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They say that laughter is the best medicine, and those who attended TC’s Drama Production of Don’t Kick the Turkeys got a healthy dose. The comedy under the direction of Dawn Davis, had the audience rolling with laughter. This year the drama class performed two plays- Cakes Galore and Don’t Kick the Turkeys.

It’s only Pastor Clark’s (Geoffrey Retemeyer) third day as pastor of Mission Baptist Church when his secretary, Joy (Kristen Tillotsen), starts laying down the laws of the office, while the janitor (Jesse Gray) is “fixing” everything in sight with duct tape. The most prestigious member of the congregation (Hiliary Sharp) is on the warpath, and an eccentric choir director (Ashlee Burnam) presents some far out ideas for Sunday morning’s special.

Calamity and humor escalates when a daycare moves into the church building after the pipes in their own building burst. Can God work in such a situation? A message is brought unexpectedly by way of a homeless man, and the members of the church realize there are more important things than keeping a squeaky clean image. Alongside the laughs, Don’t Kick the Turkeys offered striking similarities to almost every church.

The second performance of the night, Cakes Galore, featured Helen and Fern (Megan Brown and Morgan Andre) as two elderly women devoted to serving the poor every Tuesday and Thursday. They attend the small Mission Baptist church. Their “competition”, Southside Baptist has all the money they need to serve the poor extravagant dinners that consist of things like steak, meanwhile Mission Baptist is struggling to serve soup and sandwiches.

With depleting funds, the Mission church will soon be forced to suspend the ministry. Helen and Fern hold a fundraiser consisting of a 50’s theme with music and a cakewalk, which is headed for disaster when undermined by the Southside Baptist candlelight thanksgiving dinner. Eventually the two churches join forces with great success.

“I laughed through the whole thing; it was really professionally done” says Junior Jordan Gustafson. Each play had a unique message; Don’t Kick the Turkeys dealt with the issue of taking the road less traveled. The pastor had to take the lead for the other church members to follow him. Also, the play confronted the issue of homelessness. Don’t Kick the Turkeys taught the audience that we need to help those who are less fortunate than us. Cakes Galore also dealt with homelessness and taught us that we need to help the poor even if they are dishonest because we are called by God to help others.

The cast loved being part of the comedy troupe. “Playing Helen was really fun and I loved hanging out back stage with my fellow cast members,” said Megan Brown. Morgan also enjoyed her part saying, “Portraying Fern was a really exciting and different experience.”

Lead actor Geoffrey Retemeyer was appreciative of the director’s hard work. “Mrs. Davis is an awesome director and I am really happy I had the opportunity to work with her”.

Drama is a very special class filled with very special students. Each student had the opportunity to get something out of drama and to give great and memorable performances.

After receiving their dose of laughter; it’s safe to say that TC is a healthy group.

1. What is the longest day of the year?
   1. July 4
   2. June 21
   3. August 19
   4. July 30
2. What is the National Ice Cream Month?
   1. June
   2. July
   3. August
   4. September
3. What was the original Frisbee?
   1. Pie tin
   2. Pizza dough
   3. Vinyl record
   4. Dartboard
4. What was the original summer blockbuster?
   1. Star Wars IV
   2. St. Elmo’s Fire
   3. Jaws
   4. Iron Man
5. What is the most popular ice cream flavor?
   1. Chocolate
   2. Vanilla
   3. Strawberry
   4. Pecan
6. How many private swimming pools are in the U.S.?
   1. 50,000
   2. 1,000,000
   3. 10,000,000
   4. 25,000,000
7. What was the temperature on the hottest day ever in the U.S.?
   1. 110 degrees
   2. 117 degrees
   3. 129 degrees
   4. 134 degrees
8. When did Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S.?
   1. August 15, 2005
   2. July 29, 2004
   3. August 20, 2005
   4. August 28, 2005
9. How much is the import value of fireworks to the U.S. from China on July 4?
   1. $20 Million
   2. $57 Million
   3. $128 Million
   4. $298 Million
10. The watermelon is most closely related to the:
    1. Peaches, apricots, and almonds
    2. Cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash
    3. Lemons, Oranges, grapefruit
    4. Apples, pears, cherries
11. The average American eats_________ gallons of ice cream every year.
    1. 3
    2. 4.5
    3. 5.5
    4. 7
12. The most popular flavor of popsicle is:
    1. Root Beer
    2. Fruit Punch
    3. Strawberry
    4. Cherry

Answers: 1-b, 2-b, 3-a, 4-c, 5-b, 6-c, 7-d, 8-d, 9-c, 10-b, 11-c, 12-d

It’s not everyday that a former Presidential running mate visits the sleepy town of Turlock, California, so you would think the town would be jumping for joy…but not everyone is jumping.

On June 25, 2010, CSU, Stanislaus will celebrate their 50th Anniversary Gala on Friday with a black-tie fundraising event, hosted by the CSU Stanislaus Foundation. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a five-course dinner, and guest speaker former Governor and Presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, finishing up the evening with a dance.

So what’s the problem with that?  People think that the university is going to use public funds to put this event on. Matt Swanson, the president of the California State University Stanislaus Foundation Board of Directors reassures that, “While the gala fundraiser will benefit a public university, no public funds are being used on the gala. Ticket sales and sponsorships are paying for all costs, including Gov. Palin’s speaking fee. All net profits from the gala will benefit university programs and student services.”

Nevertheless, the reactions remain mixed. Some Turlock citizen’s remain disgruntled, believing that regular donor dollars have been wastefully allocated, or that scholarship monies have disappeared as a result of the event. Yet, others remain hopeful that a national personality will draw money to the area by way of commerce. A position that Swanson supports, “We engaged Governor Palin because she is a compelling public figure who will help raise money for the university at a time when fundraising is especially difficult.”

Regardless of what people think the event promises to be well attended.  According to Swanson, “The event is sold out and is on target to raise a considerable amount for the university.”

As far as the controversy is concerned, well that’s just politics!

The U.S. has been a big giver throughout it’s own history, from the aid given to the Panamanians, to the tons of goods shipped daily to many of the peoples of South East Asia, and also to the food shipped to many countries all over Africa. We’re just trying to help out is all. But, what happens when people complain about the help given to them?

In 2010 when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti almost 300,000 people had died and far many more made homeless from the ensuing chaos. Soon after, countries from around the world pledged billions of dollars of aid to Haiti in order to help them rebuild as fast as possible. The UN wiped out millions in Haitian debt, and even went as far as to allow Haitians because of the huge loss of homes as a result of the Earthquake.

However, news stations from around the world started to spread information undermining the way the United States was giving out aid in Haiti. They made it seem as though the United States was militarizing the region and was especially militaristic in their aid. As PJ Crowley, US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs,

stated, “News outlets falsely compared military activities at the airport to a little Green Zone,” comparing this to the United States controlled Green Zone in occupied Iraq.

As if the sticks and stones weren’t enough, Christian missionaries from Idaho that were attempting to deliver children from Haiti to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic were also hit with kidnapping charges from the local government. Haitian police stopped the ten missionaries on January 29, 2010, as they tried to take thirty-three Haitian children across the border to the Dominican Republic. They claimed to be trying to get the children to a safe place, since many of them had lost their parents from the earthquake. Was this the best idea? Probably not, but, should the Haitian government really treat this as huge an issue as it has? Thankfully, nine of the ten missionaries have been acquitted and one still stands trial, the leader of the group, who is likely to be acquitted.

As Luke 6: 34-36 says, “(34) And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. (35) But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (36) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Basically, we are called to love our enemies and continue to help them and give to them no matter what. The people in Haiti are truly feeling pain like none other, so is it really appropriate to bring politics into the realm of aid? We must continue our aid to Haiti and simply ignore what other people say, and other countries will follow in stride. We can only do this and spread the hope that we bring these people with the love of God.

New York Fashion Week was a crazy memorable event this year. This is the last season where Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will be held at Bryant Park, next season; it will be held at the new Lincoln Centre instead. This year menswear, which usually takes a back seat to the women’s collection, came out strong.

Some new and important trends noticed this year include the British sartorial expat–the bespoke suit. Whether it’s done slightly more traditionally like BESPOKEN’s tailored double breasted suit topped with lapel pins, Simon Spurr’s indigo rendition, or with a Lower East Side twist, like J. Sabatino’s all over plaid, designers are encouraging men to suit up.

At most shows it was layers galore as men began to take the layering concept beyond the three-piece suit. Robert Geller takes the idea of layering on items to a classy level as he pulls unexpected pieces from the wardrobe together. In Geller’s world, it is perfectly fine to wear a puffy vest over a pea coat, with a sleek plum dress shirt underneath and topped off with an embellished silk ribbon tie. Then, pull everything over shredded denim for the finale. Geller proves that men too, can handle fashion.

In fashion it seems like there is one decision maker, and her name is Anna Wintour. Anna Wintour, editor in chief of American Vogue, attended upcoming designer Prabal Gurung along with Rachel Zoe, Fern Mallis, along with other shows. If Anna Wintour is behind you and likes your designs you can go far in the industry.

Alexander Wang presented his latest collection for a fresh and young look that fare away from the eighties influences, using a wall street touch by revisiting the traditional banker’s suit and cropped blazer and vests with legwarmers.

Marc Jacobs also showed his fall 2010 collection followed by his usual after party and said” it is not about Fashion, it’s about style.” Jacobs introduced a 56-look collection with pieces modeled by two girls who did not fit the mold of the skinny model, quite refreshing.

Next Fall/Winter seems like a season to layer generously, suit up whenever appropriate or whenever you can, and to go larger than life in stretched out silhouettes or attention winning slogans. All in all, be brave; go ahead and dress up for fall!

The T.C. vs. East Union High swim meet last Friday, held at Sierra High kicked off this year’s season. The swim team consists of 10 members, and includes one returning senior and a mix of juniors, sophomores and freshmen, both returning and new alike. Paul Mauer is the coach and the practices are held at Pitman High School.

Colin Russell, a returning swimmer, states that the practices are, “Really Hard,” but says he likes the swim meets because of the challenge he gets and the fact that he, “Gets to go fast.” Colin has posted times of 22.84 seconds on the 50 freestyle and 50.07 seconds on the 100 free.

Team mate Johanna Muller enjoys the camaraderie as well as the competition. “While swimming is a team sport it is also an individual one,” she said.

Upcoming meets will include Pitman, Merced, Hilmar and Los Banos, so get out there and support our Swim Team.

“Out hustle, out work, and out play our opponents.” This is Turlock Christian baseball coach Jon Valenti’s goal is for the season, and with the Eagle’s strong lineup, it should not be a problem. It is Valenti’s first year coaching varsity at Turlock Christian, and he is expecting the team to be “unstoppable.” Clearly, what he’s done with the team so far is working.

The Eagle’s beat Modesto Christian in a close game of 3-2, and blew Le Grand out of the water 11-1. They also had several outstanding wins in preseason play. First Baseman and pitcher, Trevor Starn, believes the momentum will continue in spite of a Goliath in their future.

“The team is going to do well in league this year I think. We’ve improved a lot from last year and the league is weaker than last year. Mariposa will be our biggest challenge.”

Coach Valenti agreed that Mariposa, whose team runs like a well-oiled machine, will be a tough team to beat, but he believes there’s a greater opponent to own.  “I think our toughest opponent is ourselves. My only concern is we cannot make mental errors that will cost us the game, because talent-wise we have it.”

The key strength of the Eagles this year is their potent lineup. With vital players such as Trevor Starn, Robbie Smallwood, Mile Martinez, and Jesse Lopes, Valenti is anticipating the team to go very far, and a contributing factor to that success is their hitting.

“I think the strongest aspect of this team would be our offense,” says Valenti. “We really possess a lot of strength in our line-up. Although we have not nearly reached our potential in hitting, it will come. When it does come, we will be unstoppable,” he added.

Although the team is stacked with talent this year, two specific players who will excel come to mind for Starn. “Jesse Lopes is a standout . . . stud at defense. Robbie, if he gets hot, is one of if not the best hitter in the league.”

In recent years, it has appeared as if the team had trouble putting their potential through to the games. This year, the team has a variety of talent from both the upperclassmen and the lower classmen, and has the drive necessary to win games. , “Last year, we had a lot of potential but didn’t have any of it carry over into wins. We want to, and expect to beat teams this year,” said Starn.

As for Valenti, he knows what his team is capable of, and expects exceptional effort from everyone on the team, from the bench players to the starters. After losing a starting pitcher last year, a weakness the team is trying to overcome is finding someone to fill that spot. Another thing the team is working on is having equal ability throughout the whole team, and Coach Valenti looks forward to seeing development. “We will also have to work on having our bench players be just as good as our starters. So far, our bench players are making great strides in improving.”

This could be a year of glory for Turlock Christian baseball, if they play their cards right. The talent is there; they simply need to keep their eye on the prize. From their powerful lineup to their win-it-all attitude, there is something special within the Eagles this season. Valenti knows it, too. “God has blessed me with the opportunity and given me the great honor to coach these fine young men. I hope just to give them as much knowledge that I know to help inspire them to be better athletes, and better baseball players. Even after 20+ years of playing, teaching, & coaching the game, I still am learning myself.”

Last Easter was Valentino’s first Easter so we had to do an Easter Egg Hunt. I love Easter Egg Hunts especially when the eggs are hidden well and you have to look hard for them. The harder the hunt the greater the prize that is inside them. That year my friend Angie and her family spent Easter with us and she put money inside a few of them making the prize even greater and the desire to find it more intense.

It made me wonder, how hard do I seek after Jesus and his will in my life? Sometimes we ignore the desire to investigate God. What would it be like if we read the Bible expecting to find an egg on every page?

There was one egg that had $10 in it, but Angie had buried it. My older sister, Tonya, found it and she was excited. God, however, does not hide his truth, but the joy should still be the same. The satisfaction of finding something that you worked hard to discover.

Seeking God is more than just reading the Bible but as the song says, “It’s how you lived.” When you seek after God you are striving to be like him. In Psalm 119:2 we read, “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”

Seeking him doesn’t have to be as difficult as searching for well hidden eggs either. Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Do not give up searching for Jesus our golden egg, He’s right in front of you.

• What have you found out about God that surprised you?

• Try reading a passage of scripture and remain open to find the egg God has for you in its pages today.

We all get excited about the Gold medal winners of the Olympics. Everyone tends to focus on wins, but not everyone looks at the great sacrifices that Olympians have to go through in order to be the best.

Shaun White, who won gold in Men’s half pipe, had an accident that nearly ended his career. White was 11 and performing at an exhibition with a skateboarder twice his age, and almost twice his size. White had a head on collision and he suffered a fractured skull and broken bones and told his mother he wanted to call it quits. But his mom would not let him quit, and White pushed through and became the Olympian he is today.

Lindsey Vonn, won gold in Women’s downhill and bronze in Women’s super g, had a crash in the 2006 Torino Games. Vonn suffered a horrific crash during downhill training that had some witnesses believing that her injuries could be career threatening. However, the diagnosis was not as serious as feared, and she was released from the hospital in time to compete in the downhill. Emboldened by the encouraging words from people, Vonn raced despite immense pain in her legs and back.

But nothing compares to the ultimate sacrifice, life itself. This year game supporters were saddened by the passing of Nodar Kumaritashvili who was fatally injured on February 12, 2010, during a training run at the Whistler Sliding Centre when he lost control in the final turn of the course and was thrown off his luge and over the sidewall of the track, striking an unprotected steel support pole at the end of the run. Yet, he wasn’t the only athlete to give his life for his sport, being the fourth athlete to ever die during the Winter Olympics preparations.

Kumaritashvili called his dad before the race and said “Dad, I’m scared of one of the turns,” but even though he was afraid of this turn he went on with the race anyway.

It’s apparent that you have to push past the pain, setbacks, fears, self-doubts, and even the fear to become a true Olympian athlete.

It was down to the final two contestants.

One, an accomplished theater actor who previously toured the country with Broadway productions like Wicked: The Musical and the European production of Hair. His voice showed amazing range, his performances-flawless. The other, a singer-songwriter who performed in local bars and worked as a shoe salesman. A nice guy with an adequate voice yet limited range. All in all the two could not have been more opposite.  It was painfully obvious which performer should win a talent competition. Maybe that’s why American was shocked when the name of Kris Allen the shoe salesman beat out Adam Lambert the star. But don’t be too surprised because…

This… is…American…Idol!

Throughout its nine seasons so far, American Idol has consistently been the number one show on television, and is ranked the number three television broadcast of all time, behind only the Superbowl and the Academy Awards. Every winner of the show has enjoyed success, some more than others. Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, and Carrie Underwood round out the top three most successful idols of all time, although Chris Daughtry did not win the show; he placed fourth. But apparently you don’t have win AI in order do great things. Jennifer Hudson starred in the movie Dreamgirls, and won an Oscar for her role in that film. Other post-idol alums who did not take the prize include Clay Aiken, Kellie Pickler, Elliot Yamin, and of course, Adam Lambert, all who are enjoying a successful career.

This year marks the return of Idol, with its ninth season in full swing. The top 12 have been chosen, and this year’s hopefuls are: Michael Lynche, Didi Benami, Casey James, Lacey Brown, Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens, Tim Urban, Siobhan Magnus, Lee Dewyze, Paige Miles, Aaron Kelly, and Crystal Bowersox.

Obvious favorites for this season are Crystal Bowersox, who has a Janice Joplin vibe to her, Casey James, whom the ladies love, and Lee Dewyze, who has a certain rasp to his voice that you have to be born with.

This year’s Idol delivers more than new talent: after the departure of the beloved judge Paula Abdul, a replacement was necessary. The humorous charm of talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres was welcomed to the show this season. Ellen brings the opinion of the fan watching at home to the show, and always has something witty to say.

Most assuredly, Idol will bring many surprises this year, as it never ceases to do. Whether you have the pipes to sing “A Moment Like This,” or the guts to blabber your way through “Pants on the Ground,” this is the one show that can turn you into a star.

Tune in to Idol
Fox Channel 5, Tuesdays at 8:00 PM
&
Wednesdays at 9:00 PM

“Sunday is the only day to worship!”

“It’s depressing to see Jesus hanging on a crucifix.”

“Foot washing is just plain gross.”

“Aren’t hymns for old people?”

In today’s world there are many Christian denominations, each with their own traditions about how to worship and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, many times I’ve witnessed one Christian group making insensitive comments or downright ostracizing another regarding the way they practice their faith. Should this be happening?

Ecumenism is broadly defined as interrelation between the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Ecumenism within Christianity would be referring to interrelations between the many Christian denominations such as Orthodox, and various Protestant churches. It is in this realm of Christian ecumenism that I think believers need to work together and respect each other’s differences.

The vast majority of American Christians define themselves as Protestant, so it may not be as much of a culture shock to be around Adventists, Methodists, Evangelicals, or Baptists. However, do you feel a sense of unease when you realize that your close friend is Roman Catholic or some other brand of Christianity?

We all have to realize something; we are all united in our beliefs of a risen Savior, regardless of discrepancies in tradition. As long Christians exist we will have arguments in our ranks. And that’s unfortunate. As believers in Christ we are one body who need to work together for kingdom work. Besides, if there are differences that need to be addressed, I don’t think name-calling or disrespect promote positive discussion.

If we spend less time on majoring on the minors and more time delivering the message of Christ we would have a unified body. It would be a church less disjointed and working together to save a dying world; a body that bids the message of God, not the divisiveness of Satan.

The Creed

What do we all believe? In A.D. 381 a group of Christian theologians got together in Nicea within the Roman Empire to pen an article of faith that is core to every Christian denomination. Here it is:

THE NICENE CREED (381 A.D.)
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

* A person who belongs to the universal Christian church

As the clocked ticked, fourth-down approached and Manning knew it was over.

The Super Bowl is not just a game; it is a part of America’s history.

The first Super Bowl was on January 15, 1967 where the Green Bay Packers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 35-10 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Since then 44 Super Bowls have been played and many records have been set. Chuck Noll, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the head coach with the most Super Bowl victories with four (IX, X, XIII, and XIV). Bill Walsh of the 49ers, Joe Gibbs of the Redskins, and Bill Belicheck of the Patriots have each won three Super Bowls as head coaches.

Joe Montana of the 49ers and Terry Bradshaw of the Steelers are the starting quarterbacks with the most Super Bowl victories at 4. Montana won Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV and Bradshaw won Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV. Montana, Troy Aikman, and Tom Brady have 3 each.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the NFL franchise with the most Super Bowl wins with six. SB IX: 16-6 Pittsburgh over Minnesota, SB X: 21-17 Pittsburgh over Dallas, SB XIII: 35-31 Pittsburgh over Dallas SB XIV: 31-19 Pittsburgh over LA Rams, SB XL: 21-10 Pittsburgh over Seattle, SB XLIII: 27-23 Pittsburgh over Arizona. The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers each have five Super Bowl wins. Dallas won VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX. The 49ers won Super Bowls; XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV, and XXIX.

Super Bowl 2010

This year the New Orleans Saints faced the Indianapolis Colts in South Florida. After a slow first quarter, it looked like the Colts were ready to run away with the win, the Saints changed the path of Super Bowl XLIV by taking control of the second quarter. The Saints ran 26 offensive plays while the Colts ran six. The Saints opened the second half shocking the Colts with an onside kick. Six plays later, Pierre Thomas scored on a 16-yard catch-and-run to hand the Saints their first lead, 13-10.

The game was over when Saints Cornerback Tracy Porter stepped in front of Reggie Wayne, and intercepted Peyton Manning’s pass, returning it for 74 yards for a touchdown which gave the Saints a 31-17 lead with 3:12 remaining in the game. Porter stepped up and secured the win for the Saints; after all defense wins championships. The Colts were unable to get in the end zone in the final minutes, giving the Saints their first Super Bowl championship!

The game was filled with amazing plays; and both teams set records this year. The Saints lost their final three regular-season games and became the first team to bring a three-game losing streak into the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. With the loss by the Colts and Manning, the last five regular-season MVPs to reach the Super Bowl have lost the game. The Saints’ kicker Garrett Hartley became the first kicker in Super Bowl history with three field goals made from 40 yards or more. Colts’ kicker Matt Stover became the oldest player in a Super Bowl at 42 years old. Indianapolis’ 96-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter tied the 1985 Bears for the longest drive in Super Bowl history.

At the end of the day the Saints got the job done and won their first championship at their first ever Superbowl appearance. Running back, Reggie Bush summed up the day stating, “I think it (the championship) is more special because in the fashion that we did it and the city that we did it for. A city that was pretty much destroyed in a hurricane and they need something to be proud of. Through the 30 or 40 years plus of terrible seasons in New Orleans, now they can excel; now they can be proud of the Saints.”

An unpopular, costly, and supposedly failing war, with no end in site. Did you imagine the Vietnamese War? Nope. I’ve just described the opinions regarding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States started this war with good intentions, attempting to seize the nuclear weapons held by Iraq, and capturing Osama Bin Laden, yet no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq and Osama Bin Laden is now hiding somewhere in Afghanistan. As American opinions of the war wane one has to wonder, will we repeat the mistakes of the past?

What is the War on Terror?

The War on Terror is simply described as the war on militant radicals around the world who are harming defenseless civilians. These radicals are fighting against many of the laws the United Nations prescribed to modern warfare. But according to Chuck Roots, pastor and Retired Military Chaplain, the term is something of a misnomer. “Terror is an emotion. Terrorism, on the other hand, is an action brought against a person or nation. Because of the events of 9/11, and the thirty years of other terrorist activities brought against the United States and our people/interests around the globe, it was determined that we needed to take the fight to the enemy. “

Why Don’t the Terrorists Like Us?

So what did we ever do to them? Roots explains there are three basic reasons why the Terrorists seek to destroy Americans and their interests.

1. First, there are people who have ideological, philosophical and theological differences with us as Americans. Because of the culture of Islam, everything in life is religious. There is no such thing as the “separation of church and state.” In their perverted thinking they have justified the killing of anyone who is not like them or doesn’t think and believe like them. Even if we as Americans all converted to Islam, they would believe they are in the right to kill us because we were infidels prior to our conversion. Thus, our acceptance of Islam could be called into question.
2. Second, because we are Americans, we have a far superior life as far as enjoying the blessings of this world. Our citizens are wealthier than anywhere else in the world. Muslims live in arid lands that are primarily desert, wind-swept, desolate places. Only with the discovery of oil in the Persian Gulf and its surrounding environs has this people managed to enjoy anything remotely close to the comforts and abundance we enjoy in the USA. This truly angers many Muslims who feel they should be the ones blessed by Allah instead of the infidel Americans.
3. Third, this is a war that will never cease until either Muslims are thoroughly defeated, or Jesus comes back first. Why do I say this? Because Muslims believe it is their mission in life, based upon the teachings of the Koran, to engage in conquering all nations for Islam. Every country is to be subjected to Allah, Sharia Law, and the final example of jihad.

Occupation vs. Liberation

The United States, unlike any other country, approaches war in a very different way. Rather than permanently occupy a nation that violates UN sanctions, the U.S. is a liberating force. “The United States is not an occupying force, except in the sense that we enter a nation to destroy their army, then we sit there until the folks of that nation can get themselves put back together,” explained Roots. “Once that has happened to our satisfaction, we leave. Take Japan and Germany at the end of WWII. Once these two military powers surrendered, we established a military jurisdiction until such time as the government of that nation could function in relative safety. Once that occurs, our boys come home.”

If the United States really is a liberating force, shouldn’t the citizens of that country reflect attitudes of gratitude? According to Roots, that is exactly what he’s experienced in the Middle East. “ I’ve had Iraqis tell me they were glad the Americans came when I was there. They hated Saddam, but they were powerless to remove him. He was a ruthless, murdering thug.”
“ Our military was uncovering mass graves of people killed by Saddam’s henchmen. What was their crime? Nothing. Saddam’s ego was so large that he killed just to show that he could do it. Where the First Marine Expeditionary Forces Headquarters was located was in Babylon. Saddam used to visit this ancient biblical city 45 miles south of Baghdad a few times a year. He would cruise around the neighborhoods and have his thugs take women and girls that he selected, bring them to his nearby palace and then have his way with them for the next few days. Then they would be beheaded, their bodies dumped in the nearby tributary of the Tigris River.

“Then in Afghanistan the Taliban had a torturous rule, wantonly beheading people because they could. Women, who showed even a tiny bit of skin, say on their wrist, could be dragged away from their husbands and children, and into the soccer stadium and publicly executed. Such insanity was commonplace. Until our military showed up, there was no one to put a stop to it. It is these same creeps who train to kill Americans in our streets.

“If you were an Iraqi or an Afghan wouldn’t you want to see us come in and stay until the bad guys were eliminated?” says Roots.

What’s A Christian to Do?

Still, opinions of the United States war on terror are generally are strong. Many believe we must draw out of these militaristic quagmires at once, while others call for staying the course until the country is stabilized and a safe pullout is possible. But what exactly should the Christian response to terrorism be?

Roots believes there are God ordained responsibilities we cannot ignore. “As Americans we are to protect our nation and its people. This is a biblical principle. God expects me to protect and care for my family. To be able to do that, my town and community must be protected. For my community to be protected, my state needs to be protected. For my state to be protected, my country needs to be protected.

“Now, while we’re engaged in this war, we need to follow the teachings of scripture by praying for our enemies and doing good to those who persecute us. One of my favorite pictures is of a young Marine doing a fireman’s carry with a wounded combatant – only this combatant was the enemy. The Marine carried him off the battlefield and into our field hospital where our military medical personnel treated his wounds! Do you think for a moment that this Marine would have received the same kindness if the situation was reversed?

“Our nation was founded upon Christian teaching and morals. Even non-Christians in our country act in ways that reflect those Christians values. I frequently prayed for Iraqi soldiers, terrorists, and Saddam Hussein while I was over there. If they were to allow the Lord Jesus into their hearts I would rejoice, and praise God. But the Christian still has an obligation to protect and defend our nation.”

Matthew was born on December 1, 1976 in Casper, Wyoming. He went to school in Casper until his junior year, at which time, he moved to Saudi Arabia. He finished his American schooling in Switzerland. In both of his schools, he was known as easy to talk to and was everybody’s friend. Eventually, he went to college back in Wyoming.

Then came October 7, 1998. That night, just after 12 a.m., two men kidnapped Matthew and took him out to the middle of nowhere. They tied him up on a fence and proceeded to beat him almost to death. Then, the two men decided to just go, leaving Matthew out in the cold, left to die. About 18 hours later, he was discovered by a man on a bicycle. Matthew was beaten so bad, the bicyclist mistook him for a scarecrow. Matthew died five days later at 12:53 in the morning.

You may be wondering why people could kill a person who was kind and admired by almost everyone he came in contact with, and the answer is sad but simple: Matthew Shepard was a homosexual.

Too often in this country, people judge others before they get to know them. They look at some of their actions and they make assumptions. One of the groups that this happens to most is the homosexual. It appears that our Love Your Neighbor As Yourself command hasn’t applied to this group of individuals.

Christians say that homosexuality is a sin, and in fact practicing homosexuality is against what God has commanded. It is quite clear in Leviticus 18:22, which says, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.”

Christians also have this belief that there is a gay agenda, which includes many things that go against Christianity. A lot of times, this obvious disdain for the homosexual lifestyle turns violent, as was the case with Matthew.

Is There a Homosexual Agenda?

Many people think that homosexuals are out on a rampage, trying to destroy everything good about Christian marriages. Others think that they are recruiting our children to join in their gay festivities. Still more think that they are just trying to tick off all the Christians, as with the infamous No on Proposition 8. Is there really an organized agenda? Well, yes there is. The Homosexual Agenda was created by Hunter Madsen and Marshall Kirk. These two men proclaimed an agenda in 1989 in a book titled After the Ball. Their “strategy” is stated as such:

• Talk about “gays” and “gayness” as loudly and often as possible
• Portray “gays” as victims, not aggressive challengers
• Give homosexual protectors a “just” cause
• Make “gays” look good
• Make the “victimizers” look bad
• Solicit funds: get corporate America and major foundations to financially support the homosexual cause.

Hunter and Madsen believe “The principle…is simple: almost all behavior begins to look normal if you are exposed to it long enough at close quarters and among your acquaintances.”

So in a nutshell, the entire purpose of the homosexual agenda is simply to force Americans to accept homosexual behavior as normal.

How Does the Homosexual Agenda Affect us Today?

Although only approximately one to two percent of the population practices a gay lifestyle, almost half of the population is okay with gay marriage, an increase of nearly ten percent over two years, from 2004 to 2006. This is all part of the agenda that the homosexuals have set forth. As a proof of their blatant attempts to sway public opinion, look at the television shows of modern society.

A popular comedy, “Modern Family,” introduces a gay couple that has ended up being favorites on the show. ABC portrays them as being very kind and loving towards a new baby girl they adopted from Vietnam. In one of the episodes, the show displays a judgmental father who is not comfortable with his son’s gayness. He openly derides his son for this flaw and often bashes on gays. By doing this, the homosexual community is subliminally showing us that gays are victims and should be more accepted.

Another popular show that has openly supported homosexuality is “Parks and Recreation.” In the first episode of the second season, the main character performs a marriage of two male penguins. Then, a Christian organization tells the main character to annul the “wedding” or else resign. The show portrayed the Christian representative as a cruel, hating, homophobic, zealot. It goes on to show homosexuals as victims, not sinners.

On a more invasive level, homosexuality is also being taught to young children in schools, in an attempt to make the homosexual lifestyle look okay, even appealing, to young students. In Queens, NY, a chancellor of a school introduced the so-called “Rainbow Curriculum,” which included curriculum introducing two very pro-gay books, Heather has two Mommies and Daddy’s Roommate.

And books are not the only venue for preaching the homosexual message to our children. According to Carmen Pate, Vice President of Concerned Women of America, the video It’s Elementary, “is a training tool for breaking down a child’s natural resistance to homosexuality,”

What does God Think?

Of course for believers, it all comes down to what God thinks about homosexuality. The scriptures are clear that the homosexual lifestyle is not what God had intended for his creation.
Passages in the Bible make that clear:

• In I Corinthians 6:9-10, we read, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (NIV)
• Matthew 19:4-5 reads “‘Haven’t you read,’ Jesus replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and two will become one flesh.’” (NIV)
• Romans 1:24-27 reads “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the Truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” (NIV)

Although those trapped in this lifestyle would like to argue that it is God who made them gay, believers acknowledge that the God who has created the universe is also the one who has set down laws that promise the best for mankind. King David expressed it this way in Psalm 119, “Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right.”

What is the Christian Response to Homosexuality?

Now that we know that God did not make a provision for the homosexual lifestyle in his great plan, how are Christians supposed to respond to those who have chosen to practice this lifestyle? How do we reach out to them with the love of Christ?

One man knows that answer first-hand. Dennis has experienced both sides of that struggle. After reaching adolescence, Dennis reached out to the church regarding his homosexual thoughts. The pastor responded, “Just pray.”

“I felt like I was going to have to figure this out on my own without the church’s help.”

This lack of direction sent Dennis down a dark path, expressing his sexuality with other men, one of which was a Christian missionary. Today as a believer in Christ, who has turned away from that lifestyle, Dennis believes this is not how the church should handle these kinds of situations. And since God calls Christians to love our neighbors as ourselves, that might mean reaching out, along with others, to help those who struggle. Dennis gave these suggestions to reaching out to a lost brother or sister trapped in the homosexual lifestyle:

1. Listen. Don’t jump in and start telling them all the verses. Many want to deal with it. If Christians seem like they have all the answers, the homosexual will shut down.
2. Find out what they want to do? Are they committed to changing?
3. Spend time with them and don’t let them feel like they are a project. Don’t major in this one area of their life, there is more to them. They have talents and gifts too; this is just one broken area.

Winning the War

So does that mean that we need to ignore the attacks on heterosexual marriage? Craig Osten, author of The Homosexual Agenda, believes, “It is vital for Christians to understand the homosexual agenda and how it threatens many personal and religious freedoms. If Christians sit back and surrender, giving those involved in homosexual behavior everything they think they want, those trapped in homosexual behavior will never be able to hear and respond to Christ’s redemptive love for him or her.

“Christians need to be a consistent witness and friend to those practicing homosexual behavior. However, despite the need for us to demonstrate love and be a strong witness, we cannot compromise the Gospel and people’s need for repentance.”

Churches can play a big part in helping the homosexual give up that destructive lifestyle, although as Dennis would attest, the temptation to sin is always there. Dennis explained the hope he finds in Christ by practicing Centering. “Centering means to move to center,” says Dennis. “You can’t think about two things at the same time. I sing songs and hymns; I talk to the Lord. You can’t think those (bad) thoughts when you are thinking about something else. For me temptation is a call to worship. I decide who I will worship.”

With Valentine’s Day here and gone, the question of true love comes to mind, especially with all the “chick flick” movies currently featured at nearby multiplexes. One of my favorites is A Walk to Remember.

The two main characters in the movie, a boy, Landon Carter, and a girl, Jamie Sullivan, are two opposites who can barely stand being near each other. But Carter’s need to practice in the school play forces the two together and love ensues. But Carter’s infatuation with her beauty and talent becomes so much more. Carter learns that Jamie has a terminal illness. Carter’s love grows deep. He becomes selfless and unconditional in his love for Jamie. He goes to his father who was a doctor for help and stays by her side when she is hospitalized.

This movie made me think about God’s love that is to be shown through actions and not words alone. In 1 John 3:18 it says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” In the movie Landon builds a telescope into the night so that Jamie can fulfill another one of the things she wants to do before she dies.

It comes down to will. Will you love this man or women? My dad says, “You choose to love someone and you are lucky if you have a loving feeling.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This shows that God has love, but it says nothing about feeling.

You show love when you give your mom a hug in the morning, listen to them when they have been brought down. You express love by calling unexpectedly to see how they are feeling when they are sick. I see love from my friend, Angie, who cares for her oldest daughter who has diabetes. At three in the morning Angie has to get up and make sure that her daughter got the shot she needed. Her love is a sacrifice.

Sure it’s fun to watch some of the silly love stories that hit the theater this time of year, but in the end love is really more than kissing, holding hands, saying mushy lines, it is about connecting on a level that is not whishy washy. It means having intelligent conversations that you can not have with anyone else.

My dad has often expressed that he did not marry his girlfriend, but his best friend. Love is to build, bring out the best in others, and to gently correct their flaws. Love is an action that should not be taken lightly.

For those with boyfriends and girlfriends look at him or her and ask yourself, “Are you building this person up or setting him or her up to be crushed?” For those who are thinking about marriage, “Are you marrying your best friend?”

When it comes to love, you want your walk to be one that’s worth remembering.