A REAL 'TEACHING EVENT'

After everything we have witnessed in this Country in the last few months we finally have a 'teaching event' for the patriotic, hard working, mainstream, people of faith to capitalize on. We have witnessed attacks on our history, culture and fundamental way of life from extremes on both the right and the left. Both being dangerous and destructive but the Soros backed group of radicals and extremest have really been after a way of life we have apparently taken for granted too long and not nurtured and cultivated as we should have.

The actions and attitudes displayed in the wake of Hurricane Harvey needs to be lesson plan we teach and point to for years to come. I have seen the very best in our culture displayed since Harvey ripped Texas apart. Hundreds of thousands of people reaching out to those so badly affected. Thousands of small and large towns loading truck after truck with supplies, column after column of tractor trailers, loaded with essentials rushing into the area even before the storm had passed. Giant corporations disrupting their production to fill needs that only they have the capacity to fill. Millions sending cash to various charities and at least one, anthem standing, patriotic NFL star raising over 5 million dollars in just a few days for the victims of the hurricane.

God did not send the hurricane to prove any point or punish us, he's much bigger than that, but I'm quite certain he watching to see if we are still a nation of faithful people who remember his Son's words about 'feeding his lambs'. I'm glad that in spite of the divisive hatred that has been displayed and promoted by many factions, we are still a nation that when needed, we hitch our little flat bottom boats to our 10 year old pickup and head across three states, at our own expense, to try and help someone of a different color and background reach a safe shore..

EVERYTHING IS NOT RACIST

Our nation is being torn apart not by bombs and guns, although it does seem that a lot of people are dying by guns, but we are becoming more and more separated by nothing more that words. Whether it is a result of our dumbing down to lives totally controlled by smart phones or our disdain for anything that takes over two minutes to get or even our complete surrender to 'white guilt', or 'LGBT guilt or whatever, we latch onto words that pit us one against the other.

One word that has completely lost it's meaning is 'racist'. Extremest of every color have convinced us we are all racist depending on the guilt trip they are trying to put us on. The true meaning of the word is; "having or showing the belief that a particular race is superior to another".  Now meeting that definition is truly deplorable and has no place in our world or anyone else's world. While vestiges of racism certainly exist and must be addressed, rooted out and dealt with by a christian society, it should never be used in a broad stroke manner to cast shame and distrust upon anyone who does not come within that specific definition.

An example of my thoughts on this misuse of the word would be simple. There is a super human being who I have come to love dearly and have found great friendship with over the years. My friend, Wylheme Ragland, is truly one of the greatest guys I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Now Wylheme is a retired Methodist preacher, community activist, historian, and may ever be faster than a speeding bullet, able stop trains or maybe even fly, and he is a black man. He lives on a one way street near downtown here in Decatur. If Wylheme stops me while I'm traveling the wrong way down that one way street and points out to me how I'm wrong, or even reports me to the police if I continue, he's not a racist. I was doing wrong, maybe even endangering lifes or at least disrupting the the peace of the neighborhood. I would have been wrong and in need of help and direction.

My point being that legitimate criticism of someone of another race is not always racism and we as citizens in common of this great country should always examine the rhetoric surrounding the charges of 'racism' by those seeking to further their own agenda.  

Is 'THE END' near?

Every few days a quote comes across Facebook that always catches my attention. I have no idea who said it or wrote it and I probably won't get it exactly right but it gives me pause every time I see it. It says 'Yesterday a lot of folks woke up who are not waking up today', it's point I suppose is to live each day to the fullest because we don't know when the end is coming. The quote makes me think every time I see it but recently I have been thinking about it in another light.

The thought certainly applies to people and I believe that was the intent originally, but it also applies to Nations, churches and many other institutions we take for granted. Recent events get me to thinking about whether we as a Nation and more importantly as a way of life are about to wake up on our last day of existence. We are not going to get a 'save the date' card about when our way of life will end no more that we're going to get one for the day we draw our last breath here. Whoever is left is going to wake up one morning and know there will be no services at the church Sunday or any day, there is no Medicare or Medicaid coming this month or ever again and human rights and universal education is a thing of the past.

Some sociologist and economist believe that the United States started this decline when their leaders opened voting to everyone. The theory being that the government should be controlled by 'stakeholders', or only those who are contributing. I really don't believe that but must acknowledge there is some merit in the theory. I believe that universal voting is possible but must be under girded with a strong Judeo-Christian culture where hard work and incentive based economies can support care and charitable giving for those unable to provide. This same culture by its very nature will and should provide only for equal opportunity and not equal results.

My concern for the possible accelerated demise of our way of life comes from our seeing the abandonment of the Judeo-Christian influence on our nation. Without this foundation we will not have to be attacked from the outside, we are going to implode from within. The first cracks will come in our judicial system. Our system assumes juries decide cases based not only on the law but on C.S. Lewis called the universal moral law. Juries acting without the use of this universal moral law can return any verdict they choose. We've seen this already in civil cases where juries ignore the facts and law to return verdicts without rime or reason. In criminal cases the avenues of appeal for reason and equity are not available. An electorate of morally lawless people can elect politicians and judges who are as corrupt as the people they represent thereby no protection from our government.

This is not a muslim bashing effort but for an example I heard on last night's news a female protester appearing before a school board in a city outside our state who was demanding the board institute a religious holiday six days away for the entire school district. She threatened the Board by explaining her Muslim community was soon to be the majority and when they were they would control this district by the ballot box and when that happened not only would the day become a holiday but their religion would become a part of the districts curriculum.

I look at the countries in the Middle East and understand why these good intentioned people want to escape. What I don't understand is how they think the utopia they risk their lives to get to can continue if they change our fundamentals to those they escaped from. The same is true to our homegrown discontents. We have sold equal results not equal opportunity to hard and too long.

Only thing I am certain of as we start the last half of 2016, is that the same God that delivered the Jews from Egypt, that walked on water and died for me and rose from that death is still right where he's been since he got this ball rolling and can make the Tennessee River flow from here to Chattanooga in the blink of an eye. No politicians are going to save this nation, I just hope my grand kids can wake up in the same nation I have for 70+ years.. 

WHY THERE IS NO OUTRAGE WHEN THE CITY AND STATE TAKE EDUCATION $$$

Here in Morgan County we are being hit with news of both the City of Decatur and the State of Alabama taking money, which both claim to need, from Education funds previously earmarked for Education.  There is the usual outrage by those involve in Education and a few others who sincerely fear the threat of further lowering our ability to educate our children.  On the other hand I have not seen a huge ground swell of reaction to the moves from most.

There are many reasons for this and I think I know a few.  First most people wonder what the State Education System is doing with $150,000,000 laying around and not currently being used.  We've bought everything from wrapping paper to Klenex from all our kids and grand kids for years.  If we have a child or grandchild who would like to play a sport or participate in and extracurricular activity we know we're going to shell out a small fortune for uniforms, equipment, program ads and pom poms until our pockets are empty.  We have enough outside that $150,000,000 to build two $40,000,000 schools in a one school town and pay good salaries to more Administrators that Nucor and 3M need combined.  We do all this and their is still $150,000,000 in their Christmas Club account.

Secondly we also are learning about an Administrator at our local Community College who has been dismissed for malfeasance in her job.  I believe over 20 grounds for her dismissal were filed and as far as I can tell were never defended before any trier of fact.  The powers that be first place her on paid leave for several months, then settled her termination issues by continuing to pay her full salary ($108,000 per year for another 6 months) until she can draw her retirement of probably more that $75,000 per year for the rest of her life.  O yes, the Education system is also going to repay the Federal Government something in the neighborhood of $500,000 because of the way she operated. All this in addition to paying much more in retirement to a retired President whose policies and practice oversaw and promoted this behavior by the person terminated.  These two alone have and will cost the State Education system millions before its all over.  (Just a personal thought, I hate paid leave for any government employee suspected or convicted of anything.  As long as these institutions have toilets and locker rooms that need cleaning or leaves that need raking I think the accused should report to work and do whatever needs to be done, if not guilty get their job back.  Let anyone in the private sector cost their employer anything and see how much retirement they retain.)

Whether you say or the law says tax money goes for only one purpose and one only it is all coming from the pockets of taxpayers.  We have been party to building Kingdoms and separate divisions of government which we are told are sacred.  It's all coming from the same place, taxpayers and it's running out.  I'm not sure the State or the City will use the money any better but they can't do and worse and apparently it will not be rat holed under some high sounding name.  

EQUALITY=OPPORTUNITY + EFFORT (it don't just happen)

Equality is not what it's cracked up to be.  As I have become an old person I have formed some very different ideas about some things which I have heard and mostly believed.  One is that we are all equal and therefor should all be treated the same.  Wrong.  We are not equal and even the Bible recognizes as humans there will always be different.

This newly recognized truth was made abundantly clear  as I watched the Sunday news broadcast yesterday.  In the morning the national news reported on a young man graduating High School somewhere in the northern part of the country.  This young, articulate and handsome African American man had been accepted to eight (8) Ivy League Colleges and University's and the University of Alabama.  During his interview he explained why he had chosen to take the opportunity to attend UA instead of the more highly ranked academic institutions.  With a polish that rivaled the most experienced broadcast expert, the young man explained when he had considered all the scholarship and aid ramifications involved and total academic opportunities he had chosen UA..  He reasoned that since he intended to later attend Med School and would need additional money for those years he had decided the University of Alabama was the best for him long term.  What a great feeling I had after this interview.  Smart young man, head firmly on and loaded with ambition and drive to succeed.

On the afternoon news my outlook was somewhat dampened to say the least.  My friend Ed Taylor,  Decatur Police Chief was announcing the arrest of four young men who had in two days caused the worse, the widest and most violent crime spree Decatur has probably ever seen.  Two of the young men were not even out of High School and the others under 20 years of age.  Armed robberies, malicious destruction of property, stealing and even murder was associated with this group.  The bunch had held an entire section of town in fear for nearly 72 hours.

Now my point about equality.  There is not a snow balls chance in Hell the young man going to the University of Alabama is equal to the four arrested.  We may all be born equal in the sight of God but want we do with that life determines whether we gain any equality status with others in our community and world.

Education as a whole and so many other sources has perpetuated this fraud on this nation and it is ruining us today.  We are not all equal.  An individual earns equality by his actions and no other way.  Race is not a factor, the size of your house or make of you car is not a factor, the school you attended nor the size of you bank account has any bearing on whether or not you are equal to anyone.

In reality we humans have a natural instinct telling us those around us deserving of equality.  I know so many personally and many many more by reputation who by banking standards probably would not be considered well off, but who in reality are certainly equal to any man or woman who ever lived.  I know them by every color, religion, political party and alumni association.  The ones who enjoy equality, in a civilized world, are the ones who have followed what I am going to call the Roby Formula to Equality.   I'm sure this has been figured out before but I am not very widely read and I think I will just claim the product of my genius until someone tells me to stop.

The formula is simple, "EQUALITY=OPPORTUNITY + EFFORT.  That's it, simple really but I have thought a lot about it over the last day and I believe it's truth to be universal.

I know some will argue the OPPORTUNITY component is unfair, but for my purpose it makes not a bit of difference.  I'm not saying one has to achieve riches or acclaim, I'm simply saying that to acquire equality with all the good part of the human race you must take the opportunity you have and apply your effort to it and by so doing, take your place a an equal to anyone else.  We will all be different in accomplishments and what we achieve but more important we will all have achieved equality.

Without successfully following this equation it really makes no difference what you achieve, you are not an equal to those who have followed the formula regardless of their place in life.

YOU AND I WILL DECIDE WHAT KIND OF NATION THIS IS

Much has been written and discussed recently about whether or not we are a Christian nation. A large number of Christians are offended and shocked because the President supposedly said we are not. I agree with Dr. Ben Carson, it is not for the President to say but for the people of this country to make that determination themselves. If we really are, it is up to each individual to claim their grace given right themselves and to act in the way the Bible instructs us. The thing that disturbs me about this is the fact we seemed to expect someone else to define us and not take that responsibility upon ourselves.

Why do we feel the need to have someone post the Ten Commandments on a courtroom wall or have someone pray in our public schools. I can't help but think about the old saying that says, 'going to church no more makes you a Christian that standing in a garage makes you a car'. Christianity is personal. Christ told us to 'take up our cross and follow him', nothing was said about getting in line with others and following the crowd.

It's great to be a part of a fellowship of Christians and God does work where two or three are gathered together in his name but the bottom line is the personal relationship each person has with their creator. If that relationship is what it should be, it is fed by the Word, nurtured in fellowship with others and spread one by one to everyone we come in contact with.

Whether or not we are a Christian nation is not determined by what someone tells us or what we write on our public buildings. We are a Christian nation because of our people know and follow Christ. No one can tell us what we are, it us up to us to live our lives as we know Christ wanted, to spread the benefits we receive from our relationship with him to others and to own the responsibility of building his kingdom one person at a time, until each knows himself or herself we are a Christian nation once more.

SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

Got this from my old friend Jim Leverett.  Says a lot.

DO YOU REMEMBER THESE MEN?

George Gobel comedian, Army Air Corps, taught fighter pilots

Johnny Carson made a big deal about it once on the Tonight Show, to which George said "the Japs didn't get past us.

Sterling Hayden, US Marines and OSS . Smuggled guns into Yugoslavia and parachuted into Croatia . Silver Star.

James Stewart, US Army Air Corps. Bomber pilot who rose to the rank of General.

Ernest Borgnine, US Navy. Gunners Mate 1c, destroyer USS Lamberton. 10 years active duty. Discharged 1941, re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor .

Ed McMahon, US Marines. Fighter Pilot. (Flew OE-1 Bird Dogs over Korea as well.)

Telly Savalas, US Army.

Walter Matthau , US Army Air Corps., B-24 Radioman/Gunner and cryptographer.

Steve Forrest, US Army. Wounded, Battle of the Bulge.

Jonathan Winters, USMC. Battleship USS Wisconsin and Carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. Anti-aircraft gunner, Battle of Okinawa.

Paul Newman, US Navy Rear seat gunner/radsioman, torpedo bombers of USS Bunker Hill.

Kirk Douglas, US Navy. Sub-chaser in the Pacific. Wounded in action and medically discharged.

Robert Mitchum, US Army.

Dale Robertson, US Army. Tank Commander in North Africa under Patton. Wounded twice. Battlefield Commission.

Henry Fonda, US Navy. Destroyer USS Satterlee.

John Carroll, US Army Air Corps. Pilot in North Africa . Broke his back in a crash.

Lee Marvin US Marines. Sniper. Wounded in action on Saipan . Buried in Arlington National Cemetery , Sec. 7A next to Greg Boyington and Joe Louis.

Art Carney, US Army. Wounded on Normandy beach, D-Day. Limped for the rest of his life.

Wayne Morris, US Navy fighter pilot, USS Essex. Downed seven Japanese fighters.

Rod Steiger, US Navy. Was aboard one of the ships that launched the Doolittle Raid.

Tony Curtis, US Navy. Sub tender USS Proteus. In Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan .

Larry Storch. US Navy. Sub tender USS Proteus with Tony Curtis.

Forrest Tucker, US Army. Enlisted as a private, rose to Lieutenant.

Robert Montgomery, US Navy.

George Kennedy, US Army. Enlisted after Pearl Harbor , stayed in sixteen years.

Mickey Rooney, US Army under Patton. Bronze Star.

Denver Pyle, US Navy. Wounded in the Battle of Guadalcanal . Medically discharged.

Burgess Meredith, US Army Air Corps.

DeForest Kelley, US Army Air Corps.

Robert Stack, US Navy. Gunnery Officer.

Neville Brand , US Army, Europe . Was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Tyrone Power, US Marines. Transport pilot in the Pacific Theater.

Charlton Heston, US Army Air Corps. Radio operator and aerial gunner on a B-25, Al eutians .

Danny Aiello, US Army. Lied about his age to enlist at 16. Served three years.

James Arness, US Army. As an infantryman, he was severely wounded at Anzio , Italy .

Efram Zimbalist, Jr., US Army. Purple Heart for a severe wound received at Huertgen Forest .

Mickey Spillane, US Army Air Corps, Fighter Pilot and later Instructor Pilot.

Rod Serling. US Army. 11th Airborne Division in the Pacific. He jumped at Tagaytay in the Philippines and was later wounded in Manila .

Gene Autry, US Army Air Corps. Crewman on transports that ferried supplies over "The Hump" in the China-

Burma-India Theater.

Wiliam Holden , US Army Air Corps.

Alan Hale Jr, US Coast Guard.

Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy. Battle of Okinawa .

Russell Johnson, US Army Air Corps. B-24 crewman who was awarded Purple Heart when his aircraft was shot down by the Japanese in the Philippines .

William Conrad, US Army Air Corps. Fighter Pilot.

Jack Klugman, US Army.

Frank Sutton, US Army. Took part in 14 assault landings, including Leyte, Luzon, Bataan and Corregidor .

Jackie Coogan, US Army Air Corps. Volunteered for gliders and flew troops and materials into Burma behind enemy lines.

Tom Bosley, US Navy.

Claude Akins, US Army. Signal Corps. , Burma and the Philippines .

Chuck Connors, US Army. Tank-warfare instructor.

Harry Carey Jr., US Navy.

Mel Brooks, US Army. Combat Engineer. Saw action in the Battle of the Bulge.

Robert Al tman, US Army Air Corps. B-24 Co-Pilot.

Pat Hingle, US Navy. Destroyer USS Marshall

Fred Gwynne, US Navy. Radioman.

Karl Malden, US Army Air Corps. 8th Air Force, NCO.

Earl Holliman. US Navy. Lied about his age to enlist. Discharged after a year when the Navy found out.

Rock Hudson, US Navy. Aircraft mechanic, the Philippines .

Harvey Korman, US Navy.

Al do Ray. US Navy. UDT frogman, Okinawa .

Don Knotts, US Army, Pacific Theater.

Don Rickles, US Navy aboard USS Cyrene.

Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy. Served aboard an LST in the Battle of Okinawa .

Robert Stack, US Navy. Gunnery Instructor.

Soupy Sales, US Navy. Served on USS Randall in the South Pacific.

Lee Van Cleef, US Navy. Served aboard a sub chaser then a mine sweeper.

Clifton James, US Army, South Pacific. Was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

Ted Knight, US Army, Combat Engineers.

Jack Warden, US Navy, 1938-1942, then US Army, 1942-1945. 101st Airborne Division.

Don Adams. US Marines. Wounded on Guadalcanal , then served as a Drill Instructor.

James Gregory, US Navy and US Marines.

Brian Keith, US Marines. Radioman/Gunner in Dauntless dive-bombers.

Fess Parker, US Navy and US Marines. Booted from pilot training for being too tall, joined Marines as a radio operator.

Charles Durning. US Army. Landed at Normandy on D-Day. Shot multiple times. Awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Survived Malmedy Massacre.

Raymond Burr, US Navy. Shot in the stomach on Okinawa and medically discharged.

Hugh O'Brian, US Marines.

Robert Ryan, US Marines.

Eddie Albert , US Coast Guard. Bronze Star with Combat V for saving several Marines under heavy fire as pilot of a landing craft during the invasion of Tarawa .

Cark Gable, US Army Air Corps. B-17 gunner over Europe .

Charles Bronson, US Army Air Corps. B-29 gunner, wounded in action.

Peter Graves, US Army Air Corps.

Buddy Hackett, US Army anti-aircraft gunner.

Victor Mature, US Coast Guard.

Jack Palance, US Army Air Corps. Severely injured bailing out of a burning B-24 bomber.

Robert Preston, US Army Air Corps. Intelligence Officer

Cesar Romero, US Coast Guard. Coast Guard. Participated in the invasions of Tinian and Saipan on the assault transport USS Cavalier.

Norman Fell, US Army Air Corps., Tail Gunner, Pacific Theater.

Jason Robards, US Navy. was aboard heavy cruiser USS Northampton when it was sunk off Guadalcanal . Al so served on the USS Nashville during the invasion of the Philippines , surviving a kamikaze hit that caused 223 casualties.

Steve Reeves, US Army , Philippines .

Dennis Weaver, US Navy. Pilot.

Robert Taylor, US Navy. Instructor Pilot.

Randolph Scott. Tried to enlist in the Marines but was rejected due to injuries sustained in US Army, World War 1.

Ronald Reagan. US Army. Was a 2nd Lt. in the Cavalry Reserves before the war. His poor eyesight kept him from being sent overseas with his unit when war came so he transferred to the Army Air Corps Public Relations Unit where he served for the duration.

John Wayne. Declared "4F medically unfit" due to pre-existing injuries, he nonetheless attempted to volunteer three times (Army, Navy and Film Corps.) so he gets honorable mention.

And of course we have Audie Murphy , America 's most-decorated soldier, who became a Hollywood star as a result of his US Army service that included his being awarded the Medal of Honor.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I submit to you that this is not the America today that it was seventy years ago. And I, for one, am saddened.

My generation grew up watching, being entertained by and laughing with so many of these fine people, never really knowing what they contributed to the war effort. Like millions of Americans during the WWII, there was a job that needed doing they didn't question, they went and did it, those that came home returned to their now new normal life and carried on, very few ever saying what they did or saw. They took it as their "responsibility", their "duty" to Country, to protect and preserve our freedoms and way of life, not just for themselves but for all future generations to come. As a member of that "First" generation, I'm forever humbly in their debt.