Today I am reposting an article written by my friend and former pastor Tommy Hargrove. I think he makes a few very strong insights that we should all be willing to consider while the media circus wheel continues to spin away. Check it out.

I read the indictment this week against former Penn State football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. He was entrusted with his "Second Mile" charitable organization to invest in young boys who had tough home lives and backgrounds. Unfortunately, he violated that trust. The damage he incurred on at least eight young boys (some say it's up to twenty) will last for years; many may never recover.

The fallout has been great as well it should. Jerry Sandusky has been indicted and although innocent until proven guilty, could face the rest of his life in prison. The athletic director and another football assistant have also been indicted due to their cover up of the situation by lying to a grand jury. Trustees have terminated the President of Penn State. Perhaps the biggest news of all is that trustees also terminated legendary head football coach Joe Paterno. This is the man who coached at Penn State six decades and won two national championships. Many claim "JoPa", who had reported to Penn State knowing something shady about Jerry Sandusky, should have done more. This story is a tragedy and the real loser is not Joe Paterno who at age 84 has lived a long, successful life. The tragedy is what happened to these boys and the guilt, the shame, the lack of trust, and the challenges they will face the rest of their lives.

As I've thought about this situation at Penn State, I'd like to share some thoughts, lessons, and why we do some of the things we do at Ridgeview:

*Lesson 1: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)." 

When we read an account of a child molester we look at that person with utter disgust because of their sin. However, have we ever really thought about the fact that this is the same way a holy God looks at our sin as well. Can we comprehend that our sin is equally heinous in the eyes of a holy God?

*Lesson 2: People need Jesus!

Romans 3:24 states concerning sinners who trust Christ, they "...are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." 

*Lesson 3: Pornography will take you further than you think you would ever go!

I guarantee you that Jerry Sandusky didn't wake up one morning and suddenly decide to do the things he did to little boys. His actions began in his mind. That's why repentance means to "change one's mind." Pornography fills one's mind with filth. As a person continues to engage in viewing pornography, the sin nature will crave more deviant and disgusting acts. Sooner or later, simply viewing filth will not be enough. Proverbs 27:19 states, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."

*Lesson 4: Never allow yourself to be alone with a member of the opposite sex or a child.

I've had a policy in my life for many years; never meet alone with a female. It has caused some inconvenience at times, but I want to finish faithfully the race marked out for me. Also, just protect yourself by not being alone with a child so that there will never be any justification of an accusation.

*Lesson 5: If you see or know something, say something! (if you don't you can go to jail)

If I am told as a Pastor in a counseling session that someone was molested, legally I have to report it. It is simply the right thing to do!

*Lesson 6: Every church should do a background check on children's workers.

Any person serving in our Ridgekidz area has to have a background check done on them. We want to protect our kids. Also, we have a check in and check out system on Sunday mornings for our kids. Some may not like the inconvenience but please understand we are seeking the protection of each child.

These are a few thoughts and lessons we can learn from the Penn State scandal. I am again reminded that our world is sin sick. We must sacrifice our time, our talents, and our treasure to take the good news of Jesus to people living in darkness. This world will only get darker as long as we keep the light of Christ to ourselves.

In Him,

Pastor Tommy

I was up the other night when Letterman came on, and I really enjoyed his interview with Brian Williams. This guy was funny, intelligent, and obviously ready for anything Dave might throw at him. Also, it was obvious that Letterman was not going to be able to get him to annouce his party or political bias. That is what a good news anchor should be! Non-partisan. Why is that such a novel idea?



RSS readers click here to see video

This post is in response Jeremy's Post, also entitled Where's Milo?

He found the Inaugural Where's Waldo game on the Swampland Time Magazine blog. A photographer named David Bergman took a massive high quality photograph at the inauguration and although it looks like just a huge crowd, you are able to zoom in to the extent that you can see most of the faces in the crowd clearly. Amazing. So here's something to keep you busy for awhile.



To find myself, I had to look for landmarks I remembered seeing around me. Turns out, the only thing I could remember was this tall dude with a white and red hat on. And, when you look at the picture, thatis pretty much all you see there as well. I have on a grey jacket with the hood up, and Erin has a white jacket on with the hood up as well.

See if you can you find:
Barack Obama
Dick Cheney
Sean P. Diddy Combs
Bill and Hillary Clinton
Beyonce Knowles
Bob Inglis

Are you in the picture?

As I have posted over the last week, Erin and I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of the historic event of the swearing in of President Obama. However, it was our experiences with Bob Inglis that made a personal lasting impression. On a day when many Republicans were less than excited about the nation's events, Inglis was both optimistic and genuine.

We had the opportunity to eat chili and drink hot apple cider in his office with 30 or so people after the inauguration, where we were overjoyed to be able to enjoy a few moments with his close friends and family. One of his special guests was Dan Lipinski, Democrat Congressman from Chicago, Ill.

I found it very interesting that a democrat would choose to be there with us, rather than at any number of social gatherings for democrats on that afternoon. I think it was very telling. Lipinski told the group that he had never met a more genuine man in congress, and that Inglis should not even be considered a politician, because he doesn't match the definition. It was obvious that these 2 gentlemen respected each other a great deal.

Curious as that was, it was when Inglis talked to everyone for a few moments about what the coming administration might mean for Americans that I was truly surprised. Echoing President Obama's sentiment for a nation in which people looked out for their fellow man, Inglis took it a step further. He went on to give his own testimony, and how he was learning to live by grace, God's grace. He proceeded to lay out the plan of salvation for anyone who may not have heard it before, and challenged those of us who were Christians to take care of our fellow man -not because of Obama's charge, but because of our responsibility to do so as Christ followers.

I was blown away. This was the last thing I expected to hear, or be a part of that afternoon in Washington. But I am grateful to say that I was there. Our friends from NY who were there with us left the room saying: "I gotta google this guy." Maybe you should too!

Here below is the email we received from the Inglis office yesterday. Check out the links. You will see a video of Erin and I with Harold Mitchell. You will see some incredible pictures that congressman Inglis took from his seat on the platform. You will see the 4th district of SC well represented.

On January 20, 2009 Barack Obama was sworn in as America's 44th President. Nearly 1.8 million people flooded the National Mall to witness the historic event. Because of the size of the crowds and technology snafus at some checkpoints, we all regret that not everyone was able to enter the Inaugural area. Whether you were able to make it or not, I hope you were able to celebrate the excitement surrounding this new beginning.

At http://www.youtube.com/congressmaninglis we've posted the reflections of some citizens of the Fourth District who braved the cold and the crowds to witness history. We've also posted some photos I took before, during and after the ceremony at http://inglis.house.gov/photo_gallery.asp

My favorites are the photos I got of President and Mrs. Obama saying goodbye to President and Mrs. Bush. The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most majestic moments in the life of a constitutional republic. It's a moment worth celebrating.

Bob Inglis

we made it home safe! what a great trip, see you in 2012!

almost ran out of gas in nc. fortunatly this baby has a 19 gal tank. we had to drive 24 mi AFTER the light came on.

erin 'meets' td jakes. he is a big time black preacher. if u dont know of him google him.

saying goodbye to former pres bush

obama swearing in to office on the Bible

president-elect obama is announced and the croud goes wild

this is the view from the not so cheap seats. we waited a looong time for these ones.

section 12 here we come

crowd control dc style

the trains are smack full. i heard one lady say- we want to be in the 1st million, not the 2nd million.... I am not sure if she will make it.

going south to head north... we would still have been sittin in traffic if it hadn't been for kanteras...thanks man

we had a great time last night at will and gwen,s house. we haven't seen them for 8 years. At the time, Erin and I were still dating, I was a Lcpl and Wil was a SSgt. It is amazing how much we still have in common. Putting on the layers for a very cold day in DC, then heading up from Quantico to Springfield, which is the southernmost metro statio. Wil is gonna drive us there, so that we donLt have to try to find a place to park. Happy inauguration day!

This is the view from the lawn 24 hours in advance. if you watch tv tomorrow, you will see an incredible crowd of people. it is such an honor tobe here to witness it in person.

this is the story about how we skipped a 4 hour line.

waiting in line at the cannon building.maybe bob inglis can throw the tickets out the window to us...

we are standing in a long line that is not moving. we are trying to decide whether to buy a 'season pass' metro card, cuz those people just go flying by. this place will be nuts tomorrow.