Lone Star Liberty Tree

Europe's Little Black Book

2011-08-06T17:19:00.000-05:00

Celtic Crosses, brown Franciscan gowns and tall church spires once lined the landscape of people proud of their God and more than willing to die for his word. Churches celebrating names such as Luther, Patrick and John now sit dark dank and empty. Let us take a look at the causes of Europe’s growing godlessness and we’ll take a look at the hopes for future generations that they may know God.

"Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them“.

The Apostle Paul would heed the call of his Lord and travel into Europe with Christ’s gospel. His last and final journey would take him to Rome, the center of the world. It was in Rome where Paul was executed. The Purposes of the Lord had been fulfilled in the life of St. Paul. The match had been lit and the destiny of a continent would be afire with the flames of the Gospel. Throughout the centuries many emperors and kings would attempt to destroy the church and the Gospel of our Lord. Emperor Nero made repeated attempts to exterminate Christ’s followers. He tossed Christ’s Disciples to the lions, burned their houses, and murdered both Peter and Paul, yet the church continued to grow.

Currently the churches in Europe are largely avoided like the black death that plagued the continent some 600 years ago. An internet research group called Nation Master.com regularly polls cultural phenomenon. Nation Master.com is a popular new web site referenced by news outlets such as The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and CNN. In a recent study Nation Master graphed the church attendance in 53 nations. In the study they found that in countries with largely Christian histories, very few people attend services regularly. In Russia, a country of largely Christian orthodox heritage, only 2% of people say that they attend services regularly. Such European democracies such Finland, Sweden and Denmark are all at 4%. Of the 53 nations 8 of the top 10 most irreligious countries are in Europe. In a recent trip to Finland Pope Benedict XVI who is fearful of what this Godless trend may in fact bring, gave the following warning to Parishioners there; “A vital contribution that all religious groups can offer in your country, as elsewhere in Europe, is to draw attention to certain values that are in danger of being eroded through the process of secularization.”

Even the once Roman Catholic countries such as France which is at 21%, and Spain which is at 25% are very small percentages compared to just a few years back. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Spain’s 25% is not reflective of reality. In France the situation becomes much more muddled do to the rise in Islam. Pope Benedict xvi has suggested that the number of people in France regularly attending Sunday services is probably only around 5%. Many missionary groups would argue that in their experience both Spain and France do not have that many church attendees. A missionary group called Frontier Missions focuses specifically on church planting and setting up university fellowships in Spain. Frontier Missions make the claim that of Spain’s 42 million people only .2% would call themselves evangelical, 5% say that they are devout Catholic, while 35% say that they might be nominal Catholics. In Italy government surveys greatly exaggerate their figures on church attendees. According to Britain’s U.K. telegraph, the Italian government released the following figures; 30% attend mass every Sunday, 20% attend once a month, while 30% claim they attend for Christmas and Easter only, adding up to nearly universal church attendance. If 20% attend once a month would it really be right to say that those individuals are true church attendees let alone followers of Christ? If I go once a month to a Texas dude ranch and ride horses does that make me a rancher? As for the 30% who attend Christmas mass once a year that hardly translates to ‘Church going’. I may go into a shopping mall once a year at holiday time to purchase gifts yet I hardly think that I’d call myself a ‘mall enthusiast’.

In February of 2007 the U.K. telegraph commented on Italy’s lack of church attendance; “…a study by the Patriarchate of Venice, which actually asked worshippers inside 619 churches how often they had been in the past month, found only 15 per cent of worshippers go to Mass every Sunday, and eight per cent said they had been at some point in the last month. In total, only 23 per cent were shown to actually go to Church regularly.” Among the youth in Italy the situation is much more dire. Many youngsters don’t even consider any kind of Christianity as playing any sort of role in their lives let alone a significant one. Cross World mission was founded back in 1931 with the goal in mind of bringing Christ’s Gospel to those who are lost and then to make disciples. Cross World began with little more than a handful of members. Today they have 350 missionary members serving world wide. Cross World has worked tirelessly in Italy for three decades. In a recent discussion with some of their missionaries they made the claim that Italians being far from a ‘happy go lucky’ people, are addicted to anti-depressants more than any European country. They also told us that due to the lack of Italian priests the Vatican has been forced to bring in North African leadership. This lack of interest in the church is reflective of a recent survey conducted by Professor Paolo Seagate of the University of Milan, which concluded that among Italians born after 1981, Catholic values are in complete decline.

In The Czech Republic only 14% of citizens attend church (according to Nation master’s web site) but many claim that number may well be inflated. Many youth there have no idea the meaning of the word “church” let alone how to even be a part of one.

A group known as Tearfund is one of Britain’s leading relief organizations. In their recent study they make the claim that two-thirds of the United Kingdom have absolutely no association with the Christian church. Tearfund makes the claim that Northern Ireland props up the numbers with 45% attending church regularly. The Tearfund study makes a distinction between London (which it has at 22%), and the rest of England at 14%. Scotland tends to follow more of mainland Europe with 18% attending with almost no youth, while Wales dips to 12%. Anecdotal evidence suggests that even with these low numbers that many of them are still inflated.

With the lack of Christian growth, we are witnessing the spiritual and literal death of a continent. Author/columnist Mark Steyn has written countless columns for the Chicago Sun Times, Atlantic Monthly, Washington Times, and The National Review. In his great book “America Alone” Mark Steyn gives a very fatal yet realistic view of Europe. In all the formerly Christian countries of Europe the birth rates are so low that these nations are killing themselves. In Denmark the rate is 1.77 children born per family, the U.K. can only boast 1.6, while France sits at 1.89. In the case of Italy they seem to consider the family as nothing more than a reflection of Christ and his church which they reject. This reveals itself in one of the lowest birthrates in Europe of 1.23 children per family. Of all the problems in Europe, Russia is in the worst kind of shape. In his book Steyn has Russia’s fertility rate at 1.2 children per couple, however that’s only half the problem. The abortion rates in Russia are at the top of the world; 70% of Russia’s newborns are aborted every year. Mr. Steyn tells a story of a pro-life film shown to an audience of Russian women; “The film was very graphic and unsparing in its examination of the effects on the fetus, its object being to prompt in the viewer revulsion and disgust at the procedure. ‘It turned out that more Russian women,’ wrote professor Lynch, ‘became more positively attuned to the idea after having watched the film.’ Instead of the baby’s pain, Russian viewers noticed the clean hospitals, the state of the art technology, the briskly professional doctors and nurses. Women marveled: ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have an abortion in the West?’ After seven decades of Communism, the physical barrenness is little more than a symptom of the spiritual barrenness.”

How did a continent once so rich with the heritage of Christ’s gospel end up so destitute? Europeans failed to embrace Christ and His Lordship, and therefore neglected to pass it on to their children resulting in a cultural vacuum. There is hope for Europe. In recent years missionary groups such as Cross World have had some great success. They are just one example of a group bringing discipleship to a troubled country. Disciples of our Lord must be willing to go, stay, and make disciples.

Sources

“America Alone by Mark Steyn/copyright 2006 Regnery Press

“Church Going in the U.K.-http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/03_04_07_tearfundchurch.PDF

“Church Attendance” in Europe-http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_chu_att-religion-church-attendance

“Italian Church Attendance Lower Than Thought”-http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1543643/Italian-church-attendance-lower-than-thought.html

“Cross World”-http://www.crossworld.org/home.html

“Italy’s Last Catholic Mass”-http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/aug/10080901.html

“Pope’s Warning”-http://www.zenit.org/article-27925?l=English

“Frontier Missions”-http://missionsspain.com/

Schulz, Faith and Charlie Brown

2010-10-31T23:22:00.004-05:00

It was an era unlike today. People read the paper, Newsmen were well respected, and Comic strip writers were the Rock Stars of their day. Little did these strip writers know they would soon take a back seat to little man calling himself ‘Sparky’. Charles Schulz through his “Peanuts gang” changed not only the way we looked at the comics, but the way we looked at the world.

Today we live in an era of the endless parade of reality television, social networking websites, and the twenty-four hour news cycle. There was a time largely forgotten by some and unknown to others. Besides one or two trusted TV. newsmen, to get caught up on events folks generally went to newspapers. ‘Browsing’ meant flipping through black and white print on paper still warm from the presses. Tucked at the back somewhere between news and sports, comic strip writer slugged it out for supremacy.

In a recent book titled “Schulz and Peanuts” author/journalist David Michaelis introduces us to complicated, at times misunderstood figure named Charles Schulz and Schulz’s cartoon strip ‘peanuts.’ David Michaelis is a noted author who has written articles for such publications as The New Yorker and Vanity Fair. He has also written several books one of which was N.C. Wyeth: A Biography.

Mr. Michaelis introduces us to Mr. Charles Schulz as ‘Sparky’ as he was known to everyone. It was late winter 1943 Sparky was drafted a few months before and he found himself on frozen rail car somewhere between St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was returning home on leave to face the greatest tragedy of his life. A tragedy that would linger over him throughout the coming years. “He would never discuss the actual kind of cancer that had struck his mother. Throughout his life, friends, business associates and most of his relatives believed that Dena Schulz had been the victim of colorectal cancer. In fact, the primary site of his mother’s illness was the cervix, and she had been seriously ill since 1938. As early as his sophomore year in high school, Sparky had come home to a bedridden mother.”(p.4) He reveals to us very early on the relationship that ‘Sparky’ had with his mother. We soon discover that Sparky’s mother was the greatest influence of his life. Her death was a tragedy he could never really shake. Mr. Michaelis begins with Sparky coming home to face his mother’s funeral and then ‘flashes’ back to the very early days of his life.

Charles Schulz was born November 26th 1922 in St. Paul Minnesota to Dena and Carl Schulz. Sparky’s father immigrated with his parents from Germany at an early age and was in fact the only one of his siblings not born in the United States. Carl worked as a barber and from an early age hard work was instilled into Sparky. Charles saw from a very early age that his father was well liked by everyone. Sparky also noticed that his father’s barber business was expanding constantly. Indeed Carl knew that being well liked meant more business and Sparky always wanted to be as well liked as his father. Charles would spend many afternoons in his father’s shop, dreaming of drawing. We pick up here with Mr. Michaelis again; “After seeing the last customer out the door, Carl would relight his cigar, pull up the shades, and close up the shop. Then he and Sparky would walk to the far corner of Snelling and take the streetcar home, its icy windows steamed by the interior warmth in the winter months. Years later, Carl would still recall how Sparky, at three or four, would draw on the panel of night-blackened glass, ‘a picture of maybe something he had seen that day.’”

Our biographer does a masterful job of relating Sparky’s childhood. Family gatherings from both his parents side brought a little discomfort as a child and Schulz would seclude himself to a quiet corner of the room with a pencil and paper. The only peace he ever found was in drawing his cartoons. Many afternoons at family reunions while his cousins played outside basking in the sun, Sparky would be getting a jump start on Charlie Brown.

As a boy in the seventh grade Sparky excelled in art class. Mr. Michaelis quotes Charles Schulz: “ ‘All the way through school I could draw better [than] or as well as anyone in the class except for perhaps one or two others.’ For seventh graders at Richards Gordon, art class alternated with music (‘I used to just hate the days that we had music’)…” (p.55) As Sparky perfected his skill almost no-one not even his mother believed that drawing could actually be his craft. Only his Aunt Marion knew that his drawing would one day put him in the papers. He entered High-school as very reserved and shy and always suspicious of anyone attempting to get close. As his mother’s health continued to fail, Sparky graduated high-school. At this point Schulz had no desire to go to college, and as our biographer pens it, “College would have been far more disruptive to his fragile little world.” Sparky chose instead to continue living with his parents, working on his strips. At home he had solitude and a workspace; heaven for one Charles Schulz.

In November of 1942 as Hitler was making some noise across Europe, Charles Schulz was drafted. He did well and soon found himself at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. On February 11, 1944 Sparky was promoted to Buck Sergeant. He was an excellent shot. Here we pick up with Mr. Michaelis; “His exceptional marksmanship, yet further evidence of his hand-eye coordination, made it natural for him to be designated assistant leader of the First Platoon’s machine-gun squad.” (p.136) In February of 1945, Charles Schulz and his 20th armored division, made the cold Atlantic crossing into France. Mr. Michaelis recounts several example of his distinguished service. On July 27th Charles sailed for home and then on August 11th 1945 Sparky and his comrades sailed into New York Harbor. Charles Schulz was home again.

Sparky took full advantage of the G.I. Bill and enlisted in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. This was the turning point for Charles Schulz. It was also at this time that he began attending church with his father; “He had never been baptized, never formally accepted the doctrines of Christianity. Yet stepping into the earnest, warmly personal embrace of the church of God, he felt spiritually at home for the first time in his life”. Many biographers at this point either ignore altogether or tend to ‘gloss over’ any mention of Christianity regarding their subjects, due to the biographers personal bias. Mr. Michaelis does no such thing. He gives great detail on Sparky’s faith even recognizing the changes in Schulz. Sparky had taken the first step in church attendance and shortly thereafter he gave his life to Christ.

While attending school, Sparky submitted a new idea to The Minneapolis Star Tribune. It was a comic strip involving young children with heads far too large for their bodies, having real day to day struggles while considering the real meaning of life. The original title was ‘Li’l Folks’ which would soon change to Peanuts. Schulz constantly sent sample strips to the bigger papers for a chance to break into the industry. Comic Strips like Li’l Abner, Blondie, and Gasoline Alley dominated the pages but all those comic strips were influenced by a world at war. As our author tells us: “Comics created by G.I. artists for the black-and-white starkness of wartime found peace too complex. The war had created a vacuum for comic strip writers. A vacuum which Schulz successfully exploited. On October 2nd 1950 Peanuts was finally accepted by the United Feature Syndicate. His strip would now run in papers coast to coast for the next 60 years.

Sparky indeed considered his strip as a way to influence the world one reader at a time. His comic strip became a way that he could inspire personal reflection. He always had clever ways to get people to consider themselves in context with the whole universe. One comic has Charlie Brown staring at the night sky with Lucy. Lucy says “Aren’t the stars beautiful Charlie Brown”? “Uh huh” says Charlie. After a few moments of silence Charlie then says “Let’s go inside and watch television, I’m beginning to feel insignificant”. At times Charles Schulz was more bold in relating the gospel message through Peanuts. In his Christmas special, the blanket-hording , Linus Van Pelt tells the whole gospel story when the whole gang has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. In truth he himself always felt insignificant. Even while millions everywhere read ‘Peanuts’ he still failed to understand that people actually liked him. Self-doubt, and insecurity plagued Sparky his whole life.

Throughout his life, Schulz would observe events both personally and in the lives of others and incorporate into his comic strip. Fans and reporters alike, asked him constantly if the lovable Charlie Brown was the mirror image of himself. Our biographer Mr. David Michaelus goes much deeper than just what character represented who in Sparky’s real life. Whether it be his kind hearted “tom boyish” cousin Patty Swanson who inspired Peppermint Patty, or his first love the “Little Red Haired Girl” if folks he knew made it into the strip they made a big impression on him. Young Linus Van Pelt was the philosopher king of the ‘peanuts gang’. In a great number of strips Linus was always attempting to find the real meaning of life while Charlie’s trusty dog Snoopy had ‘dog-house’ dog-fights with the Red Baron. The ‘Peanuts gang’ addressed complex issues with humor. These youngsters with their large heads and small bodies, made the world more ‘approachable’. Other strips over the years such as Calvin and Hobbs was inspired by the “Peanuts gang”.

“Schulz and Peanuts” by David Michaelis is a fine read and comes highly recommended. Mr. Michaelis skillfully avoids certain pitfalls biographers encounter such as idolizing their subjects. Charles Schulz despite all his faults put his signature on the pages of the American Conscience.

Sources:

“Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography” by David Michaelis

Harper Collins Publishing 2007

The Power of the States: My defense of the Electoral College

2010-09-27T22:22:00.030-05:00

Many people associate a presidential election day with confusion, long lines and dangling chadds. Some experts claim that our most recent election ills are due to an old, outdated mode of electing our chief executive. The Founding Fathers were not only wise but prophetic in setting up the Electoral College. The Electoral College protects the representation of the smaller states while recognizing the importance and influence of the large ones. The Electoral College is not only relevant to today but is essential to our republic.
The founding fathers of our country were as wise as they were good. At the founding of our republic our fore-fathers knew that every individual had to be equally represented. If the authority was vested solely in a majority of votes who is there for the minority? After establishing this new chief executive called “president” how would he be elected? Was the power of our federal constitution vested in the large population centers or is it vested in the states? How could the big states be recognized without infringing on the rights of the small ones?
In his wisdom James Madison the father of our constitution found the ‘sweet spot‘.
Here is article 2 section 2 of our U.S. Constitution. “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled…” So the founders established a system where the each state is awarded a number of points based on the number of it’s representatives and senators. Each state would award all of it’s electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the state-wide popular vote. The number needed to win would be dependent on the number of representatives. This system rewarded the large states for their massive populations while protecting the representation of the small ones. A candidate would have to work for every electoral vote in every state.
Many critics point to recent election blunders such as we saw in 2000 as further evidence that we should do away with article 2 section 2. Moving to a popular vote would rip the power from the states and bestow it instead on the large population areas. Imagine if we changed our law and decided instead on a popular vote. What would happen to Rhode Island, Wyoming and Montana? Would they not become victims to the whims of the voters in California and New York? A popular vote would encourage special interest groups in bigger states to dictate policy for the smaller ones. Elections hold presidents accountable! Why would a president listen to a people who had no say in his election? Would a candidate for president care about the needs of Nebraska if He only needs the votes of the four biggest states? A.B.C. News policy analyst George Will wrote an article entitled “Defending the Electoral College” for A.B.C. News online. In it Mr. Will says the following; “Furthermore, choosing presidents by electoral votes is an incentive for candidates to wage truly national campaigns, building majorities that are geographically as well as ideologically broad. Consider: Were it not for electoral votes allocated winner-take-all, would candidates campaign in, say, West Virginia?”.
Other critics complain that a candidate could receive the popular vote while losing the more important electoral vote. In truth this only happened four times in our history and two of those example are ‘iffy’ at best. In 1924 Andrew Jackson had 38,149 more votes than John Quincy Adams but the contest remained deadlocked so the House of Representatives elected Adams (but not to worry Jackson fans he would beat Adams for the presidency in 1828). In 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes fought bitterly for weeks with Samuel Tilden over 20 electoral votes both sides claimed belonged to their candidate. Hayes would eventually be awarded the prize. The 1888 election involved massive fraud involving 90,000 votes. In 2000 President George W. Bush lost the popular vote to former Vice President Al Gore but even that is debated by some who disapprove of how those allusive absentee ballots were finally counted. Contrary to current belief there has never been a huge ‘chasm’ between popular vote winners and those who won the electoral college.

Many would say that voters are disenfranchised under the current system. What would happen to the Mid-western farmer if we moved to a national popular vote? Wouldn’t he be disenfranchised?
The Electoral College is the best system for our form of government. It recognizes the value of every individual by representing his state regardless of it’s size.

Further Reading: A.B.C. News online (abcnews.go.com) George Will’s article “George Will Defends the Electoral College” written Nov. 2nd
Article 2 Section2 of the U.S. Constitution
“This Nation (an online site about politics and culture) found @http://www.thisnation.com//ThisNation.com is researched and written by Jonathan Mott, Ph.D.
Online encyclopedia Wikepedia. Found @en.wikipedia.org

My Open Letter To Governor Perry

2010-03-26T22:27:00.006-05:00

Governor Perry In the recent Primary I voted for you believing that you were the most likely of the three Republican candidates to stand up for our Texas on the basis of the 10th ammendment to U.S. Constitution against a healthcare takeover. Today Governor Perry you said the following; "There are things in that bill that are probably good, but the bad outweighs the good by a substantial margin." In all honesty sir I found your statement to be somewhat disheartening for those of us that love Liberty above all else! Mr. Governor from the time of Christ have not all Tyrants thrown the peasents something 'good' amidst deception and despotism?

In 1776 a small band of brothers declared their Independence from a king who considered them a collective too stupid to govern themselves. In reading Mr. Jefferson's list of the king's grievances I discovered that many of the founder's complaints were strikingly similiar to our complaints of President Obama. Today Mr. Jefferson's words ring true; "He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance...Imposing Taxes on us without our Consent..." Mr. Governor, I like every other Texan with whom I speak am tired of 'measured respnses'. The 'measured response' is the answer for the summertime patriot.

Thank you for listening;
Sincerely,
Chad Hague of
Flint Texas

A Holocaust Celebrated

2009-10-03T10:45:00.005-05:00

This week one of the country's foremost icon's of economic freedom sucker punched lady liberty. The Empire State building was lit up red and yellow to celebrate 60 years of chinese communism.

On October 1st, 1949 Mao Zedong defeated the U.S. supported Chiang Kai-shek and established The Peoples republic of China. During his life Mao Zedong was resoponsible for the deaths of 50,000,000 innocents (hitler killed upwards of 12 million, Stalin murdered around 60 million). Mao set a legacy of genocide, tyranny and fear which is contiued today with forced abortions, religious assault and the stealing of private property.

On Wednesday of this week New York decided to honor this legacy of blood when the Empire State building shone with the colors of the chinese flag. When the lights were lit Mr. Joseph Bellina the building's manger said that this represented a proud relationship between 'our countries and our people'. The people's republic established by 'monster Mao' is clearly not a republic and it is certainly not the people's. My favorite linguist Mr. Noah Webster defines a republic as 'A commonwealth; a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected by the people.'

The decision was made by the Empire State Building (ESB) Lighting Partners but where was Mayor Bloomberg? Imagine the outrage fom the Mayor's office if the E.S.B. Lighting Partners chose lights in the shape of a Swastika.

Live Free or Die

2009-09-26T08:33:00.009-05:00

While the health care debate rages on into it's fifth month a challenge presents itself to those who claim to be conservative.

As a pro-life conservative I have become increasingly annoyed with christian conservatives who embrace the sanctity of life but are indifferent to all other issues. As if children have nothing better to do but exist. So once the children are born is it acceptable to subject them to a life of involuntary servitude to an all powerful state? If the 'health care takeover bill' did not include universal access to abortion (which it most certainly does), the bill would still be unacceptable.

I can hear 'God-fearing conservatives' discussing a candidate; "He's for redistribution of wealth, well I really don't mind much because those folks don't need that much money! Is he pro life?" A politician in favor of stealing from one individual and giving to another is not worth supporting regardless of where he stands on abortion. Taxation without representation is stealing and should be treated as a cultural issue just as preserving the life of the unborn.

Yes we should still fight passionately on behalf of the unborn but let us not forget that a life lived in slavery is hardly worth living. Here are some words from Patrick Henry;

"Is life so dear or peace so sweet to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."

Baseball Summer

2009-08-29T14:45:00.013-05:00

This time of year the days get shorter, youngsters everywhere head back to school, and the boys of summer bid adeau' as we welcome the lads back to the gridiron. Before we throw ourselves into football focus, here's a few words about baseball. Yes I know the Pennant races are heating up and there's a healthy chunk of baseball left to be played but once that pig-skin is kicked off everything in the wide world of sports falls under it's shadow.

As it stands now the Texas Rangers trail in the A.L. West by 5 games to the Angels, while slugging it out with Bean town's Red Sox for the Wild Card race. I sometimes query first baseman Hank Blalock (he sits on my bookshelf) on just how far he thinks the Rangers might go this year. He hasn't yet given me an answer. Is he angry that he can't find his bat? Does he think the question is rhetorical? Perhaps he is envious that the younger Chris Davis is back playing first base again. Well regardless Of this years' outcome one cannot deny the roller-coaster thrills of the diamond. Whether it's young Mr. Holland throwing a two hitter in over 8 innings and striking out 10 batters, watching little leaguers scrap with each other for fouls balls during a Roughriders' outing, or waiting out an Arlington monsoon with 40,000 of your closest friends, this is undeniably summer's greatest pastime.

So as Baseball closes up shop for yet another season, I must acknowledge just a few. Take a bow you stadium vendors for showing restraint when I asked if the Ian Kinsler jerseys come with dirt. I tip my hat to you Blue Dot; I always bet on you even though I was told otherwise. Take a curtsy ladies if you attend the ball game without donning your high-heels. Oh- and Hank before I start my fantansy football draft, I promise to move the book shelf and retrieve your bat!

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/
http://ridersbaseball.com/

Wild West Fears

2009-05-23T09:29:00.011-05:00

This week the Texas Senate passed a resolution that would allow college students to carry concealed handguns on their respective campuses. The usual suspects such as the Austin American Statesmen are expressing concern (not surprisingly).

Driving around in any Texas town one is likely to see some small sedan with a sticker declaring "Keep Austin Weird". The same car probably includes other decals such as "Free Tibet", "Change We Can Believe In", and the one word "Che". Or perhaps one visits a northeastern city striking up a conversation with a long haired hippy who upon being told that you are from Texas, responds "You mean like, Austin?"

Sen. Jeff Wentworth R-San Antonio, the author of the bill said the following referring to the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre; "I would feel personally guilty if I woke up some morning and something like this had occurred in Texas. They were picked off like sitting ducks ... in Virginia. It does happen very rarely, but when it does, it is catastrophic." Every time a bill is passed reinforcing a peoples commitment to the 2nd amendment the folks down in Austin have the same predictable response. The Austin American Statesman showed their arrogance; "Do we need more legally armed but not professionally trained people wielding concealed weapons in public places?" They leave out the fact that these students would already have to have a conceal and carry permit. The permit itself makes an individual a 'professional' in the area of hand gun responsibility. One can already envision the leftist mantra put to a chant:

"Tight jeans and eye-liner,

Make our boys pretty!

But don't turn our schools,

Into Dodge City!"

The Bill sits in the House and it's future is uncertain. If it makes it to the Governor's desk he will likely sign it. If the the bill passes and becomes law it will not only be a victory for advocates of the second amendment but also for all those who embrace the ability of the individual to govern himself.
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/05/23/0523guns_edit.html

Antidote to Spring Showers

2009-05-01T10:39:00.007-05:00

With the arrival of spring we can expect soggy weather. In many regions around the country the showers linger well into May. Perhaps the promise of a warm summer has failed to cheer your dampened spirits stuck inside on a Saturday, and if the constant dripping doesn't kill you, the pure boredom just might. More likely though one might suppose that you are tired of giving an online, minute by minute update of your personal day timer and you finally come to your senses; "Why should I care that Johnny is enjoying a latte'?"

Through a rain soaked weekend consider a Dororthy Sayers mystery novel as an antidote. All Ms. Sayers' mysteries starr her chief sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. Lord Wimsey is an amateur detective but working independently always seems to be one step ahead of Scotland Yard. Mr. Wimsey is much more 'earthy' and relatable than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

Dorothy Sayers wit knows no bounds in her novel "Murder Must Advertise". In the story his Lordship Wimsey takes on an alias and lands a job with a London advertising agency on the heels of a mysterious death. Peter Wimsey becomes taken with his new 'job' and is even at times reluctant to put it aside to crack the case; "He sought out the gentleman (Wimsey), who was, for once, in his own room , singing soup slogans to himself.

'A meal begun with Blagg's Tomato

Softens every body's heart-oh!

Hubbies Hold those wives most dear

Who offer them Blagg's Turtle Clear.

Fit for an Alderman-serve it up quick-

Rum-ti-dy, tum-ti-dy, Blagg's Turtle Thick.'

"Rum-ti-dy, Tum-ti-dy,' said Mr. Bredon (Wimsey). 'Hullo, Tallboy, what's the matter? Don't say Nutrax has developed any more innuendos.'

The story twists and turns through drug dens, company cricket matches, and a series of murders, but never loses it charming humor. "Murder Must Advertise" is not only recommended for those who are mystery buffs but to anyone who loves good literature.

Ms. Dorothy Sayers was born in 1893 and passed on in 1957. She was one of the first women to be awarded a degree from Oxford. She was a noted Christian author and theologian, but is most remembered for her mystery novels. She wrote her first mystery novel in 1923.

Another of Dorothy Sayers' great works is "Gaudy Night". In the novel we are introduced to Ms. Harriet Vane who is a mystery writer attending her college reunion. While attending Ms. Vane receives a threatening note. She is hesitant to reveal the note to anyone until many more are discovered. She begins an investigation but soon finds herself too overwhelmed and appeals to Lord Peter for assistance. At this point the nature of Wimsey's association with Ms. Vane is alluded to, but not until later is it revealed in full. A fun packed thriller, "Gaudy Night" shows a great battle of wits between Wimsey and Vane while revealing the darker parts of the human condition. Unlike many dime store mystery novels written today one really does grow to admire the characters.

Governor Perry, Colonel Travis and Bick Benedict

2009-04-15T21:16:00.008-05:00

Leading up to the I.R.S. holy day of April 15th it appears that Texas may have actually found her Patrick Henry.

In a speech yesterday Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) re-asserted Texas rights under the 10th amendment of the U.S. constitution which states "The power not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." The Governor boldly stated "Millions of Texans are tired of Washington, D.C. trying to come down here to tell us how to run Texas." The governor went further "I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state." Not unlike Col. Travis at the Alamo, Gov. Perry has drawn a line in the sand. Liberty and Independence is alive and well down here in the republic.

In the novel "Giant" (written by Edna Ferber in 1952 made famous by the motion picture with the same title starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson), lead character Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson) expresses the same view as Gov. Perry; "If it's freedom you want, come to Texas. No one there tells you what to do and how you have to do it."

Texas has once again poked a much needed finger in the eye of an oppressive federal government. Indeed north easterners and left coasters are probably 'tisking' while rolling their eyes and muttering to themselves "There they go again!"

Down here Texans love their individuality. Here The Lone Star flag is revered as much and in many cases more than the flag of the union. Values are embraced here which are scoffed at elsewhere. On Sundays businesses still close, waitresses still call you 'honey' and no one ever orders a steak 'well done'.

Gov. Rick Perry's actions of the last few days have brought another famous Texan to mind. In 1833 as a congressman from Tennessee, David Crockett opposed President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act with the following statement; "I bark at no man's bid. I will never come and go, and fetch and carry, at the whistle of the great man in the White House no matter who he is."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=blgUvlqLOmE

Where's our Daniel Hannan?

2009-04-10T10:37:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, Daniel Hannan M.E.P. (Member of European Parliament for southeast England) slammed P.M. Gordon Brown and the Labor Party 'goons' for tanking the British economy. Mr. Hannan's comments were enough to make any patriot cheer. But between the 'atta boys', and the 'Hip Hip Hoorays!' one can't help asking; Where is our Mr. Hannan?

Outside of talk radio and the 'new media' no one has had the courage to stand against the 'bailout' orgy that's enslaving our culture. Are there any politicians willing to be statesmen? Is there an individual willing to stand on the rights of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of property' regardless of the next election? This week Alabama congressman Spencer Bachus stated that 17 of his colleagues are in fact socialists. Mr. Bachus stopped short of naming them. Now it's a fair bet that if you are still reading this that you could identify to whom the congressman was referring. If only he had shown a little more courage.

The answer is in the hearts and minds of the people. So turn off 'American Idol', and go join a tea party!

Rediscovering Patrick

2009-03-28T12:53:00.030-05:00

As winter ends and March begins to slip into the rear view mirror, let's take a look back (albeit belated) at the hero of the month.

To many people March 17th means little more than clover, Irish crosses, and Guinness. On this day very few actually stop to consider the influence and contributions made by St. Patrick.

Author/historian J.B. Bury tackles the saint in his 1905 biography "Ireland's Saint-The Essential Biography of St. Patrick". Mr. Bury who was formerly professor of Modern History at Cambridge walks us not only through the life of Patrick from his birth through his captivity, and his ultimate conversion, but also gives us a "mind blowing" look at Ireland both before and after the Patrick's life. As professor Bury states; "To understand the conversion of Ireland, we must take it first as an episode in the history of Europe, glancing first at the general conditions of the early propagation of the christian idea."

Patrick was born to a Briton deacon in or around 389 a.d. . He was taught the scriptures but not until much later did he embrace them. At the age of 17 a group of Irish raiders landed, plundering menservants, maidservants, and of course Patrick. He was taken to Ireland and forced into slavery and it was at this time that he turned his eyes to the Lord. We pick up here with professor Bury; "He had never given much thought to his religion, but now that he was a thrall among strangers, 'the Lord' Patrick says 'opened the sense of my unbelief.' The ardor of religious emotion, the 'love and fear of God,' so fully consumed his soul that in a single day or night he would offer a hundred prayers. And he describes himself, in woodland or on mountainsides, rising form his bed before dawn and going out to pray in hail, rain, or snow."

Patrick continued to fasting and praying through his captivity when on a certain night he heard a voice telling him that his ship was waiting on the coast, and that liberty was at hand. He then made his way to the sea ( Mr. Bury conjectures that he probably went 180 miles to the port town of Wicklow). It was here that he gained passage on a ship and eventually found himself on the Lerins Island on France's southern coast. On Lerins Patrick joined the monastery. Among the Monks of Lerins Patrick had his first exposure to Monastic living. He stayed among the monks for several years before returning to England.

Mr. Bury explains "Then Patrick returned to his old home, his kin welcomed him 'as a son.' In using the expression 'as a son', Patrick shows that parents was intended to mean kinsfolk, not parents, because it is most likely that his parents were dead by this time. They implored him to stay and never leave them again. But if he had any thought of yielding to their persuasions it was dismissed when he became aware all at once, that the aim of his life was determined. The idea of laboring among the heathen, which may have been gradually though quite unconsciously gathering force and secretly winning possession of his brain..."

As Mr. Bury points out, the seeds of Irish Christendom had already been planted before Patrick landed on the shores. But Patrick with tenacity, and a vision changed the hearts of his people.

Mr. Bury's biography is imperative for those who want to understand Ireland's entry into the christian (and dare I say 'modern') world. the Professor lays out a fascinating view of the social and religious climates both before and after Patrick's reformation.

Professor Bury passed on in 1927 and much more of St. Patrick's life has since been uncovered. In the latest printing from 'Parclete Press' noted author and editor Jon M. Sweeney has added some footnotes and made some minor grammatical changes which he explains in the introduction. This book is paramount not only for those who are eager to understand one of the least understood reformers of all time, but also for those who want to see the fulfillment of a vision.

"It's all just a little bit of History Repeating..."

2009-02-11T16:42:00.012-06:00

Mr. Noah Webster defines History as "A narration of events in the order in which they happened, with their causes and effects.

I am generally not one who would subscribe to the view that history is simply a cycle that goes round indefinitely without meaning, purpose, or design. However I couldn't help but rethink my view of history this week. If you saw President Obama's town hall style meeting in Fort Meyers, Florida you too may have been experiencing a little De'ja' vu. Julio Oseguedo, a 19 year old college student donning an Obama t-shirt complained that he had been employed at Mcdonald's for 4 1/2 years unable to get another job and wanted to know what the President could do for him.

If you are a political junkie the name Denton Walthall may sound familiar. I'll give you a second to rattle your brain! No- you got nothing!!O.K. Mr. Walthall was the gentleman who reared his 'pony-tailed' head at the 1992 presidential debate in Richmond Virginia to ask then President George H. W. Bush, Governor Bill Clinton and Millionaire Business man Ross Perot to imagine that the president of the United States is the father of us all and essentially went on to ask the same thing as Julio.

I find it maddening that leftists refuse to live up to the words of the one they revere more than any other. "Ask not what your country can do for you..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMJM4GoDOXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01MNZBTt4K4

'Facts Are Stubborn Things'

2009-01-27T12:36:00.023-06:00

During the heat of last summer's presidential campaign, Senator McCain's senior economic adviser (fmr) Sen. Phil Gramm said that the American people were 'a bunch of whiners'. Mr. Gramm was promptly thrown under the 'straight talk express'.
After doing some research on our great founding fathers I can't help wondering if Mr. Gramm was right. You decide...
(I include everyone from Jefferson to Adams discussing various aspects of Liberty. I even threw one in from William Pitt who served as Britain's Prime Minister from 1783-1801 and again from 1804 until his death in 1806. *see last picture)

"Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin

"I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer." Benjamin Franklin

"... God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty.... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson

"Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from God? Thomas Jefferson

"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." Thomas Jefferson

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." Thomas Jefferson

"You have rights antecedent to all earthly governments; rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the Universe"
John Adams

"We have a government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest chords of our constitution as a whale goes through the net. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they can not alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." George Washington

"We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government." James Madison

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves." William Pitt

Faithless Conservatives?

2009-01-17T15:05:00.001-06:00

For those of us that embrace liberty there has been little for which to be cheerful. When our friends and neighbors so willingly grovel at the feet of the 'nanny state' I can't help but wonder what's next for those who claim the birthright of freedom.
We've elected a new president who seems to be quite enamored with the notion that the state controls all things so well that perhaps they should try their hand at health care. In Congress The controlling party sees at as their prerogative to tell good American folks what talk radio shows are acceptable.
So how can we as conservatives win against the tide of environmental tyranny, greater access to abortion, and a foreign policy run by 'Amnesty International'? Speaking to the graduates of Christendom College in 2003, then Senator Rick Sentorum (R-Pennsylvania) said the following; "I want to challenge each and every one of you to be a radical, to be a rebel, to rebel against the popular culture. Your task will not be an easy one. You must overcome the temptation of silence." Mr. Sentorum went on to state that "God hasn't called us to be successful, He has called us to be faithful."
Can we expect to be successful rolling back a rising socialist tide? The answer is probably not. Someday however we will stand in the arena surrounded by a strangely familiar host. I hope to God that those words ring clear in my ears. "Well done good and faithful servant!"

A Humble Critique of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

2009-01-17T10:53:00.007-06:00

Hollywood seems to be undergoing a midlife crisis. Indeed the box office seems to be yearning for the day gone by with 'recent' pictures such as 'The Day the Earth Stood Still', 'The Poseidon Adventure', and the upcoming montage of horror flicks including the new 'Friday the13th'.

The recent Christmas season brought us another Hollywood 'remake' titled "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" which is loosely based on a very intriguing short story by the great F. Scott Fitzgerald. Now for those of you folks that are still eager to see this you may want stop reading now!! Last Warning!!

At the risk of sounding like that pretentious friend that we all have (let's call him Howie) that says "Oh the book is so much better!", I have to agree with Howie.

The Premise of the story is that a man is born old and ages backward until he passes as an infant. The movie is set at turn of the century in New Orleans where Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is deserted by his father onto the steps of a nursing home with a small wad of cash. Benjamin undergoes all the hardship that may be expected of a young man in his eighties. He naturally has a difficult time relating to 'youngsters' his age. He falls in love with a young girl 6 years his junior (he appeared of course to be much, much older than she). He falls out of love with her, ends up in Europe, and decides to have an affair with the wife of an English diplomat. After a while he goes back to New Orleans looking much younger still and rekindles the love of his youth (enter Cate Blanchet). The movie goes on at a slow and very predictable pace until Benjamin dies as a baby with a keen sense that he has been there before. The film tries to make us sympathise with Benjamin but I felt nothing but complete indifference. The directors try to tug -nay yank at our emotions, but all I felt was boredom.

I've also heard certain 'gushy' critics compare Benjamin Button to Forrest Gump. What is it that we loved about Forrest? We didn't love him for his handicap. We loved him because he overcame his handicap to achieve amazing feats and did so without a touch of malice.

A much better version of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is Mr. Fitzgerald's. The story is hardly recognizable and much more comedic with a touch of whimsy.