Blog Archives - North Florida Writer

Holy Week: Which is the Greatest Commandment of All?

3/31/2015

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law of the Prophets."
- Matthew 22: 36-40

Following a grueling day at the Temple following His triumphant arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus visited the Temple and protested vigorously against the financial transactions of the money changers in God's House. He argued with the Chief Priests and they listened carefully as they were trying to identify statements that could be used to arrest Him. But He outsmarted them that day, avoiding direct remarks which they could use since He knew that although the moment for His death was drawing near, it wasn't quite time. And the Rabbis didn't want to create a stir in front of the crowds since the attention might gain more support for Jesus.

On the next day, Tuesday, Jesus announced the day of His execution, shocking all with His understanding of what would happen even if most didn't fully understand the gravity of his statement. He debated the Jewish leaders who marveled at His reasoning since in their minds he was just a lowly carpenter. It was then that he was asked the question in the scripture above where his focus was not about worrying over those things that we can't do but focusing instead on what we can do. He basically was saying that if we love God and our neighbor with all of our heart, then we will naturally obey the Ten Commandments, the Law of God from the Old Testament. And, of course, the Elders had no idea that in His actions and words He was establishing the basis for the New Testament, a new covenant with God for all people, not just the Jews.

The day was a time when the Elders could see the charisma of Jesus and why so many listened to Him and they had to grudgingly admire Him even though they would soon destroy Him. What if they had turned their efforts to opening their hearts to His message and believing instead of maintaining their constant effort to retain their power and prestige? But, then again, had they done that, Jesus would have not been able to fulfill His purpose on this earth. So the plan of God continued onward toward the horrible day that would soon follow and the pain and agony He would suffer for all of us.

Be thankful, Christians, for what He did and use his sacrifice as a remembrance of why we must never forget who He is and what Glory awaits us if we truly believe. Have a wonderful day and keep Holy Week truly Holy.

Hat tip to JesusCentral.com

The Plight of the Small Landowner: A Florida Example

3/30/2015

Conservation Zone or Strip Clearing? You decide

Look carefully at the picture. You might have to blow it up to read the word on the sign but it says "Conservation". And you might ask what kind of conservation are they talking about? And the answer is conservation in the world of today's big timber corporate concept of a word that we thought we previously understood.

Why do I bring this up? The reason is quite simple. Here in North Florida small rural landowners are in the fight of their lives to retain a decent way of life in the midst of the big business and political lobbyist push to gobble up more and more of what's left of rural America. Large companies create real estate investment trusts (REITs), buy huge swaths of land and use it to generate revenue in a secondary way pending the right opportunity to sell.

And it's important to remember that the issue at hand is not a conservative, liberal or even a modern issue; it's an American issue. Here in North Florida the fight to save a portion of what we call Old Florida has been joined by people of all walks of life and all political philosophies. And it just goes to show that when we Americans find an issue with broad implications, it is not difficult to bring us together. Now all we have to do is convince the politicians, those who are so enamored with special interests and lobbyists who actually write most of the bills they are considered, to realize that we are the people they are supposed to represent.

Our local North Florida situation involves a large timber company which is organized as a REIT, harvesting trees in a huge land mass it bought from Georgia Pacific due to the cheap cost of the land. Most of it is in lowlands and watershed areas, with swamps, bogs and floodplains, areas which have been deemed by the local government in its Comprehensive Plan as unsuitable for any large scale development. At the present time only individual homes on five acre lots are allowed, providing that the land will perk for septic purposes.

But now the state legislature is considering major change to land planning, changing instead to a more visionary approach, meaning that detailed analysis of water needs and infrastructure costs are no longer critical to the owner or developer's tasks, this being left to the state and its regional arms, effectively shutting out the county government. Now in all fairness to the landowner, he has stated publicly that he is not pushing for this change, but it will nonetheless make his task much easier if enacted. Meanwhile his plan to resubmit his land use proposal has been delayed beyond the expected date, a factor which makes one question the accuracy of his stated position.

Look, folks, this is a very confusing issue, but it is highlighted today because it's not just here in North Florida, but happening all over the country and those of you who are in rural areas will ultimately also be under the gun, whether you are today or not. And development in areas with no infrastructure is costly, with developer responsibility generally only amounting to forty percent of that cost. Furthermore, property values either skyrocket or, if the project results in a housing glut, plummet, and the residents already there suffer the most, either from loss in value or rapid rise in tax assessments. And then, of course, there are the questions of the well running dry (a big problem here in Florida as our aquifer is stressing), natural life degradation and the impact of sound and light pollution, just to name a few.

My internet radio show yesterday on Conservative Report Radio (blogtalkradio.com) highlights this subject using the local North Florida example. If you are rural and love your lifestyle, you might want to listen to our discussion for it's coming to a county near you. Let's develop the land that's already approved for development first and limit new development to those areas that make sense with the lay of the land. If you really look at the land first, you'll know where it just doesn't make sense.

Here's the direct link to the show: http://tobtr.com/s/7470207. You might have to paste it into your browser to bring it up.

America's rural lands are beautiful and important. Let's save some of the best of what God gave us for those who love the country style of life and for our future. God bless you and God bless America.

The Primary Reason for HIS Coming Is Near

3/29/2015

On the first Palm Sunday so many years ago, Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem to the applause and cheers of many who had heard of His miracles and his teachings. He was a teacher like no other before Him and many believed Him when they heard His words and saw His countenance before them. Many others, however, did not, or maybe they did but were afraid to admit it. The power of the Elders was such that many feared being excommunicated from the Temple; they were more concerned about what man would think of them than God, a situation not unfamiliar to us in today's world as well.

Palm Sunday marks the end of His three years of teaching throughout the Jewish Kingdom and, as only He knew, began the final days of His life on earth as a mortal man. Jesus, the Man-God, would soon suffer a farcical trial, rigged to insure his guilt by Caiaphas and the other Elders of the synagogue who saw Him as a direct threat to them and their power. Their fear of Him was well-founded, for Jesus came to show the Way to redemption and Life, and had he wanted He could have brought armies of angels to strike them down and avoid the suffering to come.

But Jesus knew that His mission was one of love and forgiveness and that His true power was in the truth, for once man understood the truth and recognized what it meant to their eternity, nothing could stop it from reaching throughout the world. So He came forth in a most simple manner, with a simple lifestyle on the back of a donkey colt along a path not of red carpet, but of palm fronds.

Since He knew all that would soon befall Him, He certainly felt dread and fear, for God sent Him to earth as a man who would experience all of those things that mortal man would feel under the same circumstances. Yet despite His powers, He knew that He had to go through with the final days of His mortal state, for without doing so His ultimate purpose would not be met. After all, God sent Him to give us forgiveness for our sins and without dying a horrible death to provide us the opportunity to achieve Eternal Life His purpose could not be fulfilled.

So as we go about our weekly lives, take time each day to ponder what this upcoming Holy Week means, for it starts with His joyous reception, moves to His final teachings and the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, then presents the horrific trial and death on Good Friday and, at long last, ends with the ultimate victory, His resurrection on Easter Sunday, one week from today. At the moment of death, we were all forgiven for our sins and the only other thing required of us to receive His gift is to believe in Him and do as He asks. Truly no greater story has ever been told.

Lord, We thank you for Thy love and grace which has given us the path to Eternal Life through the death of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to always remember what He did for us and to live our lives in a manner befitting what He desires of us. And help us also to go out and actively spread His word that others amongst us might see the Truth and Light, thereby affording them the gift of Eternal Life, for we know that being born again into the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord is the only way to eventually come home to Thee. We ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a very special Sunday on this wonderful day and worship Him. He is truly our Way to the Kingdom of Heaven. God bless you all.

Bye, Bye Harry, Enjoy Your Home Gym

3/28/2015

So Old Harry Reid has finally decided to hang it up. After a career in the Senate dating back to 1986, I guess the senior Senator from Nevada and current Senate Minority Leader has decided that he wants to spend more time mastering that home gym equipment that gave him so much trouble recently.

Harry Reid just hasn't been the same since the accident which made his eye look like he had gone twelve rounds with Joe Louis, but you have to give him credit for one thing. Being seventy-five and showing signs of old age, he still can single-handedly hold the line for his Left Wing buddies better than the rest of them.

So now a new era of Democrats in the Senate will come into play in less than two years. Chuck Schumer, the whiny and arrogant New York Senator who stands for the same bucket of mush as Reid will replace him. But at least he's better than Dick Durbin of Illinois, who technically was in line for the spot. Was there bad blood between Durbin and Reid or what? We'll never know, but at least Schumer never took direct shots at our military heroes as Durbin has on occasion in his speeches.

The changing of the guard coming in 2016 for the Senate Democrats makes me wonder when Madame Pelosi will make a similar decision in the House. She must be feeling pretty lonely these days as the Republicans now have a larger majority than they have in generations. But then again, since John Boehner hugged her after cutting off his own party's majority in passing legislation giving Obama a pass on Amnesty, maybe she feels like she is the behind-the-scenes Speaker of the House. Indeed she might be.

So what can we do to purge the Republican led Congress of Boehner and McConnell, the two Republican leaders who never lead? Oh well, that's a discussion for another day. And as for old Harry, enjoy your cash, Mr. Minority Leader. You came to Washington of meager means and leave it a very wealthy man. Some things about why politicians stay in office for so long never change.

What Agreement With Iran?

3/27/2015

Israel's Iron Dome Defense

So Obama yesterday threw more coals on the fire, enough to generate a nuclear holocaust. The Administration announced that the nuclear agreement with Iran might be completed by Sunday and it might not even be in writing. Not to worry, said the "Valley Girl" Marie Harf, of the State Department, the agreement would be fail safe even though the document would probably remain secret. The word is coming out that as part of the agreement the President will allow Iran to operate hundreds of centrifuges necessary for nuclear production in a bomb safe underground bunker.

Following its characteristic style, the Congress showed its muscle and concern by going on a two week vacation. I guess the world might go up in flames while both Obama and our hard working Congressional representatives sun themselves in Hawaii or in some other exotic location. Talking about tuned out, Boehner and McConnell and their minions just go through the motions feigning leadership by standing on their collective heads.

And if matters aren't bad enough, we learned that Obama also ordered release of Top Secret military documents detailing the hydrogen bomb capability of Israel, thereby likely starting a chain reaction of nuclear proliferation throughout the Middle East. After all, the Saudis and Egypt has actively initiated military action against Islamic terrorism and to slow down the advance of Iran, which the entire region knows is fanatical in its leadership.

Obama's hatred for Netanyahu shows through today in both of these actions and it puts Israel in a position where she will likely be immediately under even more intense pressure from those who hate her, including Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS and Iran. Remember, Iran has called Israel "Little Satan" and America "Big Satan" and has vowed to crush both while our President smiles and makes small talk about their just blowing smoke.

This entire situation Israel is going to have to defend herself with great force as the entire world, including the American government, but not our people, sell her out. It's time to pray that God gives the Jewish State the energy and strength to crush all who attack her with lightning speed. Otherwise, we are likely headed into the End Times as foretold by St. John the Divine in The Revelation. And should that be the case, pray that good Americans who stand with Israel are protected and forgiven for what our country has refused to do: Defend Israel.

Be with Israel and with the good people in America who stand with Israel. After all, we share the God of Abraham with her in our predominantly Christian faith.

A Bad Day in Bed Rock (Tallahassee)

3/26/2015

Have you ever taken the time as a private citizen to go to speak before a body of your state legislature? It's something that is not for the timid, but it is something that can make a difference in the outcome of things that truly concern us. And we can't have any illusions of grandeur because we frequently can get shut down, looked at from the members of that august body with disinterest and sometimes even disdain but, remember, their job is to serve the people who elected them, which includes us.

Yesterday two of us made the trek to Tallahassee to present our concerns about legislation being considered, legislation which would seriously degrade the ability of the people to participate in the process of land development. Land development in Florida is a huge issue as Governor Scott and the Republican majority seeks to make it simple for developers to expand their reach, including parcels of property that are clearly not suitable for high density development. Being a resident of a rural area being impacted by these plans, we thought it important to be there, even if it did mean getting up at O-Dark-Thirty and making the one hundred sixty mile trip to do so.

This was our second trip, the first being two weeks ago before a State Senate committee. This time it was to attend a House hearing and the difference in tone and posture was significantly noted. One of the problems is that the amendment process goes on until the night before the meeting and it is very difficult for a regular citizen to do the last minute research that large corporations and developers can do with their lobbyist support. In the case of the last trip, the committee was very open to our plight and paid rapt attention and while I know we face an uphill battle we did get good engagement, including comments from our State Senator that he would look into this in depth.

Yesterday was entirely different. The committee sits at a table with half having the podium at their back and in this particular case the committee showed little if any interest in what was being said, even cutting my associate off in mid sentence by claiming his time was up. This despite the fact that a previous speaker, one more supportive of his views went significantly overtime with his time but, of course, he was a lobbyist and lobbyists and lawyers "rule the roost" in Tallahassee and other state capitols as well. And we won't even bring up the subject of Washington, since the concern for the "average Joe" has long since passed.

I guess this was just a good example of why most say that the Senate is the deliberator while the House is a place of organized chaos and fast action. I've seen this in Washington and in this case they were just true to that form.

So why do I bring this up? I'm not naive and I know that most elected officials have pre-conceived notions on everything and they often have nothing to do with their constituents, but instead the lobbyists and special interests. So here's the reason. We Americans get what we deserve. If we don't engage and speak up, things will always continue as they are and as we dumb down our kids it will only get worse. It's important that citizens realize that what these elected officials do, be it at the local, state and federal levels has dramatic impact on our lives. For as the separation of the people from their elected leaders gets broader, power is assumed by them because they know they can just use it and we pay the price. Quality of life goes down, concern about constituents goes down, but the cost that we bear continues to go up.

Our local concern about what is happening to rural life is one that involves every state in the Union. And, of course, development will always happen as a nation continues to grow, but it doesn't have to be done in a way that destroys all of our natural beauty and our God-given resources, especially water. When the water is gone, it's gone and the grand schemes of land developers will leave an ugly scar in its wake, like the many vacant and boarded up shopping centers, office parks and strip centers that blight the land.

Sunday, my radio show on Conservative Report Radio, North Florida Writer Talks, will focus on what is happening here in Florida and where it might lead. I will have two guests, both typical middle class citizens who will share their personal experience with what is happening. Our plight is just a case study that probably is not dissimilar to other areas and I think we all can learn from it. Go to conservativereport.org and follow the link at the top menu (Conservative Report Radio) or you can call in at 914-338-1776. The show starts at 3pm Eastern.

Now go have a wonderful day and help us keep America beautiful. God bless you all.

Another Trip to Tallahassee

3/26/2015

Florida State Capitol

By the time you wake up, yawn and grab your first cup of coffee this morning I'll be closing in on Tallahassee, my second trip in two weeks to try and save our rural area from over development. My friend Frank and I will visit a different committee this day reviewing a different bill in the House of Representatives. Our previous trip was to the State Senate where we did get some encouragement.

Here's the thing, folks. People say you can't beat city hall or, in this case, state government and in many respects that's true. But you can lessen the blow and not lose it all if you are willing to use some sweat equity and a little money (for gas, etc.) and a lot of time. You can make a difference. On our first visit two weeks ago, we were rookies, walking into an alien environment of wing tips and Brooks Brothers suits. This time we've learned our way around and are better focused and less intimidated. And that's the key, one has to remember that politicians, regardless of their level in the pecking order of power, all put their shoes on one foot at a time just like we do. And there's something much more critical that we all must know.

They often really don't know what's going on. Lobbyists and staff coordinate and write the bills, the actual elected representatives are totally at the mercy of what they tell them unless we, the people, get involved and tell them what we think. In our particular case, we are not opposed to all development, for development will always be ongoing. But we are opposed to unbridled development, development that treats the small landowner like a pawn while rewarding the developers with massive amounts of land, much of which is developed in ways that doesn't work out very well or is squandered. And we are doing what we do to fight against that.

Yeah, there's a little bit of idealism in that, but this country was founded on each of us being able to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Nowhere in the Declaration of Independence does it state that was intended only for the well-heeled and powerful, in fact the document takes the other approach. A nation of free people has a responsibility to maintain the dignity and the freedom of all of her residents. So we'll just continue our pursuits and tell the truth and I think the results might surprise many.

I'm sure we'll have several more of these visits to schedule as the legislative session winds itself down, but we will stay strong and resolute and I'm certain the end result will be something all can live with, the rich and the not so rich alike.

I'll let you know when I return and this will be part of our show next Sunday on North Florida Writer Talks on Conservative Report Radio. Tune in Sunday afternoon at 3 pm (ET) via conservativereport.org. Just look for the radio link at the top right of the page. Hope to talk with you then and, as always, there will be another issue on line the day after this article. Life just keeps moving on.

God bless you all and God bless America.

Cruz Shines and the Democrats Whine

3/24/2015

Ted Cruz jumped the gun on all of his potential rivals today by by being the first to officially announce his candidacy for the Republican Presidential nomination. The former Harvard debating champion and current junior Senator from Texas picked a perfect location from which to announce, Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, the largest Christian university in the world. I'm sure the spirit of Jerry Falwell was present and beaming as this champion of his faith made his intentions known

Using no notes and no teleprompter, Cruz was on fire, unapologetic for his Conservatism and outspoken in his beliefs in his faith, his country and the future of America. While he has a different style, the types of things he covered and his strong commitment to America were reminiscent of Ronald Reagan and his views. How refreshing he was after listening to the mush of a Jeb Bush or a Mitt Romney and he just might be lighting a spark for liberty in today's American psyche.

There was a genius to going out first, for his clear and decisive oratory is unlikely to be matched by any other candidate and the contrast of his pro-American views and ability to speak from his heart without prompting stands in sharp contrast to the arrogant speech reader who currently occupies the White House. And, yes, there are a few other good candidates, but his delivery is so crisp and clear that I think the American public will certainly stand up and notice.

The media is already making snark by saying that there is something weird about a man who needs no notes or teleprompter. And they call him stupid even though liberal professor Alan Dershowitz of Harvard, widely revered by the Left says Cruz was the cream of the crop intelligence wise of the many students he taught.

America is yearning for a major swing back to the right and the renewal of America's standing as the leader of the Free World. Ted Cruz very well might be the man to do that, for even though his experience in Washington is limited, he has won decisions before the Supreme Court and stands for the people. He has spoken out strongly in favor of the Second Amendment, the immediate repeal of Obamacare if elected and a renewal of faith in the country.

I certainly wish this man well, for wherever he ends up or whatever he does in the end, he will truly be a winner and that can only be good for America. It will be an interesting and rough and tumble campaign and Ted is the kind of man to stand up to the challenge. He is definitely a man I can enthusiastically support if he is successful. And with the large number of Tea Party and Evangelical Christian believers who have been disenchanted of late, they might give him just the boost he needs to take on all comers.

It's gonna' be a great campaign. Tune in and stay informed. God bless.

North Florida Writer "Talks" is Now on the Air

3/23/2015

North Florida Writer has now taken the step to begin a weekend radio program through Conservative Report Radio. Every Sunday at 3 p.m. I will have a one to one and one half hour show on a variety of subjects, including politics, my God and the natural surroundings that he has given us to care for, and the animals that inhabit that land.

I want this to be a show for the "average American" like me, not an elitist who is convinced he or she has all the answers to the world's problems. It is not for political pundits and the political, it is for the common man and woman to listen and talk about those things that impact them and in what way. I am truly of the belief that with a little thought we know better than they what will work and fail and I hope to use the show to help all of us, including myself, see that we can truly take on, and defeat, city hall when it is necessary. It's also important to realize that we, the citizens have the power if we ban together on important causes. While we have many differences, we also have much in common. Don't let politicians , big business or any other large entity confuse us with all the "noise" they throw at us; stay focused and on course and the entire country is better for it.

But at the same time we focus on the big issues that impact us,I want it to be light, fun and enjoyable, not just another blah-blah exercise in futility. Blogtalkradio.com offers a great opportunity for those so inclined who are also able to express themselves reasonably well, and I hope this show will live up to that expectation.

There area also a number of great shows on Conservative Report Radio. Patrick Read hosts a wide[reaching group of topics on Monday nights, Will Stauff, an experienced radio professional hosts on Thursday and Keith Rogers leads the Veterans Show on Friday nights, all shows from 7-9 pm Eastern. North Florida Writer Calls is currently the only daytime show, on Sunday afternoons. You can find the link to the shows at conservativereport.org, look for Conservative Report radio for the computer link to listen or call in at 914-338-1776. I hope you enjoy and will call in to participate.

I'll put out feeds on twitter and Facebook as we get closer to the weekend but, in the meantime, have a great start to another week. God bless you all.

This Little Light of Mine

3/22/2015

As a young boy I was lucky to spend most of my summers at the beach. And the cottage was very close to where my favorite aunt lived. She and my mom were very close and while they didn't see each other much during the rest of the year, during the summers it was daily.

Aunt Sylvia was a devoted Southern Baptist and she always took me to Sunday school on those summer Sundays. I remember sometimes not wanting to go, wishing to stay in my usual bathing suit and T-shirt attire roaming the beach or swimming, but she was special to me and besides, Mom made it clear that I was going.

I remember in Sunday school singing that little Sunday school praise, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine." Now I must confess that as a youngster I didn't really take in the full value of the words, but I know that every time I was in a darkened room with a candle I remembered it as I marveled at the power of the candlelight. Being on the often stormy Atlantic coast in tropical season, it wasn't unusual for us to need that candlelight frequently with the many storms that came our way.

As I grew and studied the Bible, the meaning became very clear to me. The Light referred to is the Light of the World, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And at this time, right in the middle of covering the Book of John with my Sunday school students, the Light of Life is ever present in John's Gospel. And it certainly makes sense, for Jesus brings Light to our world and removes us from the darkness that satan, the fallen angel, is always trying to surround us with. The Light is the Life, Everlasting Life and only by following the Light can we escape the dreadful fate that would otherwise engulf us.

As I grow older, I think of my blessed, now deceased aunt often, and I am so thankful that I had those wonderful summers with her and my family at one of the most beautiful places on earth, the North Carolina Atlantic shore. And I look forward to that time that will ultimately come again, when we are all back together with Him.

"When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory!" Refrain from When We All Get to Heaven, words by Eliza Hewitt, music by Emily Wilson, 1898

Have a blessed Sunday everyone.