Endangered Species

There are always themes in our lives. Our recognition of those themes can be a problem, but I did catch this one. Bill Federer has a new book called, "Endangered Speeches". I kept calling it "Endangered Species" this past Sunday. That just happens to be a common mantra of salamander lovers here in Austin.

Another endangered species is the history lover. History is an amazing teacher, and progressives love to kill it. Progressives preserve amphibians and mother nature, over people, much less national history, a person's home, or a historical site.

Preservation Texas just came out with their Most Endangered Places list. I love old buildings and the history that they speak to. I also love people, plants, and animals. You can figure out the order of importance on your own. Either way consider what Preservation Texas has to say. Salamanders and speeches aren't the only items that need to be on a most endangered list.

Preservation Texas 2009 Most endangered Places

God Save the U.S.A.

Don't Kick Texas' Bucket

Wrangling over the Texas budget will be a major past-time for the 81st Texas Legislature. Let's just make sure they don't kick the bucket during all of the horse-play; The Rainy Day Bucket that is.

Texas has a considerable Rainy Day Fund. With income down, catastrophe expenses still in mind, gaps in current programs, plus new spending proposals, that bucket could wind-up discarded on the side of the freeway. Some would love to spend the whole amount, while Conservatives know that it must be used selectively, and it must be replenished. A bucket is an important implement to a farmer. City folks some times don't get that.

Here are some articles to consider. Be sure to keep the pressure on your elected officials. Visit www.politicalhope.com/resources to find yours.

• Joe Straus' Brains Trust (Dallas Morning News)
• Lisa Kaufman, named Straus' Director of Budget and Policy (Texas House web-site)
• Raining in Texas? (Empower Texans Rainy Day Fund Video)
• Blueprint for An Effective Budget (Michael Quinn Sulivan - Empower Texans)
• Groups call for spending restraint in tough budget climate (Austin-American Article)

God Save Texas

And the Atheists Continue to Count

I can imagine them sitting back, watching the computer, and laughing. Their observations about Christians have proven true over and over. In fact, they may be approaching boredom with the amusing scheme. It's so predictable. You email untrue non-sense to a few Christians and watch the tall tale spread like wild-fire over the Internet.

Indeed the story you've just read is made-up. I fabricated it. The principle remains. Christians are notorious for spreading myths. I need not bring up Santa Claus. Christians pass urban legends from one email account to ten, or twenty more, and it cannot be stopped. The urban legend is now accepted as true. Years and years after the lie was first written, it continues to circulate on the Internet. Should you just stop forwarding emails? No, you don't have to go that far.

You simply need to check a few key facts. If the email is questionable, if it's not from a known reliable source, you'll need a little time to check the basic facts. If you don't have the time or energy, and the email is suspicious, don't push that forward button.

Here are the basics. Look for key facts in the story. Is there a primary source mentioned? Is anyone taking credit for the story? Where and when did it occur? Then take these basic facts and feed them back into a search engine. Google has a specific news search feature. If you visit http://news.google.com, you can search news outlets for the story. Normally a true news story will show up with a search on Google news. If that fails, run the same search on a regular web-search with Google or Yahoo. One click will take you from news to web search on Google.

If the story is not in the news, it may pop up on Snopes or Urban Legends right away. That does not automatically mean the story is false. Sometimes, details have been changed, or the story is really true. Either way, you want to be known for passing along truth, not mythical, or manipulated stories.

The other aspect of this issue is discerning opinion amidst news. We can all read the same story in the news or the Bible and walk away with different impressions. We can see the same events from different angles. Opinion is an interpretation or an assessment. On that front, you're free to pass along opinions, but watch out. People will often pass along opinions they agree with, and completely ignore the lies propagated in the story. Make sure your opinion does not cause you to overlook the myths, lies, or mis-representations in the story.

Happy reading. And may God grant you discernment on the Internet.

PS: Watch out. I get it wrong sometimes too. Be a good Berean. Check everything in light of scripture. Check everything in light of Truth!

Update on Political Hope Radio Show

Thank you all for your encouragement in the new adventure called the Political Hope Radio Show. Below is a guest list for the up-coming weeks. Please keep in mind that you can listen to the show live on-line or on FM 99.3 in Austin, and you can download show recordings or listen to them on-line . Visit the Program page for all the listening options.


Please help grow the email list by recommending the show to your friends. The subscribe function is built in to the contact page on the Political Hope web-site, or folks can simply email me. We also have sponsorship opportunities. Please call me if you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the show. We have a variety of sponsorship levels available.


You can keep track of show announcements and commentary by subscribing to the Blog RSS feed or following the show on Twitter.

Hear the Heart Beat with Kyleen Wright Director for Pro-Life Texas on Feb-22
Taking a Bite out of Divorce with Rep. Warren Chisum, Texas House District 88 on Feb-15
Abe's 200th Birthday with Bill Federer Founder of American Minute on Feb-8
Texas Lobby Day with Ann Hettinger Director for CWA-Texas on Feb-8

Thanks again, and may God Save the U.S.A.

Show Announcement: Abe's 200th Birthday Party

Feb. 12th marks the 200th birthday of ole Abe Lincoln. While there is much clamoring about the "party of Lincoln", there are some major points of history that prompt pause in the celebration. An abolitionist ain't an abolitionist, if you know what I mean.

Bill Federer will join the show this Sunday at 4 pm. Bill writes the American Minute and holds a wealth of knowledge on American History. Federer and a host of others have insight into Ole Abe that you need to know, before heading out to party.

Ann Hettinger, Exec. Director of CWA-Texas will also join the show in the final segment to talk about the upcoming Texas Lobby Day. Read about these and other stories, on THE STACK

Join me this Sunday at 4 PM, for politics, religion and apple pie. We'll take your calls, and tell you more about the First Steps Discipleship Seminar coming to Taylor.

Yyour calls are appreciated. Football is over, so listen to Political Hope, pick up the phone and join the discussion every Sunday at 4pm. The call in numbers are ...

(512) 637-9673 (WORD)
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(888) 860-9673

Call the Political Hope Radio Show to voice your opinion every Sunday at 4 pm CDT. You can hear us on The Word 98.5 & 99.3 KLGO FM Radio in Austin, or listen to live streaming on-line ...
www.theword993.com

Seven Reasons Not to Celebrate Abe's 200th

It's that time of year when Great Presidents are celebrated and this year is Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. While the United States has elected its first African-American President, and the Republican Nation Committee has elected it's first African-American chairman, the Travis County Republican Party is celebrating President Lincoln at its annual banquet. The Republican Party of late is re-heralding itself as the Party of Lincoln. There are certainly some attributes of Lincoln that are worthy of acclamation, but let the revelers beware. Lincoln exudes attributes that are at the core of the problems facing our nation today.

Here are my top seven reasons you and the Republicans should not be celebrating Lincoln...

7) Lincoln did not believe his election to the Presidency would lead to cession/civil war; it did.
6) Lincoln supported the colonization of blacks (i.e. separation of the races).
5) Lincoln was not a true abolitionist.

4) Lincoln built a large national militia used to destroy citizens of the United States.

3) Lincoln authorized the largest percentage increase in national debt ever seen in the U.S.

2) Lincoln authorized the National Banking Act, paving the way for the Federal Reserve Act.

1) Lincoln's presidency was the fulcrum of destruction for State's Rights.

I agree that slavery needed to be abolished, but an abolitionists is not an abolitionist. Lincoln did accomplish major feats for the circumstances, but at what expense? Consider the impact his presidency had on States Rights. The policies of Lincoln and the emerging Republican Party have become the fulcrum of destruction for the balance of power between State and Federal governments. Of that, I want no part.

Reconstruction following the Civil War was used to create the monstrous banking system that now manipulates the world economy. The National Banking Act and other similar laws adopted under Lincoln were the catalyst for destroying interstate competition in banking and general free-market competition between The States.

This period in time birthed an explosion in the size and power of federal government. While, I am certainly opposed to slavery, I am also opposed to the Federal Government imposing itself upon the States and forcing its will upon the people.

While it is rightfully in vogue to celebrate Civil Rights progress, is the destruction of State Rights an identity that Republicans desire to be associated with?

God Save the U.S.A.

Show Announcement: The Greatest State

Texas is a great place to live for many reasons. As California puts a hold on tax-refund checks, the great state of Texas is doing great, creating more jobs than the combined effort of other states. We can thank conservative leaders like Gov. Rick Perry, and State Representative Dan Gattis, among many others, for their hard work to maintain Texas' economy.

"As we celebrate our relative strength and welcome these new jobs to Texas, we cannot lose sight of the global financial situation and what it may mean for us in the months to come. As we wrestle with lowered revenue estimates, we must stay committed to the proven policies that have brought us so far, and resist any calls to panic. There are those who say we should crack open the Rainy Day Fund and pour it out on every need that presents itself. Others say we should just hunker down, save every penny we have, and stay curled up in the fetal position ‘til this one blows over. Now, I’m a big believer in conservative fiscal approaches… but that doesn’t mean it’s time to play defense. Texas is strong because we aggressively play offense. In tough times, others see threats; Texans see opportunity."

- Texas Governor Rick Perry, State of the State speech, January 22, 2009

You can thank Representative Gattis personally this Sunday on the Political Hope Radio Show. Texas District 20 State Representative Dan Gattis will join us to help wade through the choice of priorities facing the 81st Texas Legislature. We are a great state and we also have great issues facing us. While we are doing well, we must persevere.

Texas challenges include maintaining our conservative principles, education funding, border security, road funding, railroad relocation, tax appraisal reform and energy initiatives. Read THE STACK for insight to the challenges. There is much to talk about, and your voice is needed.

Call the show this Sunday, and help us consider priorities for the Greatest State.