Hi everyone…Please take a moment to read the below story this blog refers to so we can be on the same page…
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Priest Bans Autistic Boy From Church
Mom Told She’d Be Sent to Jail if She Brought Autistic Son to Church
BERTHA, Minn.
May 19, 2008

A Catholic priest has filed a restraining order against the parents of a severely autistic 13-year-old boy in an effort to keep him from attending the church in Bertha on Sundays. The Rev. Daniel Walz alleges that Adam Race’s unruly behavior endangers others who attend the Church of St. Joseph. Race’s parents have ignored the restraining order, calling it discriminatory, and Carol Race, Adam’s mother, was cited by police and is due to appear in court on Monday for violating the order. “He said that we did not discipline our son. He said that our son was physically out of control and a danger to everyone at church,” Carol Race said. “I can’t discipline him out of his autism, and I think that’s what our priest is expecting.” Carol Race said it all started last June, when Walz and a church trustee visited the Races at their home address the behavior of Adam, who stands taller than six feet and weighs more than 225 pounds. In an affidavit, Walz said the church “explored and offered many options for accommodations that would assist the family while protecting the safety of parishioners. The family refused those offers of accommodation.”
Carol Race said the family of seven, which has attended St. Joseph since 1996, typically sat in the cry room or in the back pew to keep avoid disrupting the services and did not hear a complaint from the parishioners until Walz showed up at their home in June. Even after the restraining order was served, the family continued going to the church and would leave during the closing hymn to avoid contact with others, Carol Race said. The Diocese of St. Cloud issued a statement saying the petition was filed “as a last resort out of a growing concern for the safety of parishioners and other community members due to disruptive and violent behavior on the part of that child.” Walz said the boy’s behavior worsened over time, telling authorities that Adam has been “extremely disruptive and dangerous” since last summer. According to Walz, Adam struck a child during mass, nearly knocks elderly parishioners over when he hastily exits the church, spits and sometimes urinates in church and fights when he is being restrained.
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Okay…here’s what I think!  A church is a place for all believers, for those who want to learn more about faith, belief, their Savior and a place for those of us who want to associate with other like-minded believers.   Why shouldn’t this family be allowed to be there with their loved ones…ALL of them…and sit wherever they choose.  My Heavenly Father loves him just as much as any other one of us…I see nothing wrong with the family being in His House to worship along with everyone else. I can tell you this, if I was told that my family was un-welcomed, I’d find a new church!  There is NEVER A REASON TO DISCRIMINATE against someone based on such…and that’s exactly what this is!  This is wrong as far as I’m concerned, but particularly vile when it comes to the church. The members, pastors, all there should in pratice what they preach and encourage and love this family with their  support.  We need to recognize that this child, as all of us as believers,  are God’s own, and as such, one of THEIR own in the Church Family.   It’s un-thinkable!  So, what do YOU think?
Lisa

Just like many of you I heard the story about the 2 players who bought Powerball tickets in South Carolina and won BIG in this past week-end’s drawing.  1 of the winners, 19 year old Gaston resident Jonathon Vargas won the 35.3 million dollar jackpot. He’s a construction worker who now says he’s gonna buy momma a house and maybe go to college.  He said all he did was choose his brothers and sisters and momma’s ages and he won…to further rub salt in the wounds, it was the FIRST TIME HE EVER PLAYED THE LOTTERY!  That one was sold in West Columbia and matched all six numbers: 12-14-15-21-43, Powerball: 30. The Power Play was 3. The lump sum cash payout of the prize is estimated at 17.2 million dollars.  By the way, could this have happened to a nicer person?  The teen, an Airport High School Graduate, says his philosophy on how he’ll spend his money could be summed up in Psalm 41, he said. “He who helps the poor shall be blessed.” God Bless ya honey!  Good for you!!

Now, on to that 2nd lucky ticket holder…it was sold in Honea Path and matched the first 5 white balls in Saturday night’s drawing, but missed the Powerball. That ticket also had the Power Play option, tripling the 2nd-place prize to $600,000. Man, that’s awesome! Can you imagine?

Now, here’s my question…or 1 of them!  Seriously, would I be here today if I had won either of these?  And you know the crazy part…I WOULD!  Okay, I may take the day off to go take care of business…AND PICK UP MY MONEY! But…I love what I do and don’t do it just for the money, but my love for the job itself and y’all, really!!

As far as dreaming about what I would do if I had that kinda windfall…I’d end up giving it  away and some may consider that a waste…but, I would certainly enjoy it!

Makes you think…what if you had won?  Or…maybe you’re the one from around here that did! We don’t know how this winner is at this point in time…but, I think I’m your long lost cousin…get in touch,

Lisa

Okay, so my daughter saved for a new DVD player and on her budget the $25.00 she paid for it at a local Greenville store was a luxury!  Great deal huh!?

Well, she got it home, opened the box that was sealed, hooked it up and inside the unit found a movie (or maybe it was an instruction film on how the use the machine) …she didn’t know … so she hit play…it was neither! 

It was an XXX rated movie entitled LARGER THAN LIFE !!

We were shocked…so, I picked up the phone and called the location from which it was purchased…they apologized and expressed concern as well.  The manager explained that they sold ” re-conditioned units ” and that this was a film the workers who tested the unit probably used at the plant and he had no way of knowing from which plant it came. 

Anyway, the only reason I am sharing this with you is so you will ALWAYS check such before giving this kind of item to anyone…particulary a young child…can you imagine?

My daughter is an adult…not  a toddler or young child …  but, what if!

Just be aware…

Lisa

There comes a time when you can bow out of any situation gracefully…thank heavens we can, right?  However,  there is another point in time when gracefully bowing out can’t be done.  When you are too pompous to admit defeat and too proud to say I gave it my best, it’s over…done!  We know when it is, we feel it deep down.But I suppose you have to be able to still feel…maybe that’s her problem.  Come on Hillary…while it’s far to late to worry about grace…as if she ever did…you’re done! So…just do it!  Stop prolonging the agony!  Yours AND ours!  For goodness sakes, you ran the race, you’ve been dogged, determined and by darned, be woman enough now to stop dividing your party and the people.  QUIT!!  You should have done the same thing with Bill!  Move on, get over it!