Those recent twin shootings in Colorado rattled a friend of mine. Greg Stier, head of the Dare2Share youth ministry, sends his kid to the same campus where the first murders took place.

Around the blogosphere, I’ve seen well-deserved praise for the ex-cop (turns out disgraced former cop who has now been redeemed by the Lord) who took down the shooter before the guy blew his own head off. I’ve also seen plenty of “enjoy hell!!” comments directed at the murderer.

But on his blog, Greg had this to say just after the first incident:

“Our hearts break for the victims of the shootings at the YWAM Training Center in Arvada, Colorado. This tragedy took place less than five minutes away from Dare 2 Share Ministries International headquarters in Wheatridge, Colorado. This hits close to home to me personally because I live in Arvada where this horrific shooting took place. I ask all Christians to pray that the perpetrator of these horrible shootings is caught, brought to justice and then to Jesus. I ask that every Christian prays as well for the surviving victims and all the families that have been affected by this shocking and senseless tragedy.”

“Pray…that the perpetrator…is brought to Jesus.” Of course, we now know the ultimate outcome and know some of the background of the killer. But Greg, amid what really was a terrifying episode, was asking for grace for the shooter instead of joining in with the chorus of those damning him to hell.

Think about that for a while.

I’m talking about Mike Huckabee, the new Sunshine Boy of certain republicans.

I certainly approve the fact he is a professing Christian and appreciate the Christmas greetings in his latest ad, but the fact remains he is nothing more than another Jimmy Carter as far as a prospective president goes.

Here’s the ad:

Jimmy Carter was also a professing Christian and by all accounts a good man, but his was probably the worst presidency I have seen in my lifetime.

The same would be true of Huckabee, except if he is nominated I doubt he would win.

If we were electing Pastor In Chief I’d probably give him a second look, but we’re not electing Pastor in Chief. We’re going to be electing a Commander in Chief. We want someone with executive and foreign policy experience. We can’t afford OJT at this juncture in our country’s history.

How I wish we actually had a choice this year of someone who is really presidential material and not just another politician trying to gain power by holding the most powerful office in the world.

It is interesting to see which of our past Presidents is most admired by some of those aspiring to be our next President of the United States:

The presidential candidates are wild about Harry. And Teddy. And Martin?

The Associated Press asked them to name their favorite 20th century president from the opposing party. Two presidents swept the standings—Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican who was the nation’s 26th chief executive, 1901 to 1909; and Harry S. Truman, the Democrat who was the 33rd president, 1945-1953. The runner-up: a guy who played a president on TV.

I guess great minds really do think alike. At least all but one.

I picked up the link to Michael Totten’s most recent piece at Winds of Change.

The quote with which he chose to begin speaks volumes.

“The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.” — Thomas Jefferson

Read the rest here, including this telling paragraph:

Mr. al-Fadhily is unhappy with the way things are going in the city right now. It means little to him that the only shots fired by the Marines anymore are practice rounds on the range, and that there hasn’t been a single fire fight or combat casualty for months. That’s fair enough, as far as it goes, and perhaps to be expected from a reporter who isn’t embedded with the military and who focuses his attention on Iraqi civilians. The trouble is that Mr. Al-Fadhily’s hysterical exaggerations, refusal to provide crucial context, and outright fabrications amount to a serious case of journalistic malpractice.

It’s funny how sometimes you visit one site with a piece which captures your interest and the very next post you read makes a statement or asks a question which is pertinent to the one prior.

Upon completion of Michael Totten’s article, I stopped over at The Midnight Sun where Aurora asked this question:

Our fighting people, British, Australian, American and Iraqi, are doing a magnificent job. They deserve respect and recognition for a job well done…But will they receive it?

I think there are two answers to that question.

Many citizens of Britain, Australia, America and Iraq do respect the job their respective forces have and will continue to accomplish.

However, the agenda driven press and politicians are another story. Sad that there are those would seek to undermine those fighting to maintain your freedoms, but unfortunately, so true.

Healthy food vs. the Food Nannies.

To believe that denying a couple of cupcakes during the Holiday season is going to make a difference in a child’s overall nutrition is idiotic. The Holidays are a time for celebration. And for generations of American kids, that celebration has taken the form of treats at school, shared in a true spirit of Christmas, with their friends and classmates. The mindset of administrators who seek to change that tradition not for the sake of better nutrition but in the name of controlling what kids eat is nanny statism at its worst.

Veggie trays with marinaro sauce will inspire little celebration among kids - unless children have radically altered their brain chemistry in the last few years. And banning cupcakes only destroys the notion that Holidays are special.

I believe that children should have well rounded diets and certainly nutritious food are vitally important to their growth, but come on now. A cupcake? One has to wonder if these adults have sacrificed their daily coffee loaded with cream and sugar or always forego the dessert table at functions or restaurants they attend. Ridiculous.

Thought I’d wrap up with one of those heartwarming pictures which leaves you feeling both happy and still with bit of a lump in your throat.

A father and daughter reunited..what a wonderful gift.