What A Sad State Of "Affairs"

(From my blog - for you Facebookers!) Some people have no conviction whatsoever, while others have the wrong convictions. Read the below article and see how our nation is filled with politicians who are inept and people who are immoral. But should we expect anything different than this? (I'm still fuming about the politician at the end who voted "for" gay marriage (which cannot exist because marriage references a union between a man and woman...I guess Webster did not know our enlightened views at the time!!!) even though he is philosophically against it.)

Vermont legalizes gay marriage with veto override (AP)

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Vermont on Tuesday became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature's vote.
The House recorded a dramatic 100-49 vote, the minimum needed, to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto. Its vote followed a much easier override vote in the Senate, which rebuffed the Republican governor with a vote of 23-5.
Vermont was the first state to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples and joins Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa in giving gays the right to marry. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.
Tuesday morning's legislative action came less than a day after Douglas issued a veto message saying the bill would not improve the lot of gay and lesbian couples because it still would not provide them rights under federal and other states' laws.
Douglas called override "not unexpected." He had called the issue of gay marriage a distraction during a time when economic and budget issues were more important.
"What really disappoints me is that we have spent some time on an issue during which another thousand Vermonters have lost their jobs," the governor said Tuesday. "We need to turn out attention to balancing a budget without raising taxes, growing the economy, putting more people to work."
House Speaker Shap Smith's announcement of the vote brought an outburst of jubilation from some of the hundreds packed into the gallery and the lobby outside the House chamber, despite the speaker's admonishment against such displays.
Among the celebrants in the lobby were former Rep. Robert Dostis, D-Waterbury, and his longtime partner, Chuck Kletecka. Dostis recalled efforts to expand gay rights dating to an anti-discrimination law passed in 1992.
"It's been a very long battle. It's been almost 20 years to get to this point," Dostis said. "I think finally, most people in Vermont understand that we're a couple like any other couple. We're as good and as bad as any other group of people. And now I think we have a chance to prove ourselves here on forward that we're good members of our community."
Dostis said he and Kletecka will celebrate their 25th year together in September.
"Is that a proposal?" Kletecka asked.
"Yeah," Dostis replied. "Twenty-five years together, I think it's time we finally got married."
Craig Bensen, a gay marriage opponent who had lobbied unsuccessfully for a nonbinding referendum on the question, said he was disappointed but believed gay marriage opponents were outspent by supporters by a 20-1 margin.
"The other side had a highly funded, extremely well-oiled machine with all the political leadership except the governor pushing to make this happen," he said. "The fact that it came down to this tight a vote is really astounding."
Also in the crowd was Michael Feiner, a farmer from Roxbury and gay marriage supporter, who took a break from collecting sap for maple syrup-making to come to the Statehouse.
"I'm taking a break to come and basically make sure that I was here to witness history," he said.
The House had initially approved the bill last week with a 95-52 vote. Smith and his leadership team worked through the weekend to try to persuade some legislators to change their minds.
One who did was first-term Rep. Jeff Young, D-St. Albans. He said he continued to be philosophically opposed to gay marriage, but decided that voting with his fellow Democrats would help him be an effective legislator in the future.
"You realize that, you know, it's a poker game in some ways," Young said. "Chips on the table. I'm a freshman. I have no chips. If I ... had 20 years of chips, I probably could play any card I want. I don't have that option."
He added, "It's the way the political game is played."

What's Wrong With People?

This is a question that is often asked concerning the world we live in, especially after attacks like the one yesterday at Virginia Tech. What is wrong with people? Often we try to soothe our emotions by looking at someone's past and blaming societal problems, etc. for what happened (and there may be some truth to that), but we must realize that there is a much deeper problem that needs to be addressed. You see, we are dealing with a world-wide epidemic. There is a disease that affects every human and drives many people to do the things such as the massacre that occured yesterday. The problem is sin. We are corrupt creatures. We have a depraved nature that is inherently evil. There is no good in us, so what can we expect from flawed creatures? What's wrong with people? Sin! However, there is a solution. God sent His only Son to die on the cross in our place. Jesus Christ was our substitute. He is perfect. We are not. He is love. We are not. He is God. We are not. He can save us. We can not. Will you admit that you have a problem and trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Repent of your sins , believe in Jesus Christ, and He will save you.

To the students, parents, professors, workers, colleagues, families, friends, neighbors, etc. of those students injured and killed in this horrible act of violence:
Our prayers are with you. We pray that God will give you strength during this time of need. Remember, He loves you and will never forsake you. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please contact us at (903)655-0164 or email us at info@ebenezermbc.com.

May God Bless You