Struggling With Progress

Sometimes I need deadlines.  It seems that procrastination is part of my basic makeup.  If it doesn't have to be done right now the reasons for not doing it seem to prevail.  But, when the deadline looms, delivery is made -- often just under the wire.

This past week has seemed like one with looming deadlines.  My January 2nd "to do" list was almost two full pages long on my yellow notepad.  It was intimidating.  It is down to under a page now.  I think fear was the driver to get some things done.  The list had become so long that I feared it couldn't all possibly be accomplished before my next round of intense travel.  I feel better about it today.

Why is it that we (some of us at least) have to be pushed in order to make progress?  Shouldn't it be our natural tendency to want to be constantly growing, improving?  Instead, we seem to find excuses to not do what we should and to instead do the things we know we shouldn't.  We sit in front of the television instead of raking the leaves.  Or, we play a game on the computer instead of reading a book.  We "settle for" the mediocre when we could be moving toward the great.

I think Paul described it well in Romans Chapter 7.

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature^[d] a slave to the law of sin.
 

 It seems that even Paul knew what he needed to do but found himself doing otherwise.  I guess I'm in good company.

Johnny "Heisman" Manziel

A small-town Texas kid put on quite a show last night as the Texas Aggies beat the Sooners in the Cotton Bowl.  The more I watch him play football, the more I am amazed.  He makes extraordinary runs and passes look easy. 

The A&M Board of Regents took a big gamble moving to the SEC.  They fired a head coach and hired one that didn't quite fit the mold of previous coaches.  That new coach has sparked a revival of A&M football with the help of a Quarterback of tremendous athletic ability.

There will be "reams of electrons" written about Manziel today, just as there has been since prior to his selection as the Heisman Trophy winner.  I won't spend a lot of time doing the same here.  But, I do want to say that he seems to have a pretty good head on his shoulders.  Let's just pray that he doesn't let the hype get to him. 

It takes the entire team to win a football game.  I suspect the inspiration of playing with someone of Manziel's calibre has caused a lot of his teammates to "step up" and play beyond their expectations.  Maybe that's the key.  Raised expectations.  If you expect great things, great things will happen.  With the guidance of Coach Sumlin, the extraordinary athletic ability of Manziel and the willingness of A&M's Regents to back a gamble, Aggie Football has reached the next level. 

Keep it humble guys.....

More on Twitter

I'm kind of liking this Twitter thing.  I frequently have a "brilliant" thought in response to things that I see and read on the Internet.  They usually just evaporate like those "brilliant" ideas that I have at 3:00 a.m. that are irretreivably lost to the dreamworld.  With Twitter I can just respond instantly.  I can see how it might be annoying to someone following me.  It is the opportunity for a "gut" reaction that isn't always as considered as it should be.

I'm even figuring out how to add attribution and hashtags so that I can attract followers.  I have been doing this a little over 24 hours now and have 21 followers.  I don't know if that is good or mediocre or just downright pitiful, but, they're MY 21 followers and I'm proud to have them.  I wonder if I should set a goal?  OK, might as well.  I will shoot for 50 followers by this time next week.  Who knows?

K-State and Oregon are playing on the television as I sit here with my laptop.  I'm hardly paying any attention to it.  Oregon is leading but I think K-State will make up the deficit.  There's plenty of game left to play.

I don't even feel like Tweeting about the game.  I'm more concerned with what's going on in Washington.  I'm thinking it may be time to pull out of the stock market and convert to something else.  Any suggestions?

The Twitterverse

I have been fighting the urge to open a Twitter account for a long time.  I have struggled with seeing the value in it.  My vision for how to use it was limited to the mundane routine of my job or my "life" outside my job.  I found a reason yesterday.

With my New Year's commitment to spread the word about the fiscal and other irresponsibility of Washington and the hope that I might open a few eyes to what is going on there, I found reason to enter the world of Twitter.  I am still somewhat confused by the appropriate use of the @ sign and hash tags (#) but I am making progress.  I have Tweeted several times today -- mostly re tweets or clicking the Twitter button on an article that I wanted to share -- but I am definitely struggling with proper syntax and structure.

If any of you out there have some basic tips or pointers I would certainly appreciate them in the comments.  You can find me @PanhandlePoet.

Starting a New Year

New Year's Day is all about a time for a fresh start.  It should be positive and uplifting as we look forward.  It should be a time of reflection on things of the past that we would like to put behind us so that we can move forward. 

I've never been much for resolutions.  I didn't keep them anyway, so why put myself through the "failure" of not keeping them?!  Instead, I think we all should constantly evaluate ourselves and as we see areas that need improving we should immediately take steps to improve.....not just once each year, but every day.

I guess I have made a resolution for this year.  I have resolved to start sharing as much information as possible about what is going on in Washington and the other "halls of power" that have so much impact on our lives.  I fear for the direction our country is headed morally and fiscally.  I fear that my children and grandchildren will face a world that is vastly worse than what we live in today.  I am morally obligated to fight against those things which I believe are destroying our country and the future for my grandchildren.

I have posted a number of things on Facebook today related to the so-called "Fiscal Cliff" and I have resurrected my political commentary blog:

Panhandle's Perspective

I'm recruiting.  Help me get out the message.  There is another election in a couple of years that can make a huge impact.  It's time now to start.

No Time Like Snow Time

Snow is not my favorite kind of weather.  My memories of snow are howling winds and brown-tinted drifts piled in inconvenient places.  Where I grew up was too flat to get any good from a sled or skis.  Snowmobiles were OK as long as you could avoid the bare patches where all the white stuff had blown off and into the fence rows.  Of course, we didn't own snowmobiles.  They were the domain of those who had cabins at Ruidoso or Red River and spent portions of the winter in the mountains.

Snow meant cold, but cold rarely meant snow.  Temperatures in the teens were no fun.  Yeah, I know, many of you think temps in the teens is a warm spell.....not me.  Those temperatures were always accompanied by howling winds that dropped the chill factor below zero -- or at least into the single digits.

I grew up in town but spent many of my free hours helping my grandfather who always had cattle and horses.  The cold weather meant breaking ice for the livestock and feeding them hay.  Sometimes the challenge was just to get to them.  Breaking snowdrifts could be interesting and sometimes involved a walk to find a tractor.

The crazy thing is that often the field would be virtually bare of snow and the roads filled and overflowing.  After years and years of road graders smoothing the roads they were often lower than the fields on either side.  When the wind moved the snow from the level ground of the fields it naturally went to the lowest place -- the road.  More than once I have driven on the turn rows of fields rather than in the road.

I figured that with the move to East Texas we wouldn't see much snow.  Obviously I hadn't done my homework.  We had several inches fall on Christmas Day.  They are still with us.  The challenge here is picking up tree limbs and avoiding the vehicles driven by East Texans who are unfamiliar with snow and ice.  Their timidity on the roads seems to be a greater hazard than the snow itself.

I know this sounds like a complaint but it really isn't.  The snow is a  blessing.  It was preceded by good rain and my ponds are replenished and my pasture has a good dose of water that hopefully will start some of the winter grasses to growing.  This snow will actually help reduce the amount of hay I'm having to feed because of the drought that hopefully is breaking.  The forecast calls for moisture for most of next week.

Christmas Eve

Anticipation fills the air
And fires the hearts of men
With hope and love and family
And times without a care;

Remembrances of childhood time
With laughter, food and fun
And peeking 'neath the Christmas tree
For any telltale sign

Of what beneath the wrappings lay;
Delights of Christmas morn
So near and yet so far away
Awaiting break of day.

Jesus in the manger fast asleep,
Unnoticed on the shelf;
Mary and Joseph standing watch
With Shepherds and their sheep.

While towering o'er the manger scene
Is dancing Santa Claus
Proclaiming loudly, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"
When someone pulls his string

Somehow I think that our delight
Is empty -- without meaning
As we focus on the things of earth
Ignoring God's Holy Light.

Preparations

I am always somewhat dismayed but never shocked that the last few days before Christmas are whirlwinds of activity.  I do my best to stay at the peripheral but it seems that I am always pulled into the maelstrom.

I can cook.  But I don't really enjoy it.  So, I leave the creative cooking to others.  Frosted cookies, loaves of bread, candies and pies are not my domain.  I find it best to go rake leaves or something when such activities are in full swing. 

Then there is the inevitable last minute dash to get packages wrapped before "the trip" somewhere.  Always we go somewhere -- even when we would prefer to have Christmas at home.  Or, maybe it's just me that prefers to have Christmas at home.  I'm the one that travels all the time so when there is a holiday, I don't get especially excited about hitting the road.

Oh, I was talking about wrapping packages.  I can do so -- adequately.  But, they usually don't turn out "pretty" so I shy away from the task.  I wrap what I must wrap.  I am thankful for gift bags.  Years ago we didn't have that luxury.  I can handle gift bags.  Just put whatever it is into the bag, stuff some tissue paper in on top, put a tag on it and call it good. 

So, cooking.  Yes, I cooked dinner.  It was a trade.  I didn't wrap packages.  I can handle a basic meal of meat, potatoes and a veggie.  I even did most of the dishes.  That's a fair trade isn't it?

Life Marches On

Once upon many years ago a Mayan carved a calendar into stone.  Given the limitations of stone, he ran out of space.  It is just a coincidence that this day was the last one carved into that stone.  But, what does that say to us today?  Not that it is the end of the world, but that life marches on. 

Back in the 90's I took over management of a division of a company that developed software for feed yards.  We faced the Y2K issue.  Hmm.....someone failed to consider the fact that the software would be around long enough for that to be an issue.  It reminds me of the Mayan carving his calendar.  Y2K passed and the world didn't end then either.

On a more somber note, this week also saw another mass murder by a deranged individual.  It has become a political football.  I am saddened for those families who lost children or other loved ones.  But, in the bigger scheme of things, it is only temporary.  We all will die.  The only question that should be asked is will we be united with them in eternity.

I am not going to debate whether all innocent children automatically go to heaven.  I don't know the answer to that.  I do know that many of the adults affected by the loss will not.  Many do not believe in a life after this one.  If they don't it was all meaningless anyway if you follow the logic of their belief to its conclusion.  Our temporary sojourn on this planet is but a moment in time.  Life marches on. 

The real tragedy in the murder of those kids is that people don't see that it is only a symptom of something much bigger.  It isn't about guns.  It isn't about the mentally unstable.  It is a tiny event in the battle between good and evil.  Stalin, Hitler, the Huns, the Chinese, abortion clinics -- all have murdered many more innocent victims than the killer in Connecticut. 

Ultimately good will win.  It will be when Jesus returns.  Not before.  In the meantime, we struggle on as the Spiritual Battle rages around us.  We must choose sides.  Jesus told us that if we aren't for Him we are against Him (Matthew 12:30).  If you think you haven't chosen sides you are mistaken.....it is time to think hard about that choice.  Life marches on but, only temporarily on this earth.

Ranchers and Veterans Day

I've needed a lazy morning for awhile.  It seems like it has been go, go, go forever. 

My job sometimes causes me to work on the weekends -- this one is an example -- and my own projects keep me going when there is spare time -- whether at home or on the road.  This morning I don't have to be at the Trade Show until 11:00 so I slept late and now I'm sitting at the computer (must be an addiction).

It seems that when I have a little spare time I also have the urge to write.  Often it is just meandering thoughts strung together, but occasionally I have something on my mind that needs to be given wing -- such as the previous post on the election.  Today, I am just wandering with no clear direction.

I always enjoy the WRCA's World Championship Rodeo in Amarillo.  That's why I'm here.  We have a booth and are a sponsor.  It is refreshing to see the ranch families who are there not only to compete but to "come to town" for what is for many of them, an annual vacation.  In many ways it is like a giant family reunion.

One thing I kept noticing yesterday was all of the children.  It seemed like there was an endless line of baby strollers and little kids walking through in their hats and boots.  Young families together with joy on their faces.  I didn't see an iPod or computer game in any of their hands.  I saw simple toys that required imagination.  I saw happy faces filled with excitement.  It made me proud to be a part of the ranching community.

These are people who make their living from the land.  They care deeply about their environment and the livestock in their care.  They live simply and work hard.  They are one of the reasons that this country is still a land of plenty.  Many of the ranches where they live have been in business well over 100 years.  That's sustainability.  These are just some of the people who produce the food we eat.....and not only us -- they feed the world.  I appreciate them.

I also saw a number of Veterans scattered through the crowd.  Some carried the scars of their service.  Others I'm sure had scars that weren't visible to the eye.  Today, on Veterans Day, we need to remember those who have served to keep us free.

Ranchers and Veterans have a lot in common.  Both are willing to fight for this country and to take care of each other and to give rather than take.  The WRCA Foundation was organized to help those in need.  If you get a chance, follow the link and read about what they do.

Well, I guess my wandering thoughts found a path after all.

Election Reflections

On November the 29th of 2011, I posted my election prediction.  You can see it here.

Sometimes you just hate to be right.

Although my call of the race was correct, perhaps my reasoning was a bit off.  I've been giving thought since about 9:30 Tuesday night about the outcome.  I know, 9:30 was before the race was called, yet it was increasingly clear the likely outcome.  Even before that Sarah Palin gave an emotional commentary that reflected my feelings as well.

It would be easy to rant about the election.  I will hopefully avoid that.  But why, I continue to ask myself, is the American public so clearly deceived by what is going on in Washington?  Maybe the answer is that they are not.

Our country seems more clearly divided than at any time in our history except perhaps the period around the War Between the States -- or should I call it the Civil War or, even yet, the War of Northern Aggression.  The words we choose to convey our message can be divisive.  Today, persons at all points on the political spectrum -- either "left" or "right" -- are using very divisive language.  That language in itself further divides when what we need is civil discourse that draws us toward common ground and practical solutions for the issues that our country faces.

I think our society has taught us to use divisive language.  It has not been done overtly or purposefully, but it is symptomatic of the "culture of self" which has become pervasive.  Every message on television subtly (or not so subtly) points to the thought, "What's in it for me?"  It is that very attitude that erodes the moral fabric of our society.  After all, what is civilization?  It is coming together for the common good.  Other related words come to mind, such as civility -- being aware of others needs, or civics -- the study of citizenship, its rights and duties which leads us ultimately to citizenship -- which denotes both obligation to others and the privileges of belonging to those in whom resides the power of governance.

As we have become a society composed of individuals focused on self we have lost civility and lost the impetus for seeking common ground. 

So, how does such an attitude of incivility -- or this "culture of self" -- explain the election results?  The election is merely symptomatic of the prevailing cultural bias to look only to one's own needs without thought to consequences to others -- whether it be the unborn, our grandchildren, our neighbor or strangers and aliens. 

The "culture of self" also erodes our ability to think critically about the messages we are hearing.  People stop listening when they hear the words they want to hear.  (For an interesting perspective there are some great verses in the book of Proverbs about honey to the ear, etc.)  There is a failure to reason through the message to the consequences of behavior.  In my mind, the legalization of marijuana in Colorado is a perfect example -- not for the result, but for the messaging which led to the result.  Proponents of the measure touted legalization as a way to increase school funding.  Is there not something fundamentally wrong with connecting marijuana to our school children?  In my mind there is.

Ultimately, the "culture of self" will lead to the fragmentation of society.  We are quickly moving in that direction.  Until we change our culture we will not change our direction.  We must reinstate the value of seeking the common good into our thought processes or the "change" will only accelerate.

Just my thoughts.....

Chris

Coaching Tips

Thursday night was the annual meeting of the Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization (NETBIO).  It is a group of ranchers, Veterinarians, bankers and livestock auction owners that came together to find a better way to market their cattle.  It is a great organization that has been very successful for many years.  Many have tried to duplicate the success of NETBIO but none have been able to.

The guest speaker for the Banquet was Gene Stallings, former coach of the Texas Aggies, the Crimson Tide and then coached under Tom Landry at the Dallas Cowboys before becoming head coach of the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals.  Coach Stallings is a rancher and lives not far from where I do.

I expected Coach Stallings to talk about his experiences in football -- as a player and then as a coach.  He did not.  He talked about ranching and overcoming hardship and maintaining proper values.  He talked about perseverance and about making a difference in someone else's life.  He is giving back to others.  Currently he is pursuing building a hospital in Haiti.  Of all his accomplishments, it is the one he seems most proud of.

During his speech he talked about taking pride in what you have been given stewardship over.  He specifically referred to his ranch.  He said, "I don't want to see a weed in the pasture or a tree limb fallen in the woods.  I want everything to be well-maintained and there is no excuse for walking past something that needs fixing day after day and not fixing it."  Well.....those may not have been his exact words, but they represent the gist of it.

I expecially found it interesting in light of my current project on the ranch.  Clearing brush from the fencelines that pass through some woods on the place.  Things had grown up into a tangle of Greenbriar, Blackberries, Dewberries, locust trees, and a million saplings of various species of tree and shrub.  There were trees fallen on the fence pressing down the wires and there was no good way to get through to fix things.  So, a couple of weeks ago I set out to change that.  I'm doing it the old fashioned way too.  A lot of sweat and manual labor.  I figure it's a good way to get back in shape and it seems much more productive than going to a gym or jogging.  There are a couple of pictures below to give you an idea....

 

Above:  Where I'm going.

 

Below:  Where I've been.

 

Realizing a Dream

All my life I have wanted to be a rancher.  I grew up following my grandfather who always owned cattle until he was almost 90 years old.  The problem with wanting to be a rancher is that it takes a lot of money.  That wasn't something that I inherited or was given so, I had to start saving what I could.

My undergraduate advisor at Texas A&M was Dr. Ronald D. Kay.  I will never forget Dr. Kay because he cared about the students and teaching more than he did about research.  He gave me some very practical advice.  Pursue what you want to do but remember, there's more than one way to skin a cat.  You may have to do something you don't really want to do in order to do what you really want to.  He suggested agricultural finance might be a good way to start working toward my dream of owning a ranch.  It was good advice.  Managing money properly is necessary to realize a dream that costs as much as ranching.

I owned cattle a time or two through the years.  But, I was never able to put much together beyond a few stocker calves or a few old cows on leased land.  I stepped away from it for awhile and decided to focus on putting together enough to do it right.

This year, we finally were able to realize the dream.  Looking back it was all obviously "God orchestrated" because the combination of things coming together could have been the result of nothing else.  There are a few pictures below....

Patience

Trusting fully
In God's timing
And not in our own
Is patience.

Knowing that
He has contol
Of everything
Is patience.

Having faith
That His timing
Is best
Is patience.

Patience
Is
Faith
In God's timing.

Adventures in Learning

We took a hike in the woods today.  Well, that's what it ended up being although that wasn't necessarily our intent. 

We've been looking to acquire a little acreage out in the country where we might be able to run a few cows.  So far, we haven't been able to find the right place or the right deal or something.  I guess it amounts to an exercise in patience.  Eventually we will find the right place.

Anyway, we went out to check out a property listed for sale that we had driven by a few times.  It's one that I have kept coming back to as other properties fell through.  I wanted a serious look and so I got the combination for the lock box from our realtor and this evening we went out to look it over.

It is grown up in weeds and brush and although it is being leased for grazing we were only able to find a handful of cattle on the place.  We drove a short distance into the property following the faint trace of a road that once was.  It wasn't even as clear as the cattle trails but it got us about 100 yards into the place before we decided that we would just walk.

My goal was to get a feel for the boundaries of the property -- how it lay and what the grass looked like.  I knew that there were a number of shallow watercourses that crossed the land because they were choked with trees and brush.  Interspersed between are areas that were once pasture but are now grown up in weeds and brush.

We hiked toward the back of the place looking for the back fence.  And we kept hiking.  And we hiked some more.  No fence.  We both felt sure we were beyond the boundary of the place when we came upon a road through the pasture so we followed it a ways.  Sure enough, it led to the neighbor's house on the place behind.  Well, sort of. 

He came out to meet us in his pasture and said he figured we must be lost.  Seemed like a nice guy and was very helpful when I explained what we were doing.  He kind of laughed and said, "You won't find many fences in the woods of East Texas -- at least not ones where the wires are up on posts and that will keep the livestock in.  You gotta look at the ground to find any fences around here.  They've all fallen down years ago."

He went on to explain that the dry creek we crossed actually belonged to the state and was considered navigable waters....remember, I said it was dry.  Then we had crossed another small tract that was landlocked and he didn't know who owned it.  It was probably claimed by the county for failure to pay taxes.  Then we had come across a portion of his land.  Not a single fence.

It's no wonder we didn't see many cows.  They are probably scattered over half the county.  I think the place would be a great project but, it would take more investment to get it into shape than I'm willing to put into it.  I guess we'll keep looking.

Chris

Two Cases of Misguided Response

Over the past few weeks there have been a couple of things in the news that actually got my attention.  I know that seems like a strange thing to say, but the truth of the matter is that I have grown somewhat immune to the news.  It is almost formulaic and highly predictable.

Two events however, have stood out to me recently.  The first was what I will call the "Chick-Fil-A Debacle" and the second was the naming of Paul Ryan as running mate for Mitt Romney.

The "Chick-Fil-A Debacle" was actually about freedom of speech.  However, it turned into a Christians bashing Gays vs. Gays bashing Christians and the media piling on.  I was actually gratified to see the support given to Chick-Fil-A in the form of a day to eat there.  I was disappointed that it became a Gay vs. Christian event.

The choice of Paul Ryan as running mate for Romney is interesting to me for a similar reason.  Ryan is seen by many as representing the values which are closely identified with the Tea Party movement.  Tea Party is really a misnomer because it isn't actually a political party, but it is a movement of people with similar values which are closely aligned with what many deem are Christian values.

This morning at church it was mentioned by someone who will remain unnamed that we Christians must stand up and confront the non-Christian values being pushed upon this Christian nation.  I have several problems with that.  1)  We are not a Christian nation.  Only an individual can be Christian.  Christianity is a relationship between the individual and God through the mediation of Jesus.  2)  Confrontation is not the answer.  How can the love of Jesus be shared through confrontation?  3)  Non-Christian values are pushed by non-Christians.  If you are a Christian and reading this, pay close attention;  you cannot expect non-Christians to have Christian values. 

So, how does the preceding paragraph align with the two newsworthy events?  I think the first one should be obvious.  The owner of Chick-Fil-A exercised his first amendment right in answering a straightforward question that was likely meant to entrap him for political reasons.  He answered the question just as he should -- according to his deeply held beliefs.  The problem lies in the Christian response.  If it was solidarity over the exercise of freedom of speech, it was a correct response.  If it was solidarity in opposition to homosexuality it was misguided.  Homosexuality is condemned by the Bible.  If you profess to be Christian it should have no part in your life -- just as you should seek to eliminate all other sin from your life.  The fact is that as long as we live on this earth, sin of some form or another will be part of our daily life.

Now, to the selection of Paul Ryan.  I think he is probably the best candidate in the field for the highest office in the land.  But, why was he selected and why is he a polarizing candidate?  I think he was selected because Romney needed to appeal to the Christian right and those non-Christians who identify with the Tea Party movement.  Evangelical Christians do not see Mormons as Christians.  I agree with that position.  Many Christians see Paul Ryan as one who will confront the anti-Christian agenda in Washington.  Again, it is a position of Christians confronting non-Christians.

Now, I ask the much abused question, "What would Jesus do?"

I think Jesus would tell us to do exactly what He told us to do over 2,000 years ago. 

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” __ Matthew 28:18-20

The Coming Revolution

Yes, the title is somewhat provocative.  It is the title of a book -- or at least part of one.

I recently read The Coming Revolution: Signs from America's Past That Signal Our Nation's Future by Dr. Richard G. Lee.  It is a book that I struggled with.

In some ways, this is a book that I would write.  It is an attempt to place the backlash that has come to be identified as the Tea Party into historical context.  Yet, to call it such would be to "pigeon-hole" it in a way that is neither accurate nor completely without merit. 

Dr. Lee is obviously a thoroughly studied historian whose Christian worldview informs his interpretation of events that led to the formation of the United States.  His traditional Judeo-Christian values cause him to place emphasis on those writings and events that led the "Founding Fathers" of this country to place their livlihoods, their liberty and even their lives on the line for their beliefs.  His interpretation of current events, when placed against that backdrop, form the basis for the book.

I struggled with the book because it forced me to evaluate my own positions -- my own thoughts -- regarding those events and it caused me to closely examine the "why" of my personal beliefs regarding what is truth and what is right.  It caused me to ask questions of my own beliefs and to evaluate my positions on many issues that we as a nation face.

Is the Tea Party merely a temporary backlash among those whose values closely align with the traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs or is it something deeper?  Is it a return to the values of our forefathers or is it an outmoded way of looking at the world?  I will let you decide.  I encourage you to read the book. 

Chris

Independence Day

Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of a nation.  It is a time of reflection and a time of celebration.  It is also a time of thanksgiving for this land of unprecedented freedom.  It is a time to consider what is truly important.

It would be easy to vent my frustration at the direction that our country seems to be heading.  It would be easy to attack the very instruments of power that have made it great.  It would be a simple task to outline the erosion of the liberties that we take for granted.  It would not be constructive.  Instead, I want to remain appreciative of what we do have.

When God is forgotten by those in power, they become their own God.  Power is sought for the sake of gaining more power.  When man focuses on his own efforts he forgets that in the end, all power resides in God's hand.  God in His wisdom allows us to go along the paths of our choosing, knowing that when we have run our course, the only recourse is Him.  That is why we cry out to Him in time of crisis.  We are free to choose Him or ourselves.  That is the ultimate freedom.  That is the freedom that I celebrate.

Running Errands

I have a tendency to put things off.  Those of you who know me really well probably have figured that out already.  I admit, I procrastinate.

What's wrong with procrastination?  I have found that it actually makes me more efficient.  I put things off until I have a pretty good list accumulated and then I do them all in a mad rush.  Quite simply, I take things that could be scattered over weeks and get them all done in a half day of dashing about from here to there.  Definitely efficiency at its best!

This afternoon has been one of those mad dash to the finish afternoons with running errands.  It follows logically the mad dash of this morning and early afternoon when I was dashing madly through a list of tasks that had to be completed today.  One mad dash follows another.  Does that make me the "Mad Dasher?"  It's a nice feeling to have both lists behind me.....

Chris

More Settling In

I guess there's a lot more to settling in than just getting all the boxes unpacked and everything in a designated space.  There is the seemingly never-ending list of address changes that must be made and the getting acquainted with neighbors and various other folks around the community.  Fortunately, since I've been traveling here for the past several years I know a fair number of people.  Still, there's a difference between being someone who just passes through occasionally and being a neighbor.

Small towns generally have a good sense of how to be a neighbor.  Larger places have forgotten the art.  Before we were even moved into our new home a lady down the street brought us a cake.  Our next-door neighbor looked after our place for several months while we were in transition because we bought this place quite some time before we were able to sell the place where we were living.

Of course, everyone needs a good banker.  I am thankful for community banks.  We found a good one and not only have they been helpful from a banking standpoint, they have been invaluable in helping us to meet people in the community.  The loan officer who helped with our home financing invited us to church and made sure we were welcome and spent a large amount of time making sure we met the pastor and sunday school teachers and anyone else who walked by.  Of course, there's no way I can remember all the names or put them with the correct faces.

We have spent many hours already on the yard.  It is a comfortable, inviting yard with lots of big trees and flowering plants.  The previous owner was a student of our next-door neighbor who came from a family that owned a nursery.  Some day I hope to be able to name all the different plants growing in the many flower beds that we have.  I'll post a couple of photos at the bottom.

Anyway, settling in takes some time.  At our age, which by-the-way I don't feel all that old on the inside, it is a little strange to be settling in.  That is a term that denotes nesting.  We aren't nesting.  We are empty-nesters.  I suppose that's part of the reason for the move.  Priorities change as we age.

Although I will continue in my same job and occupation, we will begin to focus on some new things.  Ventures that have been held out in the future as dreams to work towards.  More on that later.

Chris