Want to see something evil?

Your Congress, hard at work, taking away your God given and Constitutionally protected rights. Ignore that whole "shall not be abridged" thingee.

Some annoyed people

When someone who writes for a gun magazine wants to ban the use of a rifle for hunting, it tends to irritate fellow 2nd Amendment supporters. On a blog, such a thing just happened. The responses to the blog are almost funny and keep growing by the minute. The blog author wants to ban AR15 rifles in hunting. That is the very type of rifle I am holding in this picture.

***UPDATE*** The bonehead attempted an apology. Judge for yourself whether it is sincere.

***UPDATE*** The blog posts by Jim Zumbo have so enraged the gun owning public that literally thousands of people, including myself, have left comments on the blog. Hundreds of emails were sent to "Outdoor Life" magazine, subscriptions canceled, and magazine sponsors have been contacted. The firestorm over a weekend has caused "Outdoor Life" to discontinue the blog. Reading the thousands of comments was amusing. Mr. Zumbo did a great disservice to the 2nd Amendment rights of gun owning Americans. The Brady anti-gun group picked up on the original blog comment in less than 24 hours. His rant is being used as fodder against gun rights. Jim Zumbo is an idiot. He offered a half hearted apology which was not really an apology at all. It was a rant of self justification, though he admitted he was wrong in writing what he did. He attributed it to being cranky and tired after an all day hunting outing. He called AR-15 rifles "terrorist rifles". Since the US military uses the AR-15 platform (the M-16 is the military version), he basically called our military terrorists, along with thousands of people like myself.

Aside from a few objectionable words, it is funny

Comedian Dane Cook talks about dealing with an atheist.

Not so sure this is good public policy

I have never been a fan of corporate welfare programs. Here in North Carolina, we have seen our share of them. Dell, Google, and other industries have been lured to the state with multi million dollar incentive packages at taxpayer expense. Here in Johnston County, we have seen our share, as well.

Now we are seeing a push for more of the same. The Smithfield Herald has an article on the recent plan for local town to offer tax rebates to encourage business development. First, if we just plain lowered taxes across the board, business would be encouraged. The high tax rates we already pay are a disincentive for development. Government regulation adds to the high costs of doing business, as well. Here in Selma, we already have an increased property tax rate (businesses pay a lower tax rate than residential owners like myself, so I am told) plus sales tax, income tax, FICA, and federal taxes. If all that burden were lessened, we would not have such a hard time with getting businesses started and continuing. Present businesses would have more to invest in their companies and ordinary people may be able to start their own businesses.

Chris Johnson, I know you read my blog. I respect you, but I am not real keen on your plan. Perhaps you can convince me over a cup of coffee at Riverside some day. I understand the concept and the reasons behind the tax rebates. However, I think that the five year plan is a bit of over kill and akin to the deals that Dell and others have gotten.

If I add a sun room to my house, which I have been contemplating, by the way, along with other improvements, I don't get a five year moratorium or rebate on my increased property taxes. If I add a $20,000 room to my home, I will have to pay taxes on that $20K. Fair is fair. Taxes should be even handed across the board. I realize that after five years, a business will have their normal tax rate and MAY (not a definite, since businesses come and go) pay full freight then.

According to the article:

Here’s how Johnson’s plan would work: If a doctor turned a $50,000 building into a $1 million office, he would pay property taxes on that $1 million valuation. But at the end of the year, he would get a rebate equal to the tax differences between the $1 million and $50,000 valuations. The rebates would continue for five years.

This last town council meeting was one of the few that I missed in the last two years. I think I have missed just two or three regular meetings, and those from having worked late. I wish I was there for a few items of interest.

On Tuesday, Johnson got his first backers. Town Council members in Selma listened intently and later approved the rebate program pending a public hearing to be held next month.

In Selma, the incentive program would be tweaked a bit. Property owners along a stretch of East Anderson Street from Webb Street eastward to the town limits would be eligible only if they planned new construction.

The town hopes to see new banks, hotels, restaurants and retail stores spring up along the road. Farmer praised Johnson for his work in developing the overall plan and thanked him for his help in adjusting it to meet his community’s needs.

“I naturally thought it was a pretty creative idea,” Farmer said on Tuesday. “That’s why I jumped on board.”

I will certainly try to be at the public hearing. At least the plan is less objectionable for Selma, in that it is only for a specific area and for new construction. Personally, I can't see it happening along that roadway. It is right down the street from where I live and I go that way often to I-95. That area isn't exactly ripe for development of banks, hotels, restaurants, and retail, in my opinion.

Like I said, I have never been a fan of business incentives and corporate welfare. It often does not pay off and ends up being unfair for the average tax payer with little return benefit. Thousands of businesses have come along with no incentives except the free market system and done just fine. If we have the atmosphere conducive to a particular type of business or just in general, then we will attract businesses. I am not so sure that this is the way to do that.

Here in Selma, I don't see exit 98 into downtown (whoops...uptown) as prime development property or an incentive package to manipulate businesses into developing that area as a panacea.

This guy is a scumbag

Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church do not represent orthodox Christianity. People like this and his congregation are idiots. I fully understand the coming wrath of God. I know what the Bible says about his vengeance. I agree with their stance on God's opposition to homosexuality. However, they take it to the extremes and blame the death of US soldiers in combat on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military.

When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices. This man, however, rejoices in iniquity, contrary to scripture. I, too, cheer on the righteous judgements of God. I do not, however, rejoice in the deaths of soldiers in combat, much less that of the wicked.

Let me reiterate that Fred Phelps and his ilk do NOT represent Christianity any more than Jesse Jackson actually represents the Black race.

Anyone with half a brain and knowledge of God should find this video repulsive.

Fellow Selmites, you want a copy of this book

I saw a book for the first time yesterday afternoon. I was at the monthly meeting of the Selma Development Partnership. I saw a book that someone had at the meeting table called "Historic Architecture of Selma, North Carolina", directed and edited by Thomas A. Greco. The book was originally published in 1980 by the Town of Selma in cooperation with the NC Department of Cultural Resources. The book was recently reprinted by the SDP.

The book is listed on the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office web site, but the book does not seem to be available for purchase that way. The Smithfield book on the same topic is only $3 plus shipping.

The beginning of the book has an interesting history of the town and the book goes on to document just what the title indicates. There are a lot of historical pictures of buildings that are long gone and many that I recognize.

The book can be obtained at The Selma Visitor's Center in the Jernigan Building (old courthouse) for $14.95. It is worth the price just to have a bit of Selma history in your library.

I didn't know I was in the Wilson's Mills paper, too.

A couple of weeks ago, I was at a local restaurant here in Selma and one of the employees recognized my name on my credit card. She told me that she has been reading my column in "The Wilson's Mills News". I didn't know that my column was being published in that paper, too. I knew it was in "The Selma News", but I didn't know that the column was being carried in both papers. Today I picked up a copy of "The Wilson's Mills News" and there I was. Cool. Thanks, Rick.

This makes sense

I love when people make creative use of resources. I like the idea of charter schools. The school system is broken and has been for years. Charter schools have extreme local control, which I love. A board of directors serves as the school board. Staff is usually lean rather than bloated with bureaurocracy and administration. That means that parents have greater control over the school's operation and expenditures than government run schools.

Charter schools get the same per student money that government schools get. What they do not get is the money for facilities. That means that they have to find their own building and run more efficiently than a government school. They often will use an existing building such as an old grocery store, other store front, or abandoned school building. In Selma's case, a new charter school has leased the old Harrison building. This is just good use of a facility that is otherwise underutilized.

It is good that the town is cooperating in leasing the building to the school for just $1 per year. I am sure that there are provisions for the school being responsible for insurance and utilities. I was not able to be at the last council meeting (I was working until after 1 in the morning. By the way, the town web site advertised the meeting as being on the 6th, a week early), so I didn't hear all the details that may have been discussed. To get a building and gym for school use is good for both the town if those expenses are covered by the school. The school benefits by having a facility at basically no cost. This is the creative use of existing facilities that I like to see.

Below is the WMPM story. There is a much more complete story in this week's edition of The Selma News. I linked you to the paper's web site, but the story isn't there. Unfortunately, the paper has not been real good at updating their web site with news. If you want to read the story, you have to pick up a copy of the paper.

Charter School Leases Old Harrison School Building - Johnston County ’s first charter school is set to open this August. This week, the Selma Town Council agreed to lease the old Harrison school building and gym to the charter school for $1 a year for three years. Officials estimate 260 students will be enrolled in grades K-4. About 32 teachers and administrators will be hired. Final approval of the charter school by the state is expected in a matter of weeks.

"The Smithfield Heresy" has published an article on the Harrison property becoming a charter school on their site.

Quite honestly, I am surprised that I don't see and hear this in my own house

Shame on the voters and shame on Jim Black

It is about time, but Jim Black finally did the right thing and resigned from the State House of Representatives. It is sad that an elected representative is corrupt. What is even more sad is that everybody knew it and he was not only still in office but got re-elected. Granted, his last election was by a hair thin margin. However, he was re-elected none the less. Here he was back in office for less than a month and he decided to resign.

Jim Black, you should have done the right thing and dropped out of the race months ago. You knew that your federal corruption charge was coming. You knew that your days were numbered, or else you would not have stepped down as Speaker of the House. You knew how corrupt you were but put on the face of innocence. Shame on you, Jim Black. But just as bad, shame on each and every voter who knew how corrupt Jim Black was and still voted for him. Shame on every man and woman who stood by such an unethical man. During the election coverage in November, I watched people get on camera and sing the praises of Jim Black. In October, it was well known that Black would probably be indicted. It was so obvious that the web site jimblackmustgo.com was taken off the internet.

Now his shame is state wide. He is in all major newspapers, on the radio, and on television. What was dark has been brought to the light. What was done in secret was made open.

Jim Black deserves PMITA prison time for his violations of public trust, waste of taxpayer money, his role in the creation of the state lottery, to name a few. When 26, including the 10 largest newspapers (not generally known to be conservative media outlets) call for your resignation, it should be obvious that your time is limited. Enjoy Club Fed.

Just plain busy

I know, I know. It has been several days since I posted. I have been extremely busy at work for the past week or two. I also have not found much that I want to write about. To be more accurate, there are some topics worth my writing about, but I just have not felt like digging in to do so. I have been sitting or standing in front of a computer for hours on end each day lately. I just haven't felt like composing any more than I have to this week. I have had my rear end in this same chair in front of this same computer screen all day long with the exception of a few hours to have dinner with my wife and watch TV together for a few hours.

On top of all of that, I am just getting over a head cold. I felt it coming on at the beginning of last week. By Friday, it was full blown. Half of our tech staff has been out sick lately. A lot of people have had colds lately. My mom got one the same say I did, and she is over 700 miles away. I have been covering a lot for one of my coworkers who has been suffering from kidney stones for the past week. Yesterday and today have been much better days for me. I have been able to get in full work days, even working a bunch of overtime.

Subject change.

For those who know my pup, Daisy, you know she is adorable. She has been making progress in her relationship with me. Today she played with me for the first time ever. Teresa put her on the bed this morning and she hopped on top of me for a while, layed on me, and started playing with me. I would touch her paws and she would draw back, I would do it again, and she would do her withdrawl, then nip at me, smile, and play cute. This evening she let me play puppy tug with an old sock. She has never done that with me before, but has with Teresa. She is coming along slowly but surely. But don't let her fool you.

She may be adorable, but she has also been wafting some nasty air biscuits lately. Today, especially. It makes me wonder what we have been feeding the beast.

I have always loved this idea

We need to issue pig blood or pork products to every American soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan. Furthermore, we need to publicize this idea to all our Islamic enemies.

More local involuntary annexation

I have pretty much made my views clear on involuntary annexation by municipalities. As a matter of fact, next week's LaPlante's Rants column will be on that very topic. I do not support involuntary annexation in most cases. There are a few in which it makes sense and is fair, but certainly not all. It seems that towns are competing for property to annex, for ETJ (extra-territorial jurisdiction) area, and working to expand tax base and square mileage. Clayton, Wilson's Mills, and Selma are all working on new ETJ plans, which is the prelude to more annexation.

I see that the Town of Smithfield has a sizeable involuntary annexation campaign going on right now. From WMPM's web site:

59 Parcels Identified For Forced Annexation - The Smithfield Town Council is seeking to involuntary annex 59 tracts of land off Highway 301 South and near the US70/I-95 interchange. The largest, 55 parcels, is from US301 at Galilee Road south to Holts Lake . The involuntary annexation includes Holt Lake Barbecue , Holt Lake Wildlife Taxidermy, Blackmon’s Mobile Home Park , and the Johnston County School Bus Garage. The annexation does not include the Huntington Ridge Subdivision off Country Club Road , which had previously been considered for annexation several years ago. Four businesses near the US70/I-95 interchange are also being considered for forced annexation. They include the Village Inn, Village Restaurant, Tobacco Shop, and the Johnston County Board of Education Central Office. Another 43 acres of land will be annexed voluntarily. Frank and Tina Lee are asking that 33 acres of land on Galilee Road be annexed, along with a 10-acre tract on US70 at Yelverton Grove Road owned by East Carolina Farm Credit (ECFC). ECFC has also submitted preliminary site plans to build a new office at that location. Public hearings on the voluntary annexations will take place in March and in April on the involuntary annexations.

Reader feedback

From time to time, I get feedback on my LaPlante's Rants weekly column in The Selma News. Today I got a comment and wanted to share it here. I also put it on the column's blog. I welcome reader feedback on my column. My feedback line is 919-975-2210. Feel free to leave a message there. All feedback left is subject to being blogged.

LaPlante's Rants Feedback

Hannity is OK, but Colmes is an idiot

I travel a lot for my job, sometimes. Often, late at night, I find myself tuning to different radio stations looking for some talk radio I can enjoy. Once in a great while, I tune in Alan Colmes. I don't like watching Hannity and Colmes, since I don't like the overly combative style they have. Alan Colmes is a liberal apologist who rarely can be objective. Everything is filtered through his leftist lens. I have heard him twist words and meanings, facts, and statistics. I have heard him draw parallels that do not exist.

I like Hannity some, but he likes to argue too much to hold my continued attention. Know the reason why Rush Limbaugh sits at the top of the heap? He does not argue like others do, he presents his side, even if he is wrong.

I am no fan of Geraldine Ferraro, either. She is a liberal who claims to be religious when it suits her. Her claimed theology does match her views, however. The same for Alan Colmes. The are in denial about the reality of this video, which is why I have a hard time with there being any real truth in liberalism. Grasping at straws.

A 10 minute citizenship primer from your government

KKK flourishing?

I don't agree with the Ku Klux Klan, the Arian Nation, or other racist groups on most issues. The are tremendously anti-Semitic, hateful, and are just plain wrong in many of their tactics and views. However, I do understand what motivates them on some issues. I have seen the stereotypes that fuel their fire.

It seems that illegal immigration has sparked a resurgence in their ranks. That is a hot issue with me and much of the U.S. population, as well. From the Alliance Defense League web site:

New York, NY, February 6, 2007 … The Ku Klux Klan, which just a few years ago seemed static or even moribund compared to other white supremacist movements such as neo-Nazis, experienced "a surprising and troubling resurgence" during the past year due to the successful exploitation of hot-button issues including immigration, gay marriage and urban crime, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

The League, which monitors the activities of racist hate groups and reports its findings to law enforcement and policymakers, has documented a noticeable spike in activity by Klan chapters across the country. The KKK believes that the U.S. is "drowning" in a tide of non-white immigration, controlled and orchestrated by Jews, and is vigorously trying to bring this message to Americans concerned or fearful about immigration.

"If any one single issue or trend can be credited with re-energizing the Klan, it is the debate over immigration in America," said Deborah M. Lauter, ADL Civil Rights Director. "Klan groups have witnessed a surprising and troubling resurgence by exploiting fears of an immigration explosion, and the debate over immigration has, in turn, helped to fuel an increase in Klan activity, with new groups sprouting in parts of the country that have not seen much activity."

I don't believe for a minute that illegal immigration is orchestrated by the Jews. That is just a conspiracy theory about an easy target. I don't care that the immigration they are complaining about is non-White. I couldn't care less what the ethnic background is of immigrants. I only want the immigration to be legal, for it to not drain the economy, and be fair to the existing citizens. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

This area was once a Klan stronghold. It will be interesting to see if they grow around here.

You don't hear this reported

Even with the increased spending, the federal budget deficit keeps shrinking? And the feds could easily balance the budget? So what is left? Me thinks spending discipline. Here is the article. I am not so optimistic.

What is so hard about this?

I highly value human life. God values life, as well. That is why he put the ultimate price on the taking of innocent life. He is the one who invented the death penalty, not man. God is not schizophrenic, so I figure that he didn't change his mind on the topic of murder.

The State of North Carolina is heatedly debating the death penalty. Death penalty opponents claim that the moratorium on executions is not an attempt to thwart the existence of the death penalty in this state. I don't buy it at all. There is an agenda at work here.

Medical boards have decided that it is unethical for a doctor to comply with the law and have a physician participate in lethal injection executions. It was a stupid requirement in the law to begin with. Let's change the law. Either that or allow the judicial process to strike down that provision. That won't happen, though, since the liberal judiciary only takes activist stands on liberal issues, not conservative.

Administering the death penalty is not about revenge. It is about punishment. What part of

Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Romans 13:3-4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

is so hard to comprehend?

Not that I relish the thought of taking someone's life or seeing someone "step into eternity" and into Hell, but I just believe what those verses say. I believe it to the point that I would be willing to perform the execution myself. I have no problem flipping the switch on "Old Sparky", pulling the trigger, or jabbing someone with a needle if that is the sentence. I do not say that I will not have a few feelings of my own to sort out afterwards, but I do believe it to be righteous and therefore believe it to be just and right.

I just wish that our elected officials had the guts to have the same resolve. I am tired of hearing about the moratorium, protesters, and whiners. I see several articles on the N&O web site about the death penalty.

A state House committee recommends legislation that would let inmates appeal their death sentences if they believe the sentences were based on racial discrimination. It does not propose legislation on doctors' roles in execution.

How in the world is the sentence based upon race? If someone committed murder, then they get whacked themselves. Simple. It does not matter about the race of the convict. The only fact that should matter is "has he/she been found guilty of murder?" If the answer is "yes", then it is time to whack a convict.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue says the state should impose a moratorium on executions until constitutional questions about how the death penalty is administered are resolved.

What constitutional questions? How is something as easy as lethal injection cruel and unusual for punishment? Personally, I believe it to be too easy a form of execution. The victim of the murder they committed probably died a far more violent or painful death. It is painless and non violent. The end result is the same, but the convict gets off light.

To our elected representatives and all opponents of the death penalty, grow a spine, and let government be a terror to evil, bear not the sword in vain, be the minister of God, and execute wrath upon him that does evil.

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Thought police stormtroopers

I received this email today.

Newest 'Hate Crime' Bill Violates Constitution: Attempts End-Run Around Free Speech

Lancaster, PA: The Constitution Party, the country's third largest political party in terms of voter registration, warns Americans that the latest federal 'hate-crime' bill introduced in the House of Representatives is a dangerous threat to Constitutionally protected rights.

H.R. 254, introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, is another version of proposed legislation passed by the House in 2005 and the Senate in 2004. Only strong public outcry and a Republican controlled Congress kept this type of legislation from becoming law. Now that Democrats are in charge there's a tough fight ahead to keep this dangerous bill from passing. H.R. 254 would make certain types of speech a federal offense. So-called 'hate crimes' legislation is dangerous for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the blatant unconstitutionality of such laws. 'Hate crime' laws would allow federal "thought police" to interfere in the law enforcement authority of states and localities - something our founders were clear was NOT to be allowed.

H.R. 254 would require every state to pass and enforce 'anti-hate' laws. It would outlaw stating a "bias" against certain 'federally protected' groups such as homosexuals.

Constitution Party National Chairman Jim Clymer warned "So-called 'hate crime' laws could mean the Bible would be considered 'hate literature' and preaching from it would be 'hate speech' because of references to religious teachings on homosexuality or other behaviors. The Orwellian implications of these types of laws mean Bible-believing Christians could become criminals simply because they spoke out about their beliefs."

Citing a 2004 case in Philadelphia, where 11 Christians were charged under a 'hate-crimes' statute for peacefully protesting at a gay rights rally, Mr. Clymer, a practicing attorney, said "Law-abiding Americans became criminals because they exercised a right our forebears fought and died for".

"By introducing the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) federal 'hate crime' bill into Congress for the second time, Rep. Jackson-Lee shows she's bound and determined to stifle your First Amendment Rights no matter how many times she has to make a run at it", noted Constitution Party Communication Director Mary Starrett who added: "The Constitution Party condemns H.R. 254 as an affront to our liberty. Today, ADL-inspired 'thought crime' laws are stripping nations of free speech.

"In Canada and many European countries, it is a crime to use the internet to criticize 'federally protected' groups, such as homosexuals and Muslims. In England, two men who called Islam 'wicked' were indicted under Britain's 'hate crime' law and now face seven years in prison. Those horrors do not belong in America!"

Referring to the group behind this bill, Clymer noted: "Congresswoman Jackson-Lee's H.R. 254 is being pushed by the same group, ADL, responsible for the British law that says truth cannot be used as a defense in court. only the complaints by members of specially protected groups who say their feelings have been hurt are being allowed. The reality of what these types of laws are doing and have done to people across the world should be a chilling reminder to Americans to oppose these laws while we still can" warned Clymer.

Do not elect this socialist

I don't care if the man IS from North Carolina. John Edwards is an ignorant fool. He has no clue about basic economics. He has no idea about the form of government under which we operate. He is an advocate of socialized health care. Oddly enough, he made his millions as a trial lawyer by suing in medical related cases. He frivilously drained millions of dollars from companies in the free market to build his personal fortune. He talks about "two Americas" when he is in the "other" America he decries. He plays the class envy game while being in the class that people envy. He wants to raise taxes on the rich, yet he is one of the rich.

We do NOT need socialized medicine. We did fine for six thousand years of human existence without a governmental health care system. I am not and should not be responsible for the health care of every last person in this nation. Nor should you be. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Do you know why health coverage is so darn expensive? Because idiots like John Edwards sue medical practitioners and supply companies so they can personally profit from them.

Here are a few paragraphs from an article on a recent interview and future plan by this buffoon.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate John Edwards on Sunday said that he would raise taxes, chiefly on the wealthy, to pay for expanded healthcare coverage under a plan costing $90 billion to $120 billion a year to be unveiled on Monday.

"We'll have to raise taxes. The only way you can pay for a healthcare plan that cost anywhere from $90 to $120 billion is there has to be a revenue source," Edwards said on NBC's Meet the Press news program.

The 2004 vice presidential nominee and former North Carolina senator said his plan would "get rid of George Bush's tax cuts for people who make over $200,000 a year."

New Selma blog

Lewis Mullen, a long time Selma resident and avid shutterbug has started a neat photo blog. He calls it The Selma Daily Photo blog. For those of you who want to see a new picture of Selma's past and present, check out the blog every so often. For those in Selma, it should be a great remembrance of our home town. For those outside of Selma, here is a chance to see the town where I live from the eye of a camera lens.

Remembering false prophets, sinful ministers, and grace

From time to time, I am reminded about some of the times I have been burned by so called ministers. I recall the things that happened, things I said, did, withstood, the hurt, but the overcoming. Today, I was reminded of a so called prophet with whomI was good friends, at one time. Together, we founded a ministry that continues to this day.

The fellowship was started by three of us guys who were friends and started a fellowship every other week in a home. It grew when we included more friends, invited others, and they invited others. We outgrew the home and ended up meeting in a rented room at a recreation center in Raleigh.

Over the course of several years, the man who claimed leadership and took the role upon himself, arranged for me and the other founding member to both be kicked out within a year of the other. He left a high body count of wounded saints in his wake. I talked with one within the past few weeks and keep in touch with three others at least semi-regularly. A fourth, whom I love dearly, I used to have fellowship with regularly, but have not spoken with in a while. It is not because I don't care for him, it is because I just haven't and should.

What reminded me of this man, whom I will call "William", is an email newsletter I got today. I don't even know how I got on this list, but I have been getting their newsletters for a few years now. Once in a while, there is a great column or food for thought. The minister who puts out this newsletter has "a lot on the ball", to borrow a cliche. I don't agree with everything, but for the most part, I can stomach what I read.

Today's newsletter had an article on Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas. Their story takes place around the time before and after the birth of Samuel the prophet, and can be found in the Bible in 1 Samuel chapters 1 through 4.

"William" made a declaration before he started wielding his axe to chop me that God told him that there were Hophnis and Phinehases in the fellowship and they had to be dealt with. What a great irony I found in this statement. He apparently viewed me as either a Hophni or a Phinehas.

The irony is that either that made him Eli, who was doomed and lost favor with God; or he accused myself and possibly others of the very thing he was guilty of. Hophni and Phinehas were guilty of sexual sin and ill gotten materialistic gain by manipulating the people of God for offerings improperly.

"William" had a problem with money. He solicited offerings from the brethren and sometimes failed to use the money for the intended purpose. He manipulated men into loaning him money for ministry trips or business ventures and then claimed that they were donations. I have heard several stories of men getting hosed by this same guy for money. He defrauded me of a day's wages then had the audacity to have someone ask me to come help him for a project for a day. He owed back wages to a man (who was unfortunately introduced to "William" by me personally), promised him that when he got the money that he would pay him (in my presence) and then decided to never pay him (also in my presence). Hophni and Phinehas had a problem with disrespectful and improper monetary gain from the people of God. So did "William". It may still be the case.

Hophni and Phinehas had problems with sex. They were fornicating with temple servants. As I found out, not long before I met "William", he had an affair and cheated on his wife. When he was single, he would minister to single young women then seduce them. He often ministered in our fellowship about sexual sin. He would denounce pornography, fornication, masturbation, etc. The problem was that he would do this incessantly. I often wondered why this was the case. With hindsight, I have figured a few things out, but it may be speculation.

During the incessant sexual purity lectures, I wondered why he hammered on this stuff. He often claimed that others had a sexual sin problem. Yes, one person we both knew did have a BAD problem with sexual sin, but he was not always there. Actually, he was only there for a short season. I knew that I was clean. Sure, I am a male with two eyeballs and two testes. I enjoy naked women as much as any normal man. I was also a married man who loves his wife and wanted to stay pure. He often accused any man (especially pastors) who were on the internet of partaking of online pornography. He readily levied that accusation. Not every person who is online is into porn. As a matter of fact, for a long time after being online, I had never encountered any online porn. Sure, I got solicitations via junk email, but I had not been to such sites. During that entire time he rambled on about internet porn, I had not touched it. In the years following and in decade that I have been online, I have stumbled across my share since. It is pretty hard NOT to find it now, it is so darn pervasive. I also work in the cable TV business. Cable TV providers are huge purveyors of pornographic video, and I do run across it from time to time during the course of my job. That does not mean that I have to sit and enjoy it, though.

Looking back, I also recall times when just walking down the aisle at a store with "William", he would grab me and duck down another aisle when an attractive or scantily clad woman would be approaching. Though I understand avoiding the temptation of drinking in the scenery, I found it awkward. I wasn't dealing with that sort of temptation with the eyeballs sufficiently to have the need to duck down an aisle. That tells me where he was. That, however, is no reason to ascribe that same struggle to others. Other times, he would share with me how he believed that certain women were sexually attracted to him. I can recall several times that he related this belief as certainty in his mind. Sure, whatever.

The whole thing about the article I linked you to is about confronting sin in the House of God. Ministers are not above rebuke. They must be held accountable. Just because they have a measure of authority does not make them above reproach.

The key here is that little three letter word. SIN. It is not a matter of a difference of opinion. Men can disagree on doctrine, on conducting the affairs of life, and on many issues. However, because one disagrees on some things does not mean that one is in sin. False holiness is applying your own personal convictions to others as a standard of personal holiness and measure of relationship with God. That was the basis for my "dismissal" from that fellowship. It was a difference of opinion, not holiness or sin. You do not cut off someone, consider them anathema, or treat them as a heathen and a publican because they refuse to go along with your opinion of how things should be. Church discipline is about sin, not personal preferences.

For years, I have recommended the book, "False Holiness Exposed" by Bob Hellman. God's grace is amazing. Before the fallout with "William", I was walking through a bookstore and I was intrigued by the book's title. The Holy Spirit was dealing with me on that very topic. That book reinforced exactly what the Spirit was teaching me and helped guide me through that turmoil.

Anyway, the article reminded me of the ponderings I have had over the years. I have mused about the Hophni and Phinehas accusation made by this so called "prophet". The absolute irony of the accusation does not escape me. To call someone the very thing that he himself was is either blindness or hypocrisy. I am not sure which it was, or maybe both.

I have shed many tears over this man, his family, the fellowship of brothers I left, and the situation. I have prayed for them often. I know why God says in

Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"

It is not just for their benefit. It is for your OWN benefit. Trust me. I have lived it. Another helpful book that I found that coincides with and reinforces this principle is John Bevere's "The Bait of Satan". That is one book I recommend for those who have been done wrong by others, especially so called ministers. That book really helped me in my time of anguish.

When you hear a message from the Lord, I have found that it is usually for yourself FIRST. Upon receiving a message from God, I have learned that unless there is a specific intended recipient, to examine myself first. Maybe that lesson is lost on others. I am all too aware of my flaws. I deal with them and weep over them at times.

To be honest, since my parting of ways with "William", I have fellowshipped with many different people, learned a lot about God's ways rather than his acts. There are several relationships I miss. Others, not so much. I do know that I have seriously stepped back away from ministry and changed my beliefs on what I once believed to be ministry. I sometimes feel guilty about this and other aspects of my life.

In all fairness, though, I have had more opportunities to share the love of Christ with others by my actions and in a tangible way than at any other time in my life. At the same time, because of my stepping back and being in a place of seclusion in the wilderness, I feel distant from Him and have for years. I also know that this is not necessarily contrary to the will of the Lord.

I have felt more freedom in resting in the Lord's grace than I have ever had before. Along with that has come more temptation and trial than before, too. If you only knew the amount of temptations I have been facing in different areas. As one grows in grace, there will also grow the level of temptation by the enemy. At the same time, I have seen material blessings that I have never experienced previously. Along with that have come opportunities for giving and ministering grace then ever before.

I have learned a lot about forgiveness and grace. I have become far less condemning towards others, though I still have my own opinions. I have had plenty of opportunities to share the forgiveness of the Lord rather than condemnation to others in their time of need of grace. I have had to learn to allow some of that same grace for myself.

I remember back to the days of Noah, Moses, and Paul with years of nothing but desert or toil. I am trying to work on that patience in the desert. I want to remember

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am thankful for the grace of God. He has been better to me than I have been to myself. Lord, help me.

Possibly the most painful video you will ever watch

It hurts just watching this video. Ooooohhh, aaahhhhhhhhhhhh, ouchhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

NC taxes

I have written more than once about the abomination of income taxes. Personally, I believe that income taxes violate the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. Also, I firmly believe that we should repeal the 16th Amendment.

The North Carolina income tax is based upon the federal income tax system. Basically, it starts where the federal system leaves off, makes some additions and adjustments, and assesses a liability. It is unethical based just upon the idea that it is forced taxation upon one's labor. Non-compliance results in loss of property, legal action, and even prison time. In my opinion, it is forced labor to benefit others and akin to slavery. It is more insidious when you consider the idea that many do not pay their share of a tax burden and live to suckle off the labor of others by the government forcibly taking money from law abiding, tax paying, productive citizens and giving it to those who do nothing to receive their governmental milk from a fat teat.

Wednesday, I did our state and federal tax returns. I found a program that I like at taxact.com Their software is about half the price of Turbo Tax and others, and works just fine. I have used it three years in a row. The software asks all the same questions I answered each time I went to see an accountant and paid anywhere from $120 to $180. $20 is a better price, in my opinion.

Here is the part that is totally evil about the North Carolina income tax system. Did you know that if you got a refund from last year's taxes that the amount of your refund is considered income for the following tax year and therefore subject to income tax? If in tax year 2005 you got a refund of $500 (to make up a figure) from the state in 2006, you are supposed to claim an extra $500 of income for tax year 2006.

That is pure evil and double taxation. I pay my taxes with taxed dollars. The state takes and holds my money without any interest or consideration. When the taxes collected exceed the amount actually owed, I am due back the overage. Again, this is money paid above and beyond what I would owe. The state treasury holds this money for a year and does not pay interest on it. They earn interest. Then, I am supposed to be grateful to get a refund of my own money. That already taxed money is then considered income a SECOND time and I have to pay taxes on it yet again. That is just plain unethical.

North Carolina has one of the highest tax burdens in the Southeast. We are getting as bad as some states in the Northeast, notorious for high taxes. I read some statistic that showed that Massachusetts has a similar burden percentage wise as we pay here, after all taxes are figured.

We pay federal income tax, state income tax, sales tax, property tax, excise taxes, and the list goes on. North Carolina is more brutal in income tax enforcement and collection than the federal IRS. Been there, lived that. To top it all off, the state graciously taxes us on "income" that has already been taxed.

This is why I love the Fair Tax Plan. There are a few things perhaps not taken into account in that plan, but it is still far more fair than income tax. I would even be in favor of a flat tax, provided that ALL people pay it, regardless of income level. 9% is 9%, regardless of income level and is fair to everyone. Eliminate all exemptions, deductions, and include all citizens and I will be in favor of it. I should be able to figure out income taxes with a calculator and 30 seconds of my time. A simple post card of tax liability would do fine and eliminate much of the IRS, both federal and state. I am all for that.

Gee, I almost forgot

Today marked the beginning once again of Black History Month. At least they didn't try to change the name to "African-American History Month". Not every Negro is African. Many Africans are Caucasian or Arabic, too.

Obviously, I am not a supporter of the concept. History is history. It is color blind except for those writing it. If there are events and people worthy of recording in the annals of history, it should be so, regardless of the ethnicity of the people involved. Racism is wrong, regardless of from which direction it emanates.

If I observed White History Month, I would be called a racist. Some time ago, there was an email that got forwarded around the net. Just a few weeks ago, I saw it again. I certainly didn't write it, but I sure see the hypocrisy it exposes. Heck, I'll just copy and paste it here.

You call me "Cracker", "Honkey", "Whitey", "Gringo" and you think it's OK.

...But when I call you Kike, sand nigger, rag head ,Towelhead, WOP, Camel Jockey, Gook, slant eyes or Chink you call me a racist.

-You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you, so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?

-You have the United Negro College Fund.

-You have Martin Luther King Day.

-You have Black History Month.

-You have Cesar Chavez Day.

-You have Yom Hashoah

-You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi

-You have the NAACP.

-You have BET.

-You have the NCAA.

-If we had WET(White Entertainment Television)...we'd be racist.

-If we had a White Pride Day...you would call us racist.

-If we had white history month...we'd be racist.

-If we had an organization for only whites to "advance" our lives...we'd be racist.

-If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships...you know we'd be racist.

-In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights...you would call us racist

-Did you know that some high school students decided to make a club for only the white students because the other ethnicities had them... they all got sent to court for being racist but the African-American, Latino, and Asian clubs were not even questioned.

-You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.

My nine different names

I don't usually get into these things, but it was cute. Try it yourself.

1. YOUR REAL NAME:
Troy

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle)
Troizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)
Purple Kitten

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, and current street)
Mathew Anderson

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, last 3 letters of mom's maiden name
Laptoing

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (Your 2nd favorite color, favorite drink).
Blue Moolatte

7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of you dads middle name, 1st letter of a siblings first name, last letter of your moms middle name)
rpaietg.....uh, ok.

8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mothers middle name)
Olive

9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one your pets)
Black Daisy

I am expecting my nomination any day now

If Rush Limbaugh can be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, then I guess that I should be expecting a nomination any time now. Rush advocates many of the same things I do, but I just have a smaller platform. Actually, I admire Rush greatly for his accomplishments in broadcasting. I would love to meet him sometime.

The Landmark Legal Foundation just hasn't read my LaPlante's Rants column or read this blog. Below is the article. I didn't listen to Rush today, so I found out about it on The Drudge Report.

Landmark Legal Foundation today nominated nationally syndicated radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Limbaugh, whose daily radio show is heard by more than 20 million people on more than 600 radio stations in the United States and around the world, was nominated for the prestigious award for his "nearly two decades of tireless efforts to promote liberty, equality and opportunity for all humankind, regardless of race, creed, economic stratum or national origin. These are the only real cornerstones of just and lasting peace throughout the world," said Landmark President Mark R. Levin.

Eliminating straight ticket voting

I read three New Hampshire newspapers online daily. No, I don't read every story, just the ones that interest me. Sometimes I only scan the headlines on the web page, sometimes I find a story that really interests me. This morning I found two stories. One was about a local television appearance for a series on The Discovery Channel's show "Dirty Jobs". The other was something I support.

In The Concord Monitor I found the this (click on the link for the full article):

When voters head to the polls next year, one longtime feature of New Hampshire ballots will likely be missing: The option to vote straight ticket.

Yesterday, a bill to eliminate the practice of straight-ticket voting - which allows people to choose all the candidates from a single political party just by checking one box on the ballot - passed its first test when the Senate Election Law Committee recommended that the full Senate do away with the practice. At least 17 of the 24 senators will likely support the bill, along with most House members, Democratic leaders said.

"We believe passionately in a fair ballot, in a comprehensible ballot," said Sen. Peter Burling, a sponsor of the proposal. "We don't take anything away from the voters. We just say: Vote for the people you want."

For decades, Republican majorities in the House and Senate have rejected Democratic-led efforts to eliminate straight-ticket voting. Although Democrats benefited from straight-ticket votes in November's election - winning a majority in the House and Senate - they are still pushing to abolish the practice. And this year, Democratic leaders said, the effort will likely succeed.

Now this is getting scary. I find myself agreeing with Democrats yet again. I don't believe that I am getting more liberal. I believe that the Republicans are getting more and more disagreeable. In this instance, the Democrats just have it right. Vote for who you want, not for a party and a straight ticket. Even if you want to vote for all Republicans, you should still be required to vote for each individual office and candidate.

Straight ticket voting is lazy and irresponsible. If someone is too lazy to take the time to go through a ballot, then they don't deserve to have their vote count.

To the Democrats in New Hampshire pushing the elimination of straight ticket voting, you have my kudos. To the Republicans trying to block that idea, you have my wondering of "what the hell is wrong with you"?