Blog Archives - North Florida Writer

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: WHAT DOES GOD EXPECT OF AMERICA?

4/29/2016

A Symbol of Liberty

We Americans are truly blessed to be able to call the United States of America home. We have a land of untold beauty, a bounteous food supply and so many blessings that God has given us. Yet we notice things changing dramatically these days. Chaos is beginning to replace order, good jobs are becoming short in supply, our food supply is rapidly pricing itself out of the reach of many and our government fails to listen to us or answer our call for answers.

What has happened? Well, it's true that our political system has become corrupt to the point where many of our leaders don't even try to hide it any longer and crony-capitalism has replaced real capitalism. But something much bigger has led to most of these things and in this humble blogger's opinion it's our loss of dependence on the Almighty God who saw this country through from its beginning until only recently. It's as if things changed overnight and what is right is now deemed wrong and what is wrong is celebrated as being right. Oh, it's not all Americans, but it is a significant number and the resulting change in our national outlook is stark. The nation is no longer happy, lacks defined goals and in so many ways appears to have lost it's soul.

On this week's Sunday Morning Coming Down devotional we're going to talk about this. We will approach it from a traditional Christian approach, looking at our foundation under God and what we need to do to return it to His Way. God has always blessed us, but could it be that so many of our problems are coming about because God is displeased with our lack of commitment and faith? After all, similar circumstances happened repeatedly in Israel in Old Testament days including the sack of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple and the imprisonment of thousands.

The show will air early Saturday morning and then be available on demand 24/7. We hope you'll join us for the message, a brief scriptural passage, good Christian music and a prayer. Start the weekend off right with a moment for God. It's also a good preparation for the Lord's Day on Sunday. Here's the link:

tobtr.com/s/8775079

PLEASE, JOHN, NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK!

4/29/2016

Nobody cares, John

Just when America thought we were through with John Boehner he pops back up on the scene yesterday. Boehner, the patsy for Obama while he was Speaker, spoke up yesterday to denounce Ted Cruz as Lucifer. Really, John, you think Ted is Lucifer? And what does that make you, John? Don't worry, folks, we won't answer that.

Looking at the Republican Establishment of which Boehner was the epitome while in the Speaker's chair, it is clear that the elitists that they are closely represent the "Devil", for they promised to fight Obama and then, after the landslide gave them a majority, they supported Obama instead. That is certainly more "Lucifer like" than Ted Cruz who was elected stating what he would do and then he did it.

Cruz spoke out loudly as he should have, but of course he is now trying to use it to say that Boehner and Company will ultimately support Trump which means that the label would be more appropriately attached to The Donald. That's a stretch, Ted, for while Trump will probably be willing to sit down and talk, that in no way means he will be sold on any idea that anyone suggests. He will be, as he has been, his own man. And he'll be judged on what he does, not by who he talks to.

But Donald doesn't have to worry about being seen as an Establishment guy, for they are after him just like they are Cruz, only they used a different spokesman to do it. For while the Boehner statement got a big audience, Jeb Bush took to the press to bash Trump for his statements made in his foreign policy speech on Wednesday at the National Press Club. He said that Trump's statement that America needed to keep the world guessing sometimes was bad policy. Really, Jeb? So do you think it's a good idea that everyone in the world, including those who despise us know exactly what we're going to do, when and how?

As a former Army officer,I know it's always important to maintain the element of surprise. As a businessman, you want to keep your options open and under raps when competing with other businesses who could then know in advance what your business was going to do, giving them a decided advantage. And certainly in the risky world of international affairs, putting all your cards on the table when the other side holds their cards face down would be disastrous.

So Donald and Ted, campaign hard and realize that you are both not in favor by the Elites, those who think they know everything when their actions prove just the opposite. Embrace it and relish in it, for as long as they are on the run the better off America will be. Only one of you can win, so keep it clean but tough, for the winner is going to need the help of the loser come what may. My bet is still on Trump, but Cruz is an acceptable alternative if the cards play out differently. All of us, Trump and Cruz supporters both, need to realize that the other possible alternative, Hillary Clinton, will be the final round of Obama's transformation of America and America cannot survive it. We cannot let that happen.

Cruz Makes an Early VP Selection: Carly Fiorina

4/28/2016

The Ted and Carly Show

Politics can really be strange and yesterday was one of those moments for the Ted Cruz campaign. After the huge five state loss he suffered Tuesday night in the Northeast, he was looking for some spark to reverse his backward momentum, deciding to announce his chosen running mate very early in hopes of getting some good press coverage when he needs it. And for those who say that he didn't lose badly since Donald Trump was expected to win Tuesday night in all five races, it must be pointed out that the size of the defeat and the fact that Trump carried every county in all five states validates the point made here.

So Ted chose Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO, a losing candidate for the Senate from California several years ago and an early knock-out from this year's Republican primaries. And while this might make many say that this was a very bad choice, never forget that Fiorina is quite effective on the stump and is very strong in going after the competition. But the fact still remains that vice presidential candidates do not normally have any long lasting impact to sway a campaign, but they do draw great media attention, so likely Ted is hoping for a short boost of momentum for next week's Indiana primary.

Donald Trump, however, didn't give Cruz much breathing room. He delivered a very presidential foreign affairs/national defense speech yesterday before the National Press Club, stating that America would no longer be the world's "patsy", that we would work with our allies but they would have to pay their fair share for our expensive support, that the border would be fenced and America would put America first. And while some in the international relations community rolled their eyes in disbelief, Trump made it clear that this was not negotiable. And then he followed that up by jetting to Indianapolis for a big rally with special guest Bobby Knight, the famed Indiana Hoosier basketball coach.

When I commented on Twitter last night about Bobby Knight being there for Trump, I received a response implying that a nod from a basketball coach was the best Trump could do, I responded that she obviously didn't understand Indiana. And from the response that Knight got from Trump and company, my remarks were right on the mark.

This morning on North Florida Writer Live at 10 we'll discuss yesterday's events plus what I call the Cruz-Trump Cabal. Was it foolish? Will it work? Well, all we can say right now is that it is backfiring. Hoosiers, folks, are down to earth and logical people and I don't think they see any value to Cruz linking up with John Kasich for any reason but, then again, I think we'll find out the real answer next Tuesday. We hope you'll join us for a discussion of "Is it the "Trump Train" vs the Cruz-Kasich Cabal? Here's the link:

tobtr.com/s/8764195

What Tuesday's Republican Primaries Mean

4/27/2016

After listening to the pundits talk about Tuesday night's five state primary sweep by Donald Trump, there is just something about the reporting that is unreal. Some say it's a huge deal and others say it is not a big deal. After all, most expected Trump to win but, then again, of course, Trump supporters, of which I consider myself one can be excused for playing it up. But also being a man who will support either Trump or Cruz when things are said and done, I think the gravity of what Trump's campaign accomplished has been missed.

Oh, it's certainly true that he was a clear favorite in each of the states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut. But even in those northeastern states it is doubtful that even The Donald expected his margin to be so great. In addition to approaching or surpassing the sixty percent vote level, he won every single county in each of the five states. And with word starting to leak out in Pennsylvania that many of the uncommitted delegates are coming his way because of the size of the victory, he surely has to be breathing a sigh of relief.

Ted Cruz is a decent and a smart man, but I believe he became a captive of the consultants in running his campaign, something quite the opposite of the always surprising Trump. And in the eyes of many of the primary voters, many of whom are just looking for some real hope for the future and a fresh approach, Trump has presented that image. He has picked the issues of the generation, out of control immigration and trade and I doubt if anyone in Washington, including Cruz, really understood the gravity of the anger in America. Now this doesn't mean that it's all over, but if Trump keeps his momentum rolling, and Tuesday night certainly helped, it is likely that it will carry him through to victory in Indiana next Tuesday, a state that Cruz must have to even have a ghost of a chance.

So I congratulate Donald Trump, but I also wish Ted Cruz well, and I only hope that the two campaigns can ultimately come together and not take the chance of a Hillary in the White House. Hillary in the White House will clearly lead to the final chapter in the destruction of America. We must do whatever it takes to avoid that outcome. After all, isn't our great nation, the greatest nation ever created on earth, worth it? Each of us must answer that question, so choose wisely and God bless you, one and all.

TONIGHT: COMMON CORE UPDATE W/GEORGIA OPT OUT LEADER MEG NORRIS

4/26/2016

The educational "scourge" upon our school children, teachers and parents known as Common Core is running into significant opposition from around the country as the truth about the program and who is profiting from it becomes more and more open. No one is more dedicated to fighting against this well-funded but potential disastrous program than my guest tonight on North Florida Writer Live.

Meg Norris is an educator, a parent and an activist and she has been a driving force in the creation and growth of Opt Out Georgia, a diverse group of citizens of the Peach State who are just saying no. She has devised a great site on Facebook which now has thousands of members letting the people of Georgia know about the program and serving as a central point for disseminating information and organizing the fight against Common Core.

Meg has been a frequent guest on this program and always presents her argument in a persuasive way, citing empirical data and real life stories about Common Core and its adverse impact on learning and development. Recently she has led a determined fight before the Georgia legislature to achieve positive gains for real educational reform. It's a long and tedious process dealing with politicians, the bureaucracy and the educational lobby and Meg will tell us all about it tonight at 7. An energetic person with a positive outlook and great message delivery, I hope parents and teachers everywhere will listen in. You don't have to be in Georgia, the issues are similar in states across the land. We hope you'll join us for a rousing discussion. It's always informative and fun. Here's the link for tonight's show:

tobtr.com/s/8753213

DOGS, AN AMERICAN TRADITION

4/25/2016

One great family member

Tonight on North Florida Writer Live we are "going to the dogs". If you are a dog owner and lover, this show is for you. Dogs are like baseball, hot dogs and apple pie in America. They are an important part of millions of American families and they are good for our spirit, our outlook and good living.

Our show tonight will include a short review of some of the loving dogs that my family has or have departed with particular attention place on the English Springer spaniel shown in the picture. He was with us for twelve years after my wife rescued him and he won our heart and soul with his cheerful disposition and loyalty. He's been gone now for over three years but we still remember him well. He is buried in our little pet cemetery here on the farm.

We'll also be looking for listeners who might like to come on a later show and discuss their favorite dog and how they have made your life better. If you are interested, kindly contact me on the contact page and we'll talk and see if your prized family member is a good fit. We are looking for stories that can be funny, sad or just interesting to those of us who love canines.

The show will go live tonight at 7 and then be on demand 24/7. But feel free to contact at any time if you want to tell your own story on live internet at a later time. We plan to run these stories periodically, intermixed with my general Americana from the past segments which were started a couple of weeks ago. Here's the link for tonight's show:

tobtr.com/s/8748585

God bless you and God bless America. And God bless dogs: an American tradition and truly a gift from a loving God.

The Runaway Pony

4/24/2016

Angus, the "Runaway Pony"

If you've ever owned or spent much time with a small pony like our Shetland pony, Angus, you know what a handful they can be. This is particularly true if they are around horses where they feel they have to prove themselves, and Angus is one who just never fails at trying to do just that. He truly thinks he is as "big and bad" as the largest horse in the herd.

My wife Charyl surprised me with Angus a few years ago. She learned of a poor little pony in Jacksonville who had broken loose from his halter, escaped his farm and was later found roaming freely on the interstate. Needless to say, the Highway Patrol wasn't too pleased and they told his owner either get him under control fast or find him a new home in a safer, rural place.

That's how we ended up with this lovable but mischievous little Scotsman. And I should have figured when she left for a horse show that Saturday morning, horse trailer and all but with no horse, that something was afoot. But it was early morning, I had yet to receive my morning dose of caffeine so I paid no notice, so when she returned later in the day she had the little stinker in tow with all of his splendor and spunk. He now shares a special paddock with his little friend, Sammy the Goat. Oh, they chase each other around a bit but they basically love each other. They are truly great roommates for one another.

We've decided that Angus needs a job to burn off some of his wealth of energy, so she is now training him for cart driving with the help of a neighbor friend who also has her yen for all things equine. He is progressing rapidly but every now and then he has a day when he's just down right ornery and yesterday was one of those days.

As Charyl was preparing to hook him up to the cart, he slipped out of his halter which was tied to the fence. It was home on the range time for the little stallion. Finally recovering him and retying him, this time with a double halter, he did it again, amazing us how he cold slip out of it. This time the recovery was even more difficult. As he was brought back to the fence to be held in place, Angus had a look on his face like he was just laughing.

Left with no other options, it was decided it was time for attitude adjustment. The stubborn little guy needed to understand the consequences of his actions. So with the training session suspended for bad behavior, Angus was cross-tied in the shade of the barn with only enough movement allowed to get to water. He kicked, he tried to buck, he lurched about trying to free himself but to no avail while he was observed from a distance. Finally, after about an hour he calmed down and resigned himself to his situation, peacefully standing while probably dreaming about the big mares in the next paddock, for this little fellow fashions himself as quite the ladies man.

After about two more hours my wife approached him and found him quite mellowed out, actually humble in his disposition which is a miracle with this little pony. She was able to get him to the horse trailer, loaded on with no resistance and returned him safely home. And then this morning he returned for another lesson and performed like the little gentleman that he isn't. But I guess the dose of humble pie did a world of good and we'll put that in the reference book for future use as needed.

But there is something else that was amazing that resulted. This morning in church when we were asked for praises, I told a shortened version of this story about Angus, explaining that he learned a little humility, something that Jesus expects of all of us. And to my amazement, the pastor announced that his sermon for the day was about humility.

Coincidence? I think not. God does truly work in mysterious ways, even using a little pony when it fits the place and time. God bless you all.

Sunday Morning Coming Down: Do You Fear Being Alone?

4/23/2016

It's an immense ocean out there.

Anyone who has taken a cruise at sea or served in the Fleet Navy knows the nature of just how vast our oceans are. For as far as you can see in all directions there is water and it goes on forever until the moment land is spotted as the ship heads for port.

While for the cruiser the concept of its size is awesome but not presenting a concern, imagine instead a solitary sailor lost at sea, trying to find a port on a dark night with no navigation but the stars above. And add to that the impact of extended time in that situation, as hope fades and that same sailor contemplates his likely demise. Physical deterioration caused by hunger, lack of water and the elements means that fear creeps in as he contemplates his likely death while he is all alone. There is no one to pray for him and perhaps his remains might not even be found. It's not something we want to think about.

Since man is a social animal, fear of being alone can be caused by much less serious circumstances such as peer pressure, the desire for friendship and fellowship, things that might be elusive for some of us and if it's not resolved it can generate into loneliness and lack of self-worth. But in such situations we must realize that we are never truly alone, we just need to remember the One who created us. He is ever standing by and waiting to visit with us. And He has all the answers needed to solve social problems, both minor and dramatic. But the problem is, He expects us to make the first step to approach Him and open the conversation. After all, He is God, the Almighty and omnipotent creator of all life. We are mere mortals who were put on earth to follow Him and put Him first in our lives. It's just that simple.

This is the basic narrative behind this week's Sunday Morning Coming Down devotional which is now up and running on demand. We are not alone. Regardless of how empty we feel or alone we appear by earthly standards, remember that God is always beside us with His Son Jesus Christ, the one friend who gave His life so that all of us might have the opportunity to live. Here's the link to the show. We hope you'll join us for some fellowship over the internet with a message, a short scripture, great Christian music and prayer.

tobtr.com/s/8737447

NOSTALGIA: "WELCOME TO GERMANY, LIEUTENANT"

4/22/2016

Ferris Barracks, Erlangen, Germany

Those of you who have spent time in service to our country in uniform know that despite all the planning and preparations that are made in the military, SNAFUs always creep in. Now I won't spell out the words in that acronym because I'm sure we all know what it stands for, but it is truly an accurate description. And the SNAFUs in military life, while sometimes not funny at the time, have a way of often making us smile later reminiscing about our little trove of memories. Maybe it's because we usually remember the good things, not those that are not so good.

On my most recent North Florida Writer Live which was recorded last night, we addressed nostalgia, those memories of things past that we will always remember. And nothing offers more opportunity to create memories than those days in the service. I won't tell you the details about the story, you'll have to listen to it yourself, but let's just say that it is about my welcome to Germany in the '70s as a young Army lieutenant. It was a bad start, very stressful and disconcerting at the time, but it turned out very well. So we'll talk about my arrival in country, my introduction to my new unit and that first fateful day when I experienced a SNAFU which could have ruined my military service had it not been resolved. Sometimes in the Army you just had to stay calm and quiet, let the storm blow over and then explain yourself. This was one of those times, yet it ended with my getting a free steak dinner and a little two much to drink with one of the officers who had given me so much grief in the first place.

The show is available 24/7 on demand and I hope you'll tune in and listen. By the way, following resolution of this problem my over three years in Germany were some of the greatest years in my life. The beautiful country and people and the camaraderie with others also so far from home was a godsend. Here's the link:

tobtr.com/s/8732197

God bless you all. Go, Army.

Florida Ports: How Many and How Much Risk?

4/20/2016

Port Tampa Bay

Florida, the Sunshine State, is also a long peninsula surrounded on all sides except the north by the Atlantic Ocean, the Florida Straits and the Gulf of Mexico. And because of it's warm and sunny climate it is also a premier vacation destination for travelers across the world. It also, however, is the home of four ports for ocean going ships and the current governor, Rick Scott, is determined to grow those ports into a major gateway hub for global trade to the Orient, stealing business from other ports across the country.

Governor Scott's plan is a most ambitious one which has some merit in specific cased but otherwise carries great risk. Is this risk worth the cost that it will surely be passed on to taxpayers if it fails? That is the topic of our show for Wednesday morning at 10: Welcome to the Port of Florida: Really?

As a transplanted Virginian and someone who has some significant knowledge of large port operations from my family background and upbringing in the Port of Hampton Roads, the Florida plan does offer some positive factors, primarily geography, yet a number of other critical elements frankly come up short. Sure, the ports are closer to the Panama Canal than other East Coast ports, and a number of them are well developed for containerized cargo, but shallow water, cost of infrastructure modification (particularly Jacksonville) and impact on Florida's number one industry, tourism, must be critically analyzed from the aspect of unanticipated consequences. And so the question becomes one of is the risk worth the potential gain? Some think it is, many more think it is not and that will be our topic today. We'll briefly go over each of the ports in question, Tampa Bay, Miami, Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) and Jacksonville and see how they stack up with other ports on the Eastern Seaboard. If you live in Florida and will be impacted by this, we hope you'll tune in.

Here's the link: tobtr.com/s/8720365

And remember, the show will remain up and available on demand once it is completed. Just another effort by yours truly to keep everyone informed.