posted October 8, 2008
After reading an article on the subject of paraphernalia in the convenient stores in Chattanooga, it brought me back to my pre-church days as a sex, drug, and rock-n-roller. When we were kids, those kinds of junk weren't sold to the underage. Yet, children are sold these items over the counter today.
We've just moved from South Florida and relocated our entire church family here. Forty years in South Florida, I've seen it all. One thing that concerns me here is that there is such a large problem of drugs in Chattanooga.
As a local pastor, I find the root of the problem being the political and spiritual leadership of this community. How do we expect the common citizen to mind the laws of the land if the leaders of the community don't? With a massive presence of churches in this area, why so many problems?
An old saying is: "the only thing for evil to flourish, is for good men to do nothing." I see enormous amounts of church people that could virtually turn this town upside down, yet they seem to be useless in the fight of good. Sheriff being arrested, sergeant acting unlawfully, city officials abusing the law, etc. A large presence of Masons (Freemasons) is a heavy indicator of corruption.
I might get blasted for this article, but the truth is the truth. Why is it that with so many churches, yet evil reigns? Who will stand and proclaim, and sound the trumpet? Someone's got to. The only reason why our city leaders (political and spiritual) don't do much about it is because they either don't have any moral convictions or they like it.
In closing, I challenge you to look for yourself. I would like to make Chattanooga and the surrounding areas as family friendly as possible. Let's run them out of town, and not them running us out of town.
Pastor Mike Palevo
New Life Tabernacle
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Patricia Paris and Mike Palvo have hit the nail on the head this time.
Could it be, the churches are so busy focusing their energy on the brick and mortar, asphalt, sports centers, church stores, coffee shops, etc? And they are not stressing enough awareness to the crime going on in the community?
The crime rate in Chattanooga and Hamilton County is getting worse every day. One only has to Google “convenience stores/paraphernalia" to find a multitude of information on this subject. Your next trip into the store to pay for gas look around and see for yourself. Ask yourself, why would they sell rolling papers and not tobacco? Have you ever had the need of postage scales?
Many states have already taken action to ban the sale of these products over the counter so freely. I know, if they want it they will get it but why make it so easy for them? Awareness is the key word here.
Pastors need to ask their members to start complaining.
We hear every day they don't want the little guy. They want the big guy. It is not going to happen. You chop a tree down from the bottom, the top will tumble down.
How about it Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Zach Wamp, church leaders? You got any guts?
F. Roper
Chattanooga
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