Conservative Musings

Chic-Fil-A founder shows mercy with consequences

Chic-Fil-A's founder's home was vandalized by three female teenagers causing over $30,000 in damages.  He did not want them to have to go through the court system because he felt this would not make them better citizens but possibly make them worse.  So, he devised a punishment for them so they will not end up with a record.  Truett Cathy has spent many years with youth from being a Sunday School teacher and helping young people through a foundation called Winshape.  Winshape supports programs that help young people succeed and influences their lives in positive ways.

For these young truants, the punishment was "a 1000 sentences of “I will not vandalize other people’s property”, no TV and video games for six months, reading a “good book” for three hours a day and submitting weekly written book reports to him for 13 weeks."

I applaud Truett Cathy for this approach and for his many accomplishments in remaining faithful to his calling.  Truett Cathy's business, Chic-Fil-A still remains closed on Sunday so that employees can spend time in church and with their families.  Two things he feels are very important. 

-Lady Colonel

Men and Women

At a previous church, Lady Colonel and I headed up the part of the marriage ministry for those who were thinking of or were about to get married.  One of the things we discussed was the differences in women and men.  Not so much physically, but how they think.  As in their brains.

I was sent this link recently from another marriage ministry.  What he can say in humor is so right on!

http://marriageresourcecenter.org/videogallery/4/med/VideoWidget8.htm

-Colonel Steve

Mel Gibson

Peter Shaw at "Treasure in Clay Jars" is on to something about the discussions swirling around Mel Gibson's drunken tirade.

No one is defending what Mel did.  It was, to say the least, despicable.  Many who continue in their outrage of Mel are really madder at who Mel attached himself to....Jesus Christ.

Look thru the Bible and you'll find many characters who were shown to be less than perfect, yea, even sinful.  King David, Solomon, Moses, Abraham, Paul, Peter, the list goes on and on.  What made them historically great or famous wasn't who they were, but who they referred to - God Himself.  Those who have had problems with the folks on this list usually have problems with the God they served.

-Colonel Steve

Thoughts on Mel

Well, Mel Gibson has gone and done it.  He has confirmed the beliefs of all the people who cried "anti-Semitism" when he did the "Passion of the Christ" movie.  Or, has he?

I don't know Mel Gibson.  He may be an anti-Semite.  He may not.  Alcohol can do strange things to people.  It can change them into something new.  Or it can resurrect old demons. 

I became a Christian shortly before my 20th birthday.  That was a long time ago.  Most people who know me would be surprised to find out that as a younger child I had as foul a mouth as you could imagine and you couldn't trust me to tell the truth.  The truth thing changed as I entered high school as I discovered I disliked not being trusted.  The mouth moderated somewhat, but the profanity didn't go away until after I met the Lord.

Or, should I say, mostly go away.  I still find that when I am tired and/or stressed that old part of me wants to raise its ugly head and sometimes it breaks through.  I have never been drunk, but I can only imagine how I would be if I ever got drunk.  I don't like that imagination.

So, my point is this:  Mel may be an anti-Semite.  Or, it could be that he was an anti-Semite at one time in his past and the alcohol brought it out of him.  His statements while drunk should only be judged if they match his actions while sober.  And no, "Passion of the Christ" was not an anti-Semitic film.

As far as his actions while drunk?  He has been charged with DUI and should accept the consequences of that.

--Red

P.S. For the record, anti-Semitism is disgusting.  If Mr. Gibson is truly an anti-Semite then he is deserving of the public criticism he has received and should be made unwelcome in Hollywood.