Krissy_Cole, in a recent comment to me, said this...

     "People attack the church because it--nay, we--make ourselves such easy targets through our self-righteousness. We call for government involvement in issues that the church itself needs to figure out a way to address because having the government set a "law" dictating that something we disagree with is illegal is much simpler than trying to love someone who has or does do the thing with which we disagree."

     It made me think very hard about what the christians are trying to do and why. I think we have been going about some things in all the wrong ways. To make something illegal because we don't want to have to deal with it seems like a dumb way to skirt around an issue, yet I think it's what we've tried to do in some instances.

     The only things that seemingly should be "illegal" are things that would harm others, in a physical or emotional way, such as abortion, homicide, etc., but then where is it defined? How is the line drawn? I've still not come to my final conclusions on this but I wanted to ask all of you what you think of this?

     Have christians tried to force the law to make up for our lack of love? Was God more interested in changing people, by forcing them to do what he said, or winning them by His love and compassion toward them? Where is the line between legality and christian laws that shouldn't be forced on nonbelievers?    

     Blood is everywhere, the body can be seen just lying there, he stands there watching the finished product of what he's done...emotionless. Peeling his gloves from his slightly shaky hands, he discards them in the trash and leaves, not because he thinks he'll get caught, but because he has work to do. More people are waiting for him to kill those people they hate, more victims are waiting, oblivious to the fact that in a matter of hours, their lives will be taken from them.

     He could almost call himself a serial killer, for his occupation was to take life, but then that wouldn't be quite accurate since he was hired by others and was given the OK by his government. Besides, it wasn't humans he was killing, he'd convinced himself of that. At the end of the day he'll pick up a large sum of money for his services, paid by none other than the government itself.

     When  we hear the terms serial killer and assassin, dark thoughts come to our minds. We picture a crazed person on a rampage or a stealthy business man who kills people for large sums of money. We picture people that the government would give anything to find and put behind bars, so they could never hurt anyone again. Yet there is one killer who goes by a different name, who is sanctioned by the government, who has the approval of many citizens. He goes under the alias of "Abortion Doctor" yet most people know that it's a fancy name for a person who kills babies.

     Name me a few things that are different between an abortion doctor and a serial killer? He is under control by the government so he can't just kill anyone he pleases, but does that make him better? He is not insane? Well, I'll give you that one, anyone who could fool a nation into allowing him to steal life, and get paid for it, is no dummy.

     Blood passes by his hands every day, life is taken by him every day, he even uses the same MO and same type, children, 1-9 months old. The only difference is that he doesn't have a warrant out for his arrest, in fact, his country and government applaud him for his "great work" as he snuffs out more and more lives.

     What do you think of a government sanctioned serial killer?  

     The media and society in general has mangled and butchered a lot of terms and words. The definition of words like gay, cool, or love just to name a few, but the word we have abused greatly is HERO. 

     We have games like Guitar Hero, implying that playing a guitar makes you a hero, we make athletes into some heroes, and we try to paint anyone who has the medias eye as a hero. Ask any young person in today's society who their hero is and you'll most likely get a "Kobe Bryant" "Magic Johnson" "LeBron James" "Lil' Wayne" or some other such celebrity. Their "heroes" are people who promote everything that's wrong with society. Lil' Wayne has been to jail multiple times, sings...I mean raps, about sex, drugs, etc., and doesn't even have the decency to pull his pants up after using the restroom. Magic Johnson has AIDs and brags about how many girls he has been with. The list just goes on and on, these people that the media and young people all over have dubbed heroes are the farthest thing one could possibly be.

     A true hero to me is someone who inspires people, who affects change for better, who is brave in the face of adversity, who isn't afraid to stand up for an underdog, who will fight for the rights of those who are mistreated or discriminated against. A Hero will stand for right, when no one stands with them, a hero is not afraid to die for what they believe in, and often a hero won't even realize what they are.

     I have the utmost respect for our military personnel who are not afraid to fight for our freedom, the Presidents through the years who have affected our nation positively and inspired America, the missionaries and charity groups that risk their very lives to help those who are suffering in third world countries, the people like you and I who are not afraid to stand up for what we believe in, who will press on in the face of adversity, who will go on to make a difference in the world, even if they never see their impact on society in their lifetime.

     Hero could be applied to many great people, but unfortunately we have resorted to labeling trashy movie stars, basketball players, and rock stars with the coveted title. We have trashed this term to mean almost nothing. I speak for the true heroes around the world, may they one day be recognized for the greatness they possess.

     Who is your hero?