Posted by lakin (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is such a tragedy. Travis Sasser was a great person, and he always seemed so happy. He often told me about his wife, altough I never met her, I feel that she was just as wonderful.
It makes me sick to know that someone could actually beat a person like Travis to death. My love and prayers go out to the Sasser family, and I'm sure that they will need it with the trial coming up.

Posted by sweetnannie (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This same guy the week before had assaulted a young mother. Where is the arrest in that? It happened earlier and might have prevented this if the luni was arrested and in jail. Then he wouldn't be out to do this.

Posted by april (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a real tragedy. Especially for the Sasser family. My thoughts and prayers are with both families (Sasser's & Barbaree's). This tragedy is something that both families have got to deal with.

Posted by babyblue (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it should be a crime if they don't go for the death penalty. and i knew this boy when he was young and he was'nt a bad kid,and he wasnt raised that way he has to wonderful grandparents who did there best because his parents has absent half the time. but he's smart he knew it was wrong and didnt care and somebody needs to stand up for the children and elderly if this was my own flesh and blood,i'd still feel they should get the death penalty I have an elderly grandma. and if some one hurt her it would kill me they [ the criminals] need to be showed we want tolerate people hurting our kids are old folks

Posted by sunbug (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I do believe Michael should be put to death. I also believe he should be given the oppertunity to accept Christ into his life. He is a believer. I'm sure of it. He needs serious help and only God can help him now. Please keep him in your prayers when you pray for the families involved. I am not in Michaels corner on this matter... I just have a real love for people. I don't believe anyone deserves to go to hell. This that has happened is beyond my understanding and can not immagine what I would do if I had to this to face.

Posted by rodg (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Was Michael from the Paul Community in Evergreen? I knew OF a Barbaree boy that lived under a bridge part of the time because of drug problems .

Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh my goodness, sunbug.
No one goes to hell unless they want to go there. He's going to have plenty of time behind bars to repent of this evil- if he chooses to.

I just feel very sorry for Mr. Sasser, and his wife and family. A husband, father, and grandfather - senseless murder of an elder.

Many prayers will be offered for them in the days to come.

Posted by sweetnannie (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We have had several murders around us this year already. It's getting closer to home folks. Somehow we have to learn to notice the signs of those who want to do harm. This guy has given many signs through the years. Last week he assaulted a young mother, a relative, who he woke up with a telephone cord around her neck. He should have been kept in jail because he had broke probation by doing such a deed. This young mother was too afraid to stay home because he was there in the community and had made deathly threats. Of course, his mother did as a mother would do and helped him avoid another mishap with the law. Accountibility with her and the law officials should be in this matter. Yes, a terrible tradegy that could have been avoided in my opinion.

Posted by sunbug (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He has made many threats. He has followed through with some threats and he has impulsively acted out of fear. There is no reason or excuse for what he has done, so he should have consequences that are not light or easy to handle for him. I do agree the first assault should have been carried out in a manner that would have changed the outcome of this assault. I believe his mother knew what kind of person he was and knowingly put that family at risk hoping nothing would happen. I also believe she knew of her son stealing from the Sasser family. She could have prevented this whole thing from happening if she would have been more concerned about the lives of innocent people.
As for shamrock, I only made the comment I made based on someone saying he should be convicted and put to death within one week. I am aware of the fact he will be given plenty of time in jail.

Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sunbug, according to the Bible, everyone deserves hell. If not for the grace of God and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, all would go there. None are righteous, no not one. There is not one thing any human can do to save him/her self; only receiving Christ as Lord and Savior will save anyone. Jesus paid the debt He did not owe; died for sins He did not commit.

Posted by winkie (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank God they caught him befor he murdered someone else. However, if he had attacked a woman just befor he murdered Mr. Sasser ......why wasn't he in jail? Strange, don't you think?

Posted by lakin (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's too late to ask questions like "what would have happened if...". It's done and a life has been lost because of it. There is only one person that can help Michael Barbaree now. Let's all hope that he chooses to seek Him for that help before the end.

Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ditto, sweetnannie and Lakin.

I think we are beginning to take seriously the admonition of the 5th Commandment: "Thou Shalt Not Kill", which would have to include the Death Penalty, as well as Torture.

It's the old "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" form of justice that I sense was abolished when God became a man and established a New Covenant and a New Commandment: Love thy neighbor as thyself - love your enemies.
Now that's something to ponder!

After introspection, I can no longer overlook this Commandment of Love that brings New Light to the 5th Commandment.
Doing a U turn, I must personally vote against the Death Penalty.

Posted by lulubell (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I also agree with lakin that the what ifs are done with. Let us all hope that he seeks Jesus out before it is to late for himself. I am just thankful to Michael that he owned up to what he did. I do know his grandparents and yes they are really good people and I just pray for them to have peace and comfort knowing that they did their very best with their grandchildren.

Posted by sweetnannie (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You've put me in a group supporting the death penalty. I haven't said anything about the death penalty. I have personal experience of loosing a part of me to a murderer. He didn't get what he deserved either. My God tells me for my own good to forgive the one who murdered my family member. I have. He has reaped what he sowed. That's God's judgement, not mine. Jesus also died with a thief. He ask forgiveness, but he still died from the work of his crime. You have twisted some things to fit your own views. I think if you kill more than once or more than 2 people, you deserve to die, but I didn't mention it here sir.

Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on May 23, 2009 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is the Sixth Commandment that is usually translated as "thou shall not kill". Many Biblical scholars are of the opinion that the more accurate translation is "thou shalt not commit murder". Why would God command His people to "not kill" and then proceed to tell them to kill their enemies? In Gen. 9:6 God institutes, ordains, and commands capital punishment. In Exodus chapters 21, 22, and 23 (the holiness code) God presents the provision for those who commit murder. Murderers are to be executed. If Christians living under the New Covenant are to ignore the sixth commandment or replace it with a new commandment (the commandment of love as it was called by Shamrock) then why not ignore the other nine commandments as well? Or maybe just the ones we don't really want to follow, say perhaps the one forbidding adultery? Or having many Gods?

Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on May 23, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It just amazes me everytime something like this happens we have people post comments like,oh lets just all pray this guy finds God,or oh, lets all pray for this animal.Well I will be honest about this.I hope the guy goes to prison and gets abused for many years.Then after many years of abuse by other inmates I hope they fry his as$.

Posted by sunbug (anonymous) on May 23, 2009 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lookeyhere... I personally do not condone "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth". We should pray for everybody not just the ones we like most. God will judge him for what he has done. I have to be very careful to make decisions based on love and truth. Anger and sadness are normal feelings but it is wrong to act on those feelings. We should not ask anymore than for Gods will to be done in this situation.

Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on May 23, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sweetnannie: I promise you, I did not put you in that group. I agreed with everything you and Lakin wrote. Peace to you.
WAtide: the Fifth Commandment is Thou Shalt Not Kill and the Sixth Commandment is Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery.
Your supposition doesn't hold water. The New Commandment that Jesus gave us is as stated. If you live your life as a non converted Jew than you are stuck in the Old Covenant. You can't have it both ways, WA.

Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on May 24, 2009 at 1:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Shamrock, I am a Christian. I do not live my life as an unconverted Jew. I am not, nor have I ever been an ethnic Jew or a religious Jew. All of the Protestant sources I have referenced have given the 6th commandment as I stated. I did learn, however, that Catholics and some Lutherans (yes, I know Lutherans are Protestant as well) state the 5th commandment as the "thou shalt not kill" commandment. Perhaps I have not researched enough. I am looking forward to speaking with my pastor tomorrow about this topic. If the commandment is to not kill, is it ever morally (Biblically) okay to kill another human being? Did Jesus teach that it is never justified? In addition, I will read the commentary of several present day Reformed scholars to further my understanding. BTW, at first, I took your comments as a personal attack. However, you most likely didn't mean the post that way. I didn't mean my reference as a personal attack either. If you took it that way, my apologies.

Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on May 24, 2009 at 2:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Shamrock: As I reread my posts and yours (as well as some others) and process what has been written, I can state confidently that I do not live under the Old Covenant. I did not write that Jesus did not say that we are to love our neighbor. I am sincerely interested in your thoughts on the OT in general and the other 9 commandments.

Posted by sunbug (anonymous) on May 24, 2009 at 4:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WAtidefan: You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge, but you shall love love your neighbor as yourself.

You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people or act against the life of your neighbor.

You shall do no injustice in judgment ; you not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
These things were found in Lev. chapter29. ................................
...............................................................................
Matthew chapter 5 : You have heard that it was said to you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy but I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on May 24, 2009 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sunbug: Capital punishment as set forth by God is not vengeance; it is clearly justice. If I decide to take the life of another to make them pay, so to speak, then that is vengeance. For me to act against the life of my neighbor would be wrong except in self defense. Again, capital punishment was instituted way before the 10 commandments were given. In the days of Noah, God said,"If by man, man's blood is shed, by man shall his blood be shed." The reason given is "Because man is made in the image of God". Human life is so sacred that if with malice of forethought a person wantonly destroys another human being, that person forfeits his right to life.
I personally bear no grudge and no hatred toward the alleged murderer (after all the news story about the murder got all this started). If he is found guilty of murder by a court of law and the jury determines the death penalty is warranted, I have no problem with it. It is not b/c I hate him or any one else. It will not be vengeance; it would be justice. A person's salvation does not depend upon that persons stance on the death penalty. I have not implied or stated that someone is not saved based on this issue. At this time, I am still of the opinion that the New Covenant does not make the death penalty wrong. If someone sincerely believes that capital punishment is wrong, then that person has a right under the US Constitution to speak against it. In fact, potential jurors in a capital case are specifically asked if they would or would not impose the death penalty in the case of a guilty verdict. I still have every intent of discussing this with my pastor. But, I have just about decided to "agree to disagree" on this point. There are most likely many issues that you, I and Shamrock (and many others) would agree on.

Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on May 24, 2009 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(I've tried to post twice without success.)

Here's some thoughts after prayer to the Holy Spirit. Why not go to the very beginning.

The first murder ever committed since God Created the earth, was done by the 1st son of our 1st Parents, Adam and Eve. If anyone needed severe Justice done to him, by our standards, it was Cain! Out of ENVY for his brother Abel, Cain pre-meditated his murder by acting on his anger and jealousy - he lured him away from his flock of sheep.

How does this dovetail into our discussion of the death penalty? Well let's see.

BeCause of a pure heart, Abel's offering of the 1st and best of his flock as a sacrifice to God the Father, it was much accepted. He was a humble man who loved God intensely. This is what galled Cain.

We learn more about Cain from his conversions with God The Father, no less. "Where is your brother Abel, Cain? "I don't know!" Here's where God reveals to us the Attitude and Heart of Cain: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Whoa! Have we not heard that one. What an attitude! Boldly adressing his Creator like that!

So now what happens? God the Father says to Cain: "Now be cursed, and banned from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood at your hands!
When you till and plant, this soil will not yield the fruits of the earth for you will wander about restlessly in a foreign land!"

In other words, Cain is now separated from his Parents and siblings, no longer having God's special protection.

But in today's thinking, most would say he got by too easy - he deserves death! You know, an eye for an eye thing. Did that happen?

Cain complains to God of his extreme fear for his future circumstance, (mind you - no remorse or repentance for the murder of his brother) "As a wanderer on the earth all alone, whoever comes across me will kill me!" he cries.

What would we do in this case? Best thoughts come in to play here .

God the Father does not ask for his blood to avenge his brother's blood - he puts a MARK on him so that whoever would want to kill him would know that THEY will extract blood for blood.
Cain takes off and settles eventually in Nod, which is east of Eden. But all does not forbode well for him.

Does that help at all?

Posted by sunbug (anonymous) on May 25, 2009 at 2:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WAtidefan: In cold blood Michael murdered an elderly man and left his wife alive to burn to death. Believe what I say when I tell you, If we could still hang a man, just as they did before we had the electric chair, I would say hang him. Put him in front of a a crowd and hang him. Though many people have done much worse, he does not have any more rights to his own life. Period. I believe that if a man is found guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt then, that person should face the death penalty. Only in few cases should a murderer get life with out the death penalty. I believe Michael is going get the death penalty. I would never call capital punishment vengeance. Personally, I just have to try not to act out of anger and vengeance. This situation is devastating. It's traumatic. The families involved will never get over this. I could not imagine being the Mother or Father of this murderer.If somebody had killed my father I could not handle it. Even if I lived another 20 - 30 yrs. my life would be over. How can somebody do such evil?

Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on May 25, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sunbug: Am I missing something here that you are trying to express? -

Of course this murder is not only traumatic to the families and evil in its callousness for the life of another person no matter what age.

Are you a young person? This may be why you are a bit naive - no fault of your own - one who sees everyone as kind, loyal, decent, honest, empathetic to the suffering of others, and such. Optimistic. "I just have a great love for people. I don't think anyone deserves to go to hell."
We wish this were the case.

A more realistic view of God's children in today's world is quite different, I'm sorry to point out. We are living in the days prophecied in the Old and New Testament, where evil reigns supreme on a global scale, preparing and awaiting the false Messiah - the antichrist.

Do you doubt this?

We have schools teaching children and teens that God is irrelevant in today's world, that science replaces God, and that money, status and style are goals to die for.

We have become lover's of ourselves (Narcissism), who are prepared to do anything to obtain what THEY desire including torture and murder, no longer having a fear of Hell. "Hell? That's old - we know better, there is no Hell, and I even question if there is a Heaven. When you die, you're dead!"

Didn't Sesame Street brainwash the toddlers with this new, progressive thinking?

We are witnessing an incredible turning away from God's Kingdom to Satan's kingdom. It's all very sutble and quite seductive. Unless we have the grace of God within us, it will be virtually impossible to resist this evil kingdom. It is a huge Apostasy from the Faith of the One True God, and the Commandments to that of Lucifer, the Angel of Light!

The violence toward children - the unborn killed in the mother's womb - violence to women and the Family, the genocide of entire regions, cloning, manipulating DNA to create a new form of life, genetic altering of our food,
the heresy of Evolution now universally accepted. That is the most dangerous for us all - the Disorder amongst people and nations, arose from this Lie.

We are at the point of no return if one does not rely wholly and entirely on God - 3 Persons in one God. He is our comfort in suffering, our strength in forgiving those who harm us, and He is The Love we must have in our hearts for even our enemies.

Satan knows well how much suffering we inflict on ourselves, if we do otherwise, and that's what he wants for us in the end - SUFFERING!

Bring Jesus along with you as your loving Friend, and march forward with your heart open to his caresses and graces.

Posted by sunbug (anonymous) on May 25, 2009 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am 27. I don't doubt what you say. I do have trouble understanding how somebody can do such a rotton thing. You don't have to be a narcissist. Yes there is a hell. I believe that when this murderer first started getting into trouble he should have suffered then . People just get by with so much and each time, they progressively get worse. He should have never been able to get out so easily with such light probation after all he has done.
Why isn't it a law that the inmates should have to undergo a trial before being released. A trial based on the behavors and crimes commited while doing time. You would see alot of things change.
Especially since rumor has it he killed a man in prison and spent the last 2yrs in lock down before his release.

Posted by sweetnannie (anonymous) on May 25, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is the dumbess discussion I have ever heard. The Word of God is a whole book. The New Testament gives reference to all of the old. So what 's the game here? God is not always about love. He does love forgiveness, yes. But you have gone way overboard on your intrepretation of scripture. I have to say "your" because I have never heard someone state the things you have stated here. God bless you and I hope you can find that God's Word is all, not part.

Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on May 26, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sunbug: I was not intimating Michael was Narcissitic.
Although at closer inspection, one can see that he wanted something this gentleman had and when he was refused, went balistic, beat him in anger and left the wife and house to burn down...then took the items he wanted. It's all about Michael and what Michael has to have. God knows he could've been on drugs. Alot of anger in this person.

But what I took time to write you was a general overview of what most people do not realize is is sold to us as being helpful to mankind - population control through sterilization, stem cells for healing, abortion used as birth control, and so on. These are diabolical evils that will only bring suffering to mankind, not well-being.

Someone sent me a subscription to a mag. named NEW YORK. This person is an artist who lives in NYC in Manhattan. She has lived there for 30 years and thought I'd love to look at and read NYC's lifestle. This was an eyeopener for me! We cannot believe people live in such hedonistic and narcissitic lifesyles! God bless this City!

There are more than you realize in the Europe and the West that do not believe in God or the devil, but only in themselves - Oprah and Dr. Phil's 'self empowerment' is very popular, resulting in strained marriages and divorces.

Got to go. Peace be to you.

Posted by truecatholicgem (anonymous) on May 26, 2009 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, Well... What a mess all this is. Quite a few good points have been brought up and in my opinion alot misunderstood. I believe that God spoke his words ( and that's that. ) but in our nature as humans we are misinterpret them.
I do not believe he should be "put to death", "hung", "tortured", "abused", none of the above!!!
Forgive!! Please. Remember- he IS human too. No one "deserves hell". But really what is hell? All above that was said with opinions of his punishment, sounds like hell to me except for the fact that it won't last for eternity.
Maybe, jailed for the remainder of his natural life, yes, and God help us with forgivness! PRAY FOR HIM!!!! He needs help with relizing exactly what he did!! Pray for that at least!!
I do not condone what he did at all, I believe every human is a working of God. And how could anyone DESTROY what GOD!!!!! has created???
Love thy neighbor and thy enemy. I like to try to except this doctrine. But it is very hard!! I do understand that I have no emotional ties to the victims and this is easy for me to say but... "an eye for an eye" sounds a little barbaric.
As humans, once again, we want vengence, ect. but God does want us to LOVE and there's not enough of that going around...
I'm not asking anyone to bring Mr. Barbaree cupcakes and flowers but do forgive.

Saint Maria Goretti- she was viscously murdered, by a local villiage boy. But when he was jailed, she appeared to him, filled his cell with white lillies ( her favorite flower ) and FORGAVE him. And when she was canonized Maria's mother was there, with her daughter's murderer.
So please take that into consideration. Forgive and Love- as Jesus Christ. Kill and Hate- as not.

I shall pray for everyone to open their hearts to forgivness. And for Mr. Barbaree himself.

Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on May 26, 2009 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sunbug: Perhaps my writings have not been clear. I support capital punishment. If time permits, I will post more later.
truecatholicgem: forgiveness does not mean there are no consequences for actions. Why will we all suffer a physical death? Because of sin. Those who have repented and asked for forgiveness and have salvation, still will die a physical death. Many people suffer consequences in this life because of the sins they have committed. Let me clarify. An drug user may clean up, stop using drugs, repent, and be saved. Yet this person may have done severe damage to themselves physically and may never recover.
It is precisely because we are created in God's image that when someone murders another the murderer forfeits his own right to life.
Shamrock: your posts are well taken. My wonderful Southern brethren who have never lived outside the Bible belt would indeed be shocked. Most in the South, while not all Christian, are not openly hostile to Christianity. Not so here in the Pacific Northwest where I live. See, we do agree on a lot of things.

Posted by trueandalusia (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

omg

Posted by sunbug (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

truecatholicgem. Thanks for your opinion. I am proud to know that there are still people left who know that to forgive is to love. However, I do believe in the death penalty. This is why... There are people so evil who will kill people simply because they nothing left to loose. Those kinds of people know they have to rule over everyone else there because they will never get out. So they will kill just to prove a point. Should the U.S. Allow such hiddeous to continue. This country surely would be in ruins. It's already bad enough.
Watidefan: The bible does say "eveyone deserves hell" Your right. It is hard to except but you're right about that. I want nothing more out of this than for this Murderer to stay behind bars for the rest of his life reguardless of how long he lives or how he dies. And to repent and turn from his evil.

Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on May 28, 2009 at 6:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sunbug wrote..."I want nothing more out of this than for this Murderer to stay behind bars for the rest of his life reguardless of how long he lives or how he dies." Well now,thats not fair to the tax payers. Why don't you buy all his meals? I say IF he admits to this horrible crime,then he shouldnt set behind bars 10 to 20 years.He should be executed rather quickly.

Posted by bluesclues (anonymous) on May 29, 2009 at 3:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I say someone should feed him a rat poison patty sandwhich pretty quick, it would save taxpayers money, alot of people time, and the victims families some heartbreak. ..and it would save some air for those of us that deserve to breathe it.