Protect Our Kids

One of the responsibilities of fathers and mothers is to protect our kids. If our Heavenly Father has blessed us with children, we’re called to care for them and raise them to know and love Him above all others.  We pray that the Lord will provide a “hedge of protection” around our children.

As Christian adults we’re called to protect not only our own children but all children. Unfortunately, there is much evil in this world that is directed toward children because of their age immaturity and vulnerability.  It saddens me to know that child abuse is a major problem in Oklahoma.  We should be protecting our children in every way possible.

This next Tuesday, Oklahomans will be going to the polls to vote on State Question 820.  You have been hearing about it on television and reading articles about it in the Enid News & Eagle.  The advertising in favor of 820 has been very slick.  You’ve received brightly colored postcards with pictures of school classrooms, safe neighborhood streets and people of all nationalities holding hands together.  The tag line used is “to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana is common sense.”  Common sense.  Really?  If so, why would so many hard-working Oklahoma farmers and law enforcement officers be against it?

When Oklahomans voted to legalize “medical marijuana” several years ago, it was supposedly “common sense” too.  It was going to bring lots of new money, save our schools and lower crime.  Really?  Has it done that?  I’ll let you be the judge.  It did create new business.  According to the Enid News & Eagle, we have 81 total marijuana businesses in Garfield County: 46 growers, 10 processors and 25 dispensaries.  Just what we need, a dispensary “on every corner!”  And that’s just the legal businesses; there are multiple illegal growing operations in the state as well.  There were four execution-style murders outside of Hennessey on Nov. 20 at a grow operation apparently operated by Chinese nationals.  I can’t remember that form of heinous violence “in our back yard” previously.

I voted against the approval of “medical marijuana” and I will vote against “recreational medical use” as well. I believe the first vote was simply a well-orchestrated plan to get the second.  We don’t need more impaired drivers on Oklahoma roads.  We don’t need more children ingesting marijuana or being submitted to marijuana smoke in Oklahoma.  We don’t need more illegal grow operations to meet increasing demand.  We don’t need to legitimize marijuana use in Oklahoma. We don’t need more addicts in our state.  I plan to vote “No” on State Question 820 and “Yes” to protecting Oklahoma children and citizens.  As your pastor, I hope and pray you will consider doing the same.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” - Titus 2:11-14
 
Yours in Christ’s Love,
Pastor Mark