tow equipment… the passenger gets out and meets a third man exchanges drugs for money about 10 feet from where I am sitting in my car (if you are with the drug task force, license plates detailed descriptions on names are available). That is just the most recent incident in a long string this summer.

Second are the bats. They have been breeding in the attic of the townhouses and one escaped into the living area. A tenant woke up with one sitting on her chest. Apparently bats aren’t as cute up close. We think there are less than 10 in the attic and at the quotes I’ve been receiving from the exterminator, I think I could pay someone $250 per bat to catch them with their teeth.

Third are the fleas. Not only did I have to evict a tenant for not paying their rent for three months, they left behind a gift. I walked into the unit the other day and was swarmed with over 100 hungry and lonely fleas. One day I will write about our state regulations and judicial system that protects tenant rights. At the moment, I’m either too angry or too accepting (stage two or five in the tragedy model).

Birdzilla Attacks Brownsville

We were driving through downtown Brownsville this evening when, from the corner of my eye, I saw something eerily moving along the sidewalk. In fact, there were two of these creatures. It's not every day you see a chicken and a rooster taking a stroll through downtown.

We parked the car and went on a roundup! We herded the chicken and rooster to the train tracks where their odds were at least better than the road.

We heard that they fell off the last freight car through Brownsville. I snapped this picture with my phone once we made it to safety. I also have some amazing footage of the chicken crossing the road. The whole time I just asked myself "Why... Why...?" For another day.

Sue on the Way Out, Bail on the Way In

Who chooses to advertise in your town tells you something about the community. There is really only one way in and out of Brownsville. Citizens and visitors are met by Mitch, the bail bonds, on the way in and Edgar Snyder, personal injury attorney, on the way out

This is the real deal. I wish I was making it up (and, indeed, these signs are back to back).

Running the Race

The Apostle Paul was a man who loved a good fight, he loved the race, he knew what he was willing to die for and, more importantly, he knew what he was willing to live for. Some number of months ago, I heard a great story about the Persian War. I researched and reviewed this legend to relay it to you this morning (the story is based on the links at the end of the post).

If you review a map of Paul’s missionary journeys and superimpose those journeys over a map of the battles and troop movements of the Persian Wars (some 500 years earlier)… you would see that Paul’s mission trips and those battles match very closely. Paul preached and ministered in a land where magnificent and long standing myths, legends and heroes were visible and tangible in the culture, the architecture, the government and the military.

And it was in this context were Paul witnessed and proclaimed the love of God in Jesus. When and where he said things like “24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20)”

Five hundred years before Paul ministered in cities like Athens and Corinth, there were great wars and battles fought for man’s freedom. The Greeks would fight the Persians in this ancient land as a democratic rebellion against tyranny. The Athenians, in particular, were engaged in this battle for freedom and would win and lose over some fifty year period. This struggle would reach a climax when the Persians desired to punish Athens for their role in a rebellion and the destruction of a Persian city (Sardis).

A battle ensued and the Persians were met by one of their former soldiers Miltiades. The Athenians were greatly outnumbered. By some accounts 10,000 Athenians to 30,000 Persians. If the Greeks loose this battle – Greek power, culture, art, government and its influence on history is ruined. Europe is likely overtaken and the world as we know – never was.

Miltiades, recognizing that the Athenians are greatly outnumbered, sends his fastest runner – a man named Phidippides 140 miles to the city of Sparta to gain the support of their rivals to fight the common Persian enemy. However, the Spartans are in the middle of a religious festival and refuse to leave until the next full moon. Phidippides returns 140 miles over 2 days and 2 nights to fight along side his country men in the Battle of Marathon. He dons his battle gear and with his comrades looks down upon an army who inspires fear, who is better trained, and who has greater numbers. And now, their General tells them to advance at great speed toward the enemy – a very unusual tactic (to avoid the enemies arrows). Few likely believe they will make it out of this battle alive. But they are willing to die for their country and their freedom.

The two armies collide in fierce hand to hand combat with great spears, swords and the clanging of shields. Phidippides, who had run nearly 300 miles prior to this day, is among the thick of the battle. And beyond all probability the Athenians defeat the Persians and run them into the sea. Victory at Marathon is complete and now the Greeks must attempt to kill the Persian army and destroy their ships before they can board and sail to Athens.

But to no avail, more than a few hundred ships escape the hands of the Athenians. Now word must be sent to Athens to inform them of this great victory and to call them to arms to protect the city. Miltiades must turn to his fastest runner once again to cover the distance of 26 miles between Marathon and Athens. Phidippides knows he must well outrun the Persian fleets and cover mountainous terrain, he casts off his battle gear… he puts aside the memory and the fatigue of the hand-to-hand combat, the 280 miles he has already covered. The level of fatigue and exhaustion were beyond human experience, BUT his freedom and the freedom of his family and country were at stake and drove him through each painful stride. Phidippides reaches his beloved Athens and cries out NIKE! Victory! And it is with this single word, the last stride of the run and with this breath that Phidippides dies.

This is the legend heard by the Athenians, Corinthians, likely the Thessolians, the Philippians and the Romans. This is the 26 mile run – that we still use to commemorate this battle to this day - called a marathon. This is the legend and backdrop in the book of Hebrews…

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12)

And in the Apostle Paul’s words…

7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4)
24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20)

Map of Paul's Missionary Journeys
Map of Ancient Greece
Illustrated Persian Wars
Marathon - Quick Overview
Marathon with Links
Pheidippides
YouTube History Channel Documentary

Hey, My Business Plan Says NO Fibromyalgia

If it wasn’t so close to home it might be funny that someone who opened a store in Brownsville to sell Civil War reenactment supplies is blaming someone else for the business failure. Well, it’s more than blame… they want $10 million. Oh, and it’s more than the business failure… they also want damages for their failed marriage and their failed health.

The story as reported by the Tribune-Review

Hopefully, the picture of the store tells the story far better than my paltry wit and sarcasm.

What is the Midnight Message of Our Day?

And so through the night went his cry of alarm To every Middlesex village and farm, A cry of defiance, and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, And a word that shall echo for evermore! For, borne on the night-wind of the Past, Through all our history, to the last, In the hour of darkness and peril and need, The people will waken and listen to hear The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed, And the midnight message of Paul Revere.

Task Force Returns Call

For the record, the Fayette County Drug Task Force has attempted to return my call on two occasions at the end of last week. They don't leave return numbers.

At the same time, I had the opportunity to address drug use with the Bible Released Time class on Friday morning. One of the students in the class is one of the juveniles mentioned below. I gave the class five names and asked them what they had in common. Most of the student new exactly the answer I was after.

The names I gave them were Bible Released Time students over the last five years who were or are now drug dealers. I know at least four of the five have spent time in jail; one of the five was killed in drug related activity and one is currently being held by the U.S. Marshal Service (see Alumni posts).

The students were not very interested in talking about this; I suspect I broke some street code. We discussed how it is their responsibility to confront sin.

The very same day, one of the students in class was caught smoking dope on his porch.

Dear Fayette County Drug Task Force

I emailed the following note to the Drug Task Force today (specific names and locations redacted). I also left a message yesterday but have not heard back from them; maybe they're busy?

I own a complex of townhouses in Brownsville Borough. A number of juveniles from the neighborhood have been congregating in around this property at the invitation of two juveniles who live at ### XYZ Street (one of my rental units). I have seen them with marijuana and have smelled the smoke on two separate occasions. My other tenants have witnessed this, as well.

Another neighbor has witnessed a car pull up and one of the juveniles retrieve a package from the residence's mailbox and deliver it to the car. The two juveniles are NAME and NAME (last name is likely NAME, maybe NAME who live at ### XYZ); I don't know their friend's names yet but there are from 4-8 additional juveniles around the property.

I have called 911 on 2-3 separate occasions and have instructed my other tenants to do the same. Brownsville Borough is also aware of the situation and have increased patrols to the area.

Your assistance with this matter is greatly appreciated.

More On Vandalism

Spent the other night with the police, again. Someone took a half a dozen shots at our townhouse... good thing it was only a paintball gun. It cleans easy - so just another hassle.

In the mean time, the Brownsville Neighborhood Watch Program is working around the clock. I got a call from the good folks there about dog poop at the rental property. Like I need a voice message to let me know... I already stepped in it cutting the grass.

The drug dealer to dog poop ratio in Brownsville is probably 12 to 1. If we can keep the place a little cleaner, maybe we can boost that to 25 to 1. That's 25 drug dealers to every poop pile.

Hopkins has Record Breaking Write-ins

Unofficial counts put Greg Hopkins over the 2,000 mark for write-ins on the Democratic ticket. An unbelievable and record breaking number of write-in votes. Congratulations Greg and Team Hopkins and all the best for the fall!

Vandalism and Arson Update

I heard this morning that the damage to the Flatiron Building is around $5000. The good news is that two teens were apprehended. They were seen in and around the area shortly after the damage to the building.

The bad news is that one of them has a long history of vandalism, robbery and assault... and the police and/or the court system seem to exhibit leniency.

Also heard that both fires mentioned in earlier posts were definitely ruled arson. About 30 minutes after the house fire that endangered a family of seven, a young man showed up at a local hospital with burns on his face from an accelerant. It is not clear if he or anyone is a suspect.

The Flatiron Building

One of the few bright spots in Brownsville is The Flatiron Building; a renovated historic structure in "downtown" that houses a heritage center, art gallery, meeting rooms and offices.

Last night vandals broke at least six windows along the front of the building. We hope they are apprehended. If you would like to make a donation to support the heritage center or the good work of the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation, please follow the link above (it also provides more history and pictures of Brownsville).

Obama Regrets PA

Definitions of regret on the Web:

• repent: feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
• feel sad about the loss or absence of
• decline formally or politely; "I regret I can't come to the party"
• sorrow: sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment; "he drank to drown his sorrows"; "he wrote a note expressing his regret"; "to his rue, the error cost him the game"
• be sorry; "I regret to say that you did not gain admission to Harvard"

He says he didn't choose his words well, but "I said something that everybody knows is true."

"Obviously, if I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that," he told the Winston-Salem Journal of North Carolina.

Campaigning in Muncie, Ind., Obama called the controversy interesting.

"Lately there has been a little typical sort of political flare-up, because I said something that everybody knows is true, which is that there are a whole bunch of folks in small towns in Pennsylvania, in towns right here in Indiana, in my hometown in Illinois, who are bitter," Obama told the crowd.

Well... of course, there are people that are bitter. The offensive part of Obama's full statement is the implication that its the bitter people who "cling to guns or religion or antipathy..."

Obama is doing a good job of using the choice words of a politician... "I mis-spoke... I regret..." but never "I was wrong... I'm sorry... I apologize..." The Clinton's have mastered the language and Hillary is doing an absolutely brilliant job of capitalizing on Obama's mis-steps. At the same time, Obama continues to dig himself into a hole.

Many have called Obama's statement "elitist".

"Sen. Obama's remarks are elitist and they are out of touch," she [Clinton] told a crowd in Indianapolis.

But what I find most offensive is the implication from Senator Obama that (1) government can save people and (2) religion has failed. At best, I call that Socialist.

And now, I didn't say it as well as I should have, because you know the truth is that these traditions that are passed on from generation to generation, those are important." [Obama]

Just Another Bitter Small Town in PA

Here we are in Brownsville clinging to guns and religion with the audacity of despair. Save us Obama.

In case you missed Obama's quote from a San Francisco fund raiser...

You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them…And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not

And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

For an insightful commentary.

Greg Hopkins for 50th District State Representative

Southwest PA has a real opportunity to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of all Pennsylvanians this year. We are strongly endorsing Greg Hopkins for our State Representative in the 50th District.

Greg represents an opportunity for true reform in the PA legislature in open records, tax law, and government spending.

Greg will provide greater transparency, accountability and results.

He is a man of character and integrity and has strong moral stances in his pro-life beliefs and anti-gambling position.

I strongly encourage you to vote for Greg is this upcoming election.

In fact, if you are registered Democrat. I strongly encourage you to write-in Greg Hopkins on the Democratic ticket on April 22.

Join "VOTE GREG HOPKINS" on FACEBOOK

For more information on Greg, visit his website.

For my posts on Greg's opponent, Bill DeWeese, click here.

Race, Politics and Religion

It’s been several days now since the story of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright came into the public discussion. I’ve spent hours reading, listening and watching what the preachers, the politicians, the press and the people have to say about race, politics and religion.

After all of this, my initial reaction to the Reverend’s sermon remains a defining and critical point. It is grievous and gut-wrenching to listen to profane and blasphemous preaching from the pulpit. It is painful to listen to other ordained ministers call Wright a prophet when he has twisted, mis-used, and denied God’s word. It is sad this has been politicized.

The relationship between priest and communicant, pastor and congregant, shepherd and sheep is a powerful one. The ordained ministry is first one of representation; representation of Christ and his Church. It is not a relationship of genealogy, blood or metaphor. It is spiritual.

You can walkout, reject and disown this relationship. More importantly, and appropriately, you can call it to account (Matthew 18).

There is little question that the pastoral relationship between Wright and Obama is one that is dependent on race. I find this only problematic if this part of the relationship supersedes the Christ-centered spiritual relationship.

You can see and hear the pain and suffering of Jeremiah Wright. His pain and suffering is born from racism. And each of us face the trials of this world and the kinds of suffering: in abandonment, abuse, loss, injustice, betrayal… and all of their kin. And these forms of suffering have power. And this power, called sin, bears resentment for those who refuse to forgive.

The harboring of unforgiveness and the justification of unforgiveness by holding up the bible is blasphemous.

Barack Obama responded with a great speech. But a great man will call for forgiveness and repentance. A great man will call to account the words of a friend. A great man will take on the hard work of reconciliation.

Suffering bears sin. But, more importantly, suffering bears hope.

This is why the apostle Paul wrote to rejoice in our suffering.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Romans 5:3-5)

Hope is not born from our achievement but our suffering

Change is not born from a promise but from forgiveness

Holiness and righteousness cannot be sacrificed for unity

Reconciliation between men cannot take root until there is reconciliation with God.

A Season for Every Activity

The change in seasons has, once again, brought out the criminal element in Brownsville*.

In the past few weeks, our local convenience store was robbed, a man held police at bay for 10 hours after an altercation with his mother, firefighters came to a scene in the woods where 3 dogs were hung from trees with nearly 20 tires on fire below them, and 2 houses burned.

One of those homes is considered an arson case and was set fire in the middle of the night. Five children and their parents escaped the fire or were rescued and are doing well.

Take some time this week and pray for the peace and protection of our community and that justice is served.

*I'm reminded of last year when summer came and there was much suffering in the community. Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself. I also talked about "Tina" in this post. If you are connecting the dots. Tina's mom is "Holly" who I recently wrote about in Despair in Brownsville.

A Book by Its Cover

In a community like Brownsville, you see sin. I don’t mean the forces of evil embodied in darkness or a grotesque figure with a pitchfork. But certainly you see the manifestation or outcome of sin simply by driving through the town.

In a quick tour, you will see the greed of a landowner who has put hope on gambling windfalls and allowed over one hundred properties fall into ruins. You will see the neglect of a hundred homeowners who no longer care for their property. You will see the theft of siding stripped right off of homes. You will see a disregard for the environment in the trash spewed from car windows and make-shift dumps in creeks and riversides. You will see the marks of gangs or wannabe gangs on the side of abandon buildings.

If you compared Brownsville to a community like Peters Township, you would see new construction, businesses, manicured lawns, clean streets, large churches, nice cars and beautiful parks and facilities. The outward differences are stark. No wonder, when the per capita income is nearly three times higher in Peters than Brownsville and only 1.3% of families live below the poverty line (compared to 42.3% in Brownsville).

Sin is no less prevalent in Peter’s township. It’s better hidden.

It’s hidden by school administrators who are afraid of lawsuits, teachers who like popularity over moral conviction and parent’s who define right and wrong by the standard of their children’s behavior.

If a cell phone was confiscated in accordance with school policy, and that cell phone contained a video of a group of minors engaged in sex while adults were watching in the background, a disciplined investigation to identify and prosecute those involved is in order.

Child pornography, even if it exists on an expensive piece of technology owned by a popular student or prominent family, is still child pornography.

Sin takes on different forms in Brownsville and Peters. But it is the heart of man where sin begins and its pride, greed, lust and the usual lot that you will find there. While Brownsville’s sin is visible, there are those who will work for change. In Peters, the sin is well hidden and there those who will work to keep it that way… but it will be brought to light what is hidden in darkness and the motives of men’s hearts will be exposed. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

There are those in Brownsville who hold hope, who know right from wrong, who pursue good and desire justice. They fight for what is right. I hope there are at least a few in Peters Township that are of the same cloth.

For more on Peters Township High School or to contact their principal, Dr Thomas Hajzus. If you’re curious about their cell phone policy, see pages 53 and 54 of the Student-Parent Handbook.

The Smoking Bill

Bill DeWeese promised a smoking ban by the end of the year (2007, that is). He is now using his leadership position to delay the committee. Yet another reason to ensure he isn't re-elected. Here is a press release from the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund.

House Leaders DeWeese and Smith also have refused to support comprehensive smoke-free legislation and -- through their leadership positions -- have delayed the convening of the conference committee.

Although comprehensive smoke-free legislation was approved by the House on July 16, 2007, after the Senate approved loophole-filled legislation on June 26, 2007, the conference committee has yet to take action. After months of delay, the committee has scheduled public hearings on the legislation for March 10 and 13.

"Pennsylvanians deserve to know that these legislators are standing in the way of their right to breathe clean air," said William V. Corr, Executive Director of the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund. "Pennsylvania lawmakers face a clear choice. By enacting a comprehensive smoke-free law for all workplaces, they can ensure that no one has to choose between their health and their paycheck. If they fail to pass such a law, they will continue to put Pennsylvanians at risk of lung cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses caused by secondhand smoke."

The ad in this post was in the Herald Standard on Tuesday of this week. It reads:

WARNING: THIS REPRESENTATIVE'S DECISIONS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

Representative Bill DeWeese is standing in the way of your right to breathe clean air - even though 84% of voters want ALL workers protected from secondhand smoke. It's time to stop the delay and pass a smoke-free law for all workplaces, including restaurants, bars and casinos. Because secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including arsenic and cyanide. And it causes lung cancer and heart disease - killing more than 2,100 Pennsylvanians each year.

For more information on the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund

Here is the article from last year about the ban.

John Jacob Gerrymander Murtha

The image attached with this post is the perimeter of the 12th Congressional District which John Murtha has lorded over since 1974. The image looks more like a Rorschach blot than a congressional district but the redistricting was necessary back in 1982. It proved to be an enduring strategy.

Murtha is facing opposition in this year’s election. That’s a good thing.

For more on Gerrymandering.

For more on Murtha’s voting record.

I’ve added an RSS feed at the bottom of the page to keep track of John’s legislative activity.

Pride Goes Before Destruction

A few weekends ago I came across some information about one our former BRT students “John Apple”. John Apple was a standout basketball star. He had the gift and the dream.

In school, on and off the court, he was clearly admired by his peers and liked by his teachers. He was, simply put, a real nice guy.

John and I would meet almost every Friday at 6AM during his senior year. We would meet at McDonald’s for breakfast, prayer and Bible study. It was during one of those conversations we were talking about his gifts.

John refused to acknowledge his gifts as God given. He saw his talent and his ability and he saw the hard work and discipline, as well as the sacrifice. He refused to believe that God had anything to do with his gifts. “It was me who practiced, it was me who trained, it was me who was on the court…It’s all me.”

That was hard to hear as my own words came back to be from several years earlier when I arrogantly said the same thing about my academic work. John certainly was a nice guy but he was quietly arrogant. He had to repent or he would head towards destruction.

John’s arrogance intersected another part of his life. And to give you more background, his family was broken and financially struggling. He justified his drug dealing as a way to take burden off his family but more likely as a way to gain independence from them. He never mentioned his father and had a strained relationship with his mother.

John’s arrogance made him believe that he was untouchable, above the law. It was only a matter of time before the law would find John.

Now, some five years later, I learned that John was in federal prison under drug-related charges. He was found with over $100,000 in cash and drugs in his possession.

Arrogance, rationalizing moral failing… pride comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18)

Other alumni stories:
Alumni
Encounter

Moral Conviction in NY

A few days ago I lamented the absence of moral conviction in our government. I strongly believe that the public convictions of our elected officials must align with their private convictions. That is the fundamental definition of character. I'd like to believe that character in leadership is something that America still believes in.

Can you recall one of the prevailing opinions when Bill Clinton had an affair with his intern? It was something along the lines of "he's doing a great job with the economy, does his private life really matter?" I think time has proven that it does.

Maybe that is why the Democratic Governor of NY has resigned his position as the chief executive of that state. There is no doubt political pressure, public pressure and personal pressure... including his relationship with his family... have played a role in that decision.

What Makes One Catholic?

I mentioned I was catholic in my post about Common Good. What does it mean to be catholic?

There are a few angles to examine.

First, there is the common method of looking at the definition or etymology of the word. Catholic is from a Greek word “katholou” which means “in accordance with the wholeness.” You may remember hearing the Nicene Creed just after a sermon or homily with the line “I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic church.” Catholic… meaning there is one, complete, whole, universal church. There can only be one church; scripturally, there is one body.

Second, the catholic church believes that there are four components that define or characterize the church; those things that unify or complete the church. These components are based on the life and ministry of Jesus and include: the apostolic ministry, the sacraments, the faith and the scriptures.

Apostolic Ministry (Matthew 28:18-20). The authority of the church is in the hands of living people and the apostolic succession provides the commissioning of those in that authority.

The Sacraments (John 3, 1 Corinthians 15, Acts). The outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. There are seven taught by the church. Do you remember them?

The Faith (Matthew 24:14, 26:13). What you believe makes you who you are. What do you believe? The creeds of the church summarize the tenants of the faith. See the Nicene Creed. Do you seriously believe it?

The Scriptures (Mark 15:28). The scriptures are the words of God split between the history and prophecy of the Old Testament and the life of Jesus and the early church in the New Testament. The Bible has primacy over all other sources of doctrine.

Third, there are five churches that specifically describe themselves as catholic: the Anglicans (including the Episcopal church, for now), the Orthodox, the Roman Catholic and, the “Old” Catholic and the Philippine Independent Church.

End Notes: I hade to research those last two, so the links are provided. Most of this information is taken from “Whole Christianity” by the Reverend Hugh C. Edsall. It’s a lengthy study and some of the teaching is off the wall (e.g., his belief that women’s ordination is scripturally mandated because Mary was the first priest). If you happen to come across the study book, proceed with caution.

And just for fun, here are more creeds than you could shake a stick at.

Despair in Brownsville

Owning and managing a small business in Brownsville (our rental properties) is more ministry than business. That was by intent, but this shift manifested itself in ways that was never anticipated. I have encountered drug use, drug dealers, squatters, altercations, trespassers, thieves, and vandals. I’ve fixed furnaces, waded through sewage and cleaned toilets. I’ve lost my temper, lost sleep and shed tears… not over the physical damage, the unpredictable interruptions or the financial loss.

Helping folks with one of the most basic of necessities in their time of need puts you in a vulnerable position. Compassion breeds vulnerability. Vulnerability can be gut wrenching. There was no greater time of this gut wrenching experience when I went to visit “Holly.”

We decided to help Holly in her time of need. She was getting her feet back on the ground with a new job and wanted to provide a better life for herself and her young children. She knew she had to leave the environment she was in.

She moved in and was a model tenant for several months. Then her boyfriend was released from prison and moved in with his “extended family.” To put it bluntly, all hell broke loose.

I increased my visits to the property out of concern for the physical property, the safety of the tenants as well as the safety of my family. There were times when Holly was afraid… or ashamed to talk to me. Her boyfriend would beat her and she would wear the marks of those encounters for days.

This gut wrenching experience occurred on one of those visits. Holly came outside and closed the door to keep her children from hearing the conversation. She told me that she would be unable to pay this months rent. I told her we could work something out and asked if everything was OK. She said, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but I had to use my rent money to pay for an abortion.”

All I could say was “I’m so sorry.”

I don’t know if you have ever felt or seen despair… the absolute absence of hope. I saw the depths of despair that day in a way I pray no one ever must see or experience. Holly was so helpless and hopeless in her relationships, her finances, and her future she could not comprehend a new child in that same despair.

But she knew it was wrong and she grieved. Hopelessness is not a covering for sin; it does not erase our moral being. For all the rhetoric about choice and life; there was no doubt that it was an unborn child that lived within her womb, not a choice.

I can tell you with certainty that a government that claims to serve the common good, and a politician that is a harbinger for hope and change must be the voice for the most helpless of our country… the unborn child.

I can tell you with certainty that a government and that claims to serve the common good, and a politician that is a harbinger for hope and change must serve the most hopeless and vulnerable of our nation… the poor, the elderly and the unwed.

I can tell you with absolutely certainty that abortion did not bear hope in Holly’s life or the life of her unborn child. It’s time for real change.