10-26-2010-Thursday - Wise County Messenger

WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Thursday, October 28, 20105AWISE COUNTYFinding forgiveness ...Continued from page 1AYears ago, blinded by rage, Feokilled the man who raped his sister.Now, he has a delicate heartand counts Alexander’s youngestdaughter as his best friend.In fact, Bethany, 6, helped Feosee that love and family went beyondblood relationships. Duringhis first few weeks in the discipleshiphome, he had spent time withthe Alexander family. One day,Bethany looked at Feo and saidthat he was her best friend.“I cried that night. But now Inow I have family right hereand it’s nice,” Feo said. “Before,had a stone cold heart. Now it’sike toilet paper. You can squeezet.”David Simmons, a graduate ofhe ministry, spent six years inrison for intentionally burningis home after falling behind onills. He also suffered from a drugabit.“I wish I had these teachingshen I was younger,” he saidne day on the ministry’s radiohow, “Keepin’ it Real.” “I alwayshought I was a victim of my cirumstance.”Home directors Jay Fields andoe Diaz both spent many years aslaves to alcohol and drug addicions.Now, the two are in chargef the households in Crafton.“A little over a year ago, I lostMessenger photo by Joe DutyTHE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE — Now a house leader within the ministry, Joe Diaz celebrates the importantthings in life, like his family.everything I owned to cocaine addiction,”Diaz said. “But God’s restoringeverything back.”Fields, an alcoholic, was drunkwhen Alexander picked him up.Fields had several medical conditionsthat he says were healedafter living at the discipleshiphome.“The ministry has changed mylife,” he said.Resident Billy Jones has beento prison three times. He says hehas found salvation through forgivinghimself for his faults.“When I renewed my mind, ashe wants me to, that truth set mefree. Getting that revelation impactedme so much,” Jones said.“My thinking had been conformedto how the world saw me. I wasunable to break those beliefsabout me.”As each resident successfullycompletes another day in theministry, they look to a time whenthey will serve the ministry andtheir new relationship with God.“I want to teach people — 17, 18and 19 — what it’s like to be inprison. That ain’t a life,” Salazarsaid. “I want to talk to young peopleabout my testimony and gettheir life straight and to serve.“I’m going to be part of thisministry. I want to do everything.I want to serve. I might be apreacher. I might open up a homefor Hispanic people who can’tspeak English.”For Salazar and the other residents,their faith has cleared theway for a future they never believedthey’d have.“Look at me now. There is aGod,” Salazar said. “There has tobe a God. I’m here. I should havedone it a long time ago.”YOUR VIEWSContinued from page 4ASince I started videotapng,our city council haspent thousands of dollarsiring a gentleman to tapehe audio portion of theeetings. He, by contrast,as been given a seat ofonor at the same table ashe council members. Heas even asked to give thenvocation at last night’seeting. Once again afterhad set up, this time withy video camera directlyn front of me, not blockingnyone’s way, I was askedo move to the back. Myequest for a reason wasgnored, so I stayed put.ouncilman Wells thensked if law enforcementas available.According to Governmentode 551.023 these actionsy the city council interfereith the rights of citizenso videotape meetings. Itlso states they cannotmpair a person from exrcisingthis right. Movinghem while the meetings going on is impairingnd so is moving them to alace where audio and/orvideo cannot be picked up.They have their own peoplevideotaping in the front forover a year, but suddenlywhen my camera clicks on,it’s all wrong?You know, I don’t thinkRosa Parks got up thatmorning in 1955 planningto make a stand. She justboarded a bus like she hadalways done, only that dayshe was tired. She foundan empty seat, sat downand was ordered to moveto the back of the bus. Noreason given. Move it, Rosa.I think she was just tired— physically, mentallyand emotionally. Gettingup, suffering the degradationonce again and beingtreated like a lesser personwas just too much. Rosasat still. I get it. Last nightI was tired. Like always, Itried to set up my cameraso I wouldn’t be asked tomove again, but it didn’tmatter. I’m not one ofthe favorites and need tobe kept in line. Move it,Katrina. It was just toomuch. Arrest me if you will.I discovered last night thatstanding up for your rightssometimes means just sittingstill.Katrina EllisNewarkRecall petitioncirculatingWith a “short” city councilmeeting last Thursday,the business of the city ofNewark carried on. Twocouncil members and themayor were out of town.The mayor pro tem spokewell when she chose to doso. The rest of the time thedecisions were made by theonly male council memberpresent.When a citizen made hiscase that his water bill wasway past exorbitant, the finaldecision was made thatnothing was to be decideduntil further investigation.211,000 gallons by a residentneeded more study?What part of the errorcould not be seen?Since the mayor cannotseem to be availableregularly, a situation thatwas very common for himwhen he was a city councilmember, now the citysecretary will have administrativepowers, too. Socity council will not haveto be available? The citysecretary is very cooperativeand friendly, now shehas to carry more? This isthe change that we werepromised when they allpushed themselves onto usabout how Newark neededto be cleaned up?There is a recall petitionbeing presented tothe citizens of Newark.The petition is online andavailable at two of the localbusinesses in Newark.There are citizens contactingneighbors, too.There are a number ofcitizens who are very upset.They will be heard.Bonnie J. NealNewarkChristians needto speak outIs anybody else tired of“Christians” who won’tspeak up for their beliefs?Too many “Christians”want to hide behind thefour walls of church onSunday and live like therest of the world Mondaythrough Saturday.We are called to be thelight of the world; yet youcan’t tell the differencebetween someone who callsthemselves Christian andthe rest of the world thesedays — unless they areMuslim, of course.In California, they areabout to legalize the sale ofpot. Pastors and the churchare quiet. Where are theprotests? It’s high timepastors stood up for moralsand integrity.No, it won’t happenovernight. But it will neverhappen if we continue tokeep our “politics” to ourselves.You often hear peoplesay “don’t mix politicsand religion.” I say yourmorals and beliefs shoulddictate your politics.Too many “Christians”will vote for a certain candidate.How much would you sellyour soul for? Judas soldhis for 30 pieces of silver.Is yours worth an extra sixmonths of unemploymentinsurance? Or an extra$50 worth of food stamps?Maybe an extra tax rebatefrom the fed government?Wake up, Christians. Ifyou don’t stand for something,you will fall foranything.And by the way, wheneverthe government“redistributes” wealth, theyare violating the eighthand 10th commandments(notice it says “Commandments”and not “suggestions”).You may say “Well,the rich got their moneyby stealing from the poor.”Really? Do poor peopleContinued on page 6AWE’RE BREWING Up a POT to SAVE LIVES!Join Us ForThe Good Witch has loaned us her cauldron to acceptdonations for “Imagine No Malaria”EACH $10 SAVES A CHILD’S LIFE!!Every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria.Treated bed nets protect children from themosquito which carries this deadly virus.For more information call our church offi ce at 940-644-5186.