Followers

Thursday, December 26, 2013

WATCH AS WELL AS PRAY

Quasimodo and Esmeralda sought sanctuary in the Cathedral. We too seek the protection of the Church in times of tribulation & great fear. But God dwells in our hearts, that is where He truly makes His home, not in a building. This is why we must not be confused about the safety of our houses of worship. The house of The Lord has the same needs as our domiciles. The bills must be paid to keep the utilities turned on. The grounds must be kept and the repairs made. The church, however Holy, will not clean itself - someone must vacuum and dust.

So; that stated, why is it that we put bars and alarms on our homes and expect God to work over-time keeping the church safe from thieves and vandals? The church is valuable property and should be protected as such. 

In the dusty-country, where I live, most houses of worship have no plans in place to thwart theft, fire, violence, molestation or any other calamities that are increasingly befalling modern-day sanctuaries. What’s worse is the lack of thought given to fact that it could happen to any of us at any given time. Rarely are such issues discussed in board meetings. Yet we are appalled when the headlines read of tragedy in a neighboring county/town.

Taking a stand for safety in the church is a pro-active and productive move. People are frightened and it’s only good leadership to alleviate those fears by implementing measures to combat church-place crime before it arises.

Here are some helpful links for educating your parish, family and community.  Remember…it’s not weakness to protect the ones you love - it’s smart.






ADT Security Service specializes in meeting the security needs of homes, industries, businesses, schools, farms and…yes - Churches too.



Wednesday, December 25, 2013

WHEN OPERTUNITY KNOCKS

There is no such thing as a “Victimless Crime.” Wrong doing always leaves someone worse off, than had the crime not been committed.  There are three types of criminals:


The Opportunist. 
This type of criminal makes choices within blurred moral boundaries, often believing that they aren’t hurting anyone or that their actions are fine as long as they don’t get caught. This person won’t pick your pocket or rob you at gun point. But if he/she finds a wallet, they will keep the money. They won’t break into a house or car, but if the door is open or the windows are down, they may help themselves to any accessible goodies. The Opportunist takes advantage of an unfortunate situation, even at the expense of others.
The Opportunist is also referred to as ( The Petty Criminal ) as their criminal activities are often low in loss value and almost never involves physical harm or danger.

The Hardened Criminal.
Opposite of the petty criminal, the hardened criminal makes judgment calls base purely on criminal intent. 

Breaking and Entering/Burglary…………..Battery
Armed robbery……………………………..Crimes of Passion
Car jacking………………………………....Arson
Pandering……………………………….......Extortion
Bullying..………………………………........Bookmaking
Embezzlement………………………………Vice
Bunko………………………………..............Racketeering 
The hardened criminal engages these activities despite the possible ramifications of imprisonment or even death. They make choices based on perceived needs or desires and consequences are usually weighed only after they have been apprehended.

Masterminds and Psychotics
These types of criminals are becoming more prevalent in society because of the breakdown of the nuclear family and the preponderance of violence in the media which relentlessly depicts graphic gratuitous scenes and hateful lyrics. While mastermind criminals often suffer from schizophrenia and delusions of grandeur, psychotics may suffer pathological tendencies (uncontrollable urges) or lack empathy and other human traits that allow peaceful social adjustment. These are people who genuinely feel they have little or no control over their own actions or the may even feel compelled to do things by forces outside themselves; such as Aliens or hearing voices. 
Urges may evolve gradually. They may plot for years to commit a crime. Or they may simply snap (Go Postal: a catch phrase of the seventies to depict mass shootings in public places).

Pedophilia………………………………...............Terrorism
Serial Killings……………………………….........Genocide
War-Lording/Gang-Lording……………………...Rape
Torture………………………………....................Kidnapping
Crimes of the most heinous nature are often committed by persons with deep mental and emotional wounds/gaps. They lack empathy; the human quality that permits one to understand and identify with the suffering of another. They may be hopelessly entwined in Satanic activity. They may even see their victims as Things and not People

It is up to each of us to act in a fashion that improves our own level of personal safety. We must teach our children to watch for the signs of instability in the people around them, lest they fall victims to those who prey on innocence and kindness. The world is full of goodness and beauty, but wickedness abounds and we mustn’t give it an opportunity to take root in our homes or our hearts.  

Sunday, December 15, 2013

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Crime is nothing new. After all the first family in history suffered the agony of crime when Cane killed his brother, Able. It may seem as if the world has gone bonkers, but in reality not mush has changed; We simply have a thing called the “Media” that tells us about it all.

Crime is real. And it is our responsibility to conduct ourselves in a fashion that reduces the risk of being the victims of crime, violent or otherwise. It’s important to stop and think:
If I were a criminal, what vulnerabilities could I spot?
What would be the easiest way for a perpetrator to attach/victimize me?
What does my body language say about my ability to defend myself, family, property?
What do I own/have/wear, that criminals might find valuable and what would I do if someone wanted to take it?
Who can I call or where can I go in the event of an assault/crime?  

Questions like these bare thought - before bad things happen; And they do happen…everyday. 
Call me, Mary Kelly: 662-582-1105, or email me: marykelly@adt.com to learn more about how ADT home/business Security can help keep the people and things you care about the most, safe. 

ON THE LOOK-OUT

“Watch as well as Pray.” That’s what the Bible tells us. Staying safe is often a matter of being aware of potential threats and having contingency plans in place to thwart those threats. Nothing can keep us completely out of harm’s way, but we can avoid some mishaps just by keeping our eyes & minds open to them. 

This Holiday Season can be safer by taking a few common-sense step:
Put packages/gifts in the trunk instead of the back seat - out of sight.
Put all wrappings in black garbage bags after ripping then up. Don’t advertise that new 50” TV by sitting the box out on the curb.
Make it hard for intruders to know when your home is empty by keeping a different light on every day.
Choose the ADT Pulse System ( Get Hooked Up )to gain total control of your home/business  via remote monitoring.
Watch for strangers in your neighborhood.
Talk to your family about safety. 

Here are some great videos. And please feel free to call with questions and concerns: 662-582-1105. Happy Holidays…SMILE*