Thursday, January 7, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Fayetteville pastor feels "spirit of God"
As reported in The Christian Science Monitor and many other media, Rev. Larry Wright (shown below, preaching) was speaking about violence in church during a New Year's Eve prayer service at his Heal the Land Outreach Ministries in Fayetteville, NC, when a man with a semi-automatic rifle in one hand and ammunition in the other walked in the door and down the center aisle.
By Andrew Craft / Fayetteville Observer
Wright stepped down from the pulpit and met the man in the aisle, asking "Can I help you?" The man, still unnamed, said the Lord told him that he needed to go to church before he did something bad. Wright took the rifle from him, patted him down, and prayed for the man, who fell to his knees in tears. Someone called 911, and police quickly arrived, but were asked to wait outside until worship ended. The man sat in the front row as Wright resumed preaching to about 60 congregants, and during the alter call he came forward and asked for salvation. "He gave his life to Christ," Wright told the Fayetteville Observer.
Wright stepped down from the pulpit and met the man in the aisle, asking "Can I help you?" The man, still unnamed, said the Lord told him that he needed to go to church before he did something bad. Wright took the rifle from him, patted him down, and prayed for the man, who fell to his knees in tears. Someone called 911, and police quickly arrived, but were asked to wait outside until worship ended. The man sat in the front row as Wright resumed preaching to about 60 congregants, and during the alter call he came forward and asked for salvation. "He gave his life to Christ," Wright told the Fayetteville Observer.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Monday, January 4, 2016
Too soon to prepare for Valentine's Day?
Dan Williams doesn't think so. The student at Edmond High School in Oklahoma prepared for Valentine's Day, 2015, by working all during summer vacation in 2014 to save money. Instead of using his nest egg to buy a diamond for one special girl, he anonymously bought a card and candy for every girl at Edmond High -- all 1,076 of them.
Thanks to Williams, there were no lonely hearts on campus last Valentine's Day. He wanted to make sure every single girl felt special.Why?
"To know that someone cares about them, that's the best feeling in the world, I think," he told a news reporter, after his identity was revealed.
Even former students appreciated his kindness. Nicole Terry wrote, "I grew up hating Valentine's Day. I would see all my girlfriends with their flowers and candies and balloons, and go home crying because I felt I'd never be good enough for anyone. Now I have a two-year-old of my own, and this is exactly the kind of man I want him to be."
KTLA-5 News
"To know that someone cares about them, that's the best feeling in the world, I think," he told a news reporter, after his identity was revealed.
Even former students appreciated his kindness. Nicole Terry wrote, "I grew up hating Valentine's Day. I would see all my girlfriends with their flowers and candies and balloons, and go home crying because I felt I'd never be good enough for anyone. Now I have a two-year-old of my own, and this is exactly the kind of man I want him to be."
Sunday, January 3, 2016
"Mommy, I'm not worried anymore."
Sofia Yassini is an 8-year-old girl from Texas. She's also a Muslim-American, and when she heard on television that Muslims might be banned from entering the United States, she got scared that the Army might come and kick her and her family out of the country. She packed her favorite toys and kept checking to be sure the doors were locked. News of her fear triggered a campaign among U.S. veterans with the hashtag #iwillprotectyou.
Facebook
Since the hashtag went viral, hundreds of veterans and active duty military personnel have contacted the Yassini family to reassure Sofia. Speaking only for themselves, and not the Defense Department, they promised her she would be safe. "No one will be coming for you, so long as I breathe," wrote Patrick Brandt, a former paratrooper who served two tours in Iraq. Lt. Christina Trecate, on active duty with the Pennsylvania National Guard, wrote, "Don't be scared, Sophia. My oath includes you and all the families in our great nation, always." Air Force veteran Sherman Hardy remembers growing up as an African-American and knows how stereotypes can be emotionally wounding. That's why his decision to support Sophia is not just an obligation. "I think it's an American duty," he said.
With all this support, Sophia has gone back to being a normal 8-year-old, assuring her Mom, "I'm not worried anymore."
Since the hashtag went viral, hundreds of veterans and active duty military personnel have contacted the Yassini family to reassure Sofia. Speaking only for themselves, and not the Defense Department, they promised her she would be safe. "No one will be coming for you, so long as I breathe," wrote Patrick Brandt, a former paratrooper who served two tours in Iraq. Lt. Christina Trecate, on active duty with the Pennsylvania National Guard, wrote, "Don't be scared, Sophia. My oath includes you and all the families in our great nation, always." Air Force veteran Sherman Hardy remembers growing up as an African-American and knows how stereotypes can be emotionally wounding. That's why his decision to support Sophia is not just an obligation. "I think it's an American duty," he said.
With all this support, Sophia has gone back to being a normal 8-year-old, assuring her Mom, "I'm not worried anymore."
Saturday, January 2, 2016
A police incident worth knowing about
On Christmas Eve, Anthony Brown, Molly Keck and their daughter Brooklyn Brown, 7, left their home in Joliet Township, IL, to visit Anthony's sister. When they returned, the found the back door kicked in and garbage bags from the kitchen had been used to take all the Christmas gifts. Everything under the tree was unwrapped and stolen. Police soon arrived, and after investigating, asked Brooklyn was she wanted from Santa. She said she didn't care, as long as he left her something. As officers left the house, they realized they still had Christmas shopping to do.
Courtesy Photo
Other officers agreed to cover their calls so Deputies Michael Kane, Brett Farmer and Mark Tapella could go to a nearby Walgreens, one of the few stores still open. By the time they arrived, other officers agreed to pay for $600 worth of gifts. When the officers entered the store and told why they were there, customers gave them more money and the store offered them an employee discount. The gifts were quickly wrapped. Brooklyn started smiling and her mother, Molly, cried as officers brought the gifts to them. "You just don't expect people to be so caring and giving," Molly said.
Other officers agreed to cover their calls so Deputies Michael Kane, Brett Farmer and Mark Tapella could go to a nearby Walgreens, one of the few stores still open. By the time they arrived, other officers agreed to pay for $600 worth of gifts. When the officers entered the store and told why they were there, customers gave them more money and the store offered them an employee discount. The gifts were quickly wrapped. Brooklyn started smiling and her mother, Molly, cried as officers brought the gifts to them. "You just don't expect people to be so caring and giving," Molly said.
Friday, January 1, 2016
"Talk to a Muslim" with free coffee and donuts
Mona Haydar and her husband Sebastian Robins were visiting his parents in Cambridge, MA, in December when he suggested she set up a sidewalk stand outside the Cambridge library and offer free donuts and coffee to anyone wishing to talk to a Muslim.
Courtesy photo from Mona Haydar
Haydar was hesitant at first, fearing she'd be confronted with Islamophobia, "but honestly," she said, "I decided if we were going to do it, we were going to have to go in with really positive attitudes."
The people she encountered were friendly and warm. She said once people got to know her, they talked about everything, adding that, "I'm sure that people who gave me a chance and got to know me would know that the religion I practice is one of love, with kindness at its core."
Haydar was hesitant at first, fearing she'd be confronted with Islamophobia, "but honestly," she said, "I decided if we were going to do it, we were going to have to go in with really positive attitudes."
The people she encountered were friendly and warm. She said once people got to know her, they talked about everything, adding that, "I'm sure that people who gave me a chance and got to know me would know that the religion I practice is one of love, with kindness at its core."
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