Dying Legacy Publications, Joe Straus cronies, and the UT Politburo....

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

[Author's Note: Learn about Paul Hobby's background here.]

For those who've never heard of it, "Texas Monthly" is a generally uninteresting publication that includes coverage of the Texas Legislature.  They were recently purchased by a Joe Straus crony (who Straus has appointed to the Texas "Ethics" Commission) who had previously served on the Board of Trustees for the UT law school foundation (yes, that UT Law School foundation).  Shortly after the presidential election, their dreadfully boring editor in chief quit under strange circumstances.

They announced the new editor in chief this morning, and you'll never guess who they picked.

Texas Monthly selects new editor, creative chief

Tim Taliaferro, most recently editor of Alcalde magazine and vice president for communications and digital strategy for Texas Exes, has been named the new editor in chief of Texas Monthly magazine, where he once served as an intern.

The magazine also named Scott Brown as chief creative officer, said Paul Hobby, Texas Monthly’s chairman and CEO. Brown was previously president and CEO of the Company and Others, a Houston marking and research firm.

“I am thrilled to announce the appointment of both Tim and Scott,” said Hobby, whose private equity firm, Genesis Park, purchased Texas Monthly earlier this year for $25 million. “I believe they are the perfect individuals to lead our brand forward, particularly in the areas of digital journalism and live events.”

[Author's Note: Emphasis added.]

The "Texas Exes" are the alumni association for UT-Austin.  While most people have only ever heard of them for their game-day football tailgates, the Texas Exes are actually one of the most quietly powerful political organizations in the state.  Suffice to say, they're a mouthpiece for the Politburo.

And Paul Hobby just chose to make the editor of their main publication the new editor in chief of "Texas Monthly."

For more of Tim Taliaferro's priceless history, see here and here.

Bottom Line: Move along, no good ol' boy network to see here....

Texas Senate begins PROPERTY TAX RELIEF journey....

"But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God."
Nehemiah 5:15

Press Release from Bettencourt:

SB 2 Press Release (11!29!16) by Cahnman on Scribd

Followed by a statement from Patrick:

PR 11 29 2016 Lt Gov Patrick Statement on Property Tax Reform & Relief Act of 2017 by Cahnman on Scribd

Herman says all the right things at Introductory Press Conference

"Yet the righteous will hold to his way,
And he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger."
Job 17:9

In a late-breaking development, we attended Tom Herman's introductory press conference yesterday.  Based upon what we heard, we came away reasonably content.  It looks like a good hire on paper...but Charlie Strong also looked like a good hire on paper.

That being said, we do have to comment upon the softball questions from the sycophantic, fan-boy, media.  As you can see below, the assembled press corps was more interested in asking Herman softball questions about following in Mack Brown's footsteps than fleshing out his plan to address the team's obvious deficiencies.  Had we been called upon, we would have asked Coach Herman about his plan to address penalties and turnovers on a team that lost five games this past season by less than a touchdown.

One positive note: During his opening remarks, President Fenves made clear that maintaining the character development standards Charlie Strong implemented was a top priority.  That's key because, while it's a lot of fun to win football games, doing so the wrong way always comes back to bite you in the end.  Just ask Baylor (or, for that matter, USC).

But, yeah, we're reasonably content for the moment:



Highlights:

• Fenves prepared remarks:
• blah, blah, "excellence...."
• Expect character development stuff to continue.
• Decided about Charlie Friday evening.
• Met with Herman Friday night.
• Had been doing due diligence for awhile.

• Herman prepared remarks:
• "We will win championships."
• "We will build men of character."

• Fenves/Perrin Q&A:
• Fenves met Herman on Friday "after a very long day" for both.
• Any contracts will have to be approved by the Board of Regents.
• Perrin declines to go into detail on differences between Herman and Strong.

• Herman Q&A:
• "I surround myself with great people."
• "I've recruited this state for 20 some-odd years.
• Had first meeting with team at 4:15 pm that day.
• Note: The press conference started at (about) 5:15pm.
• Hasn't studied roster yet.
• "Changed the culture" at UH.
• "The most physically and mentally tough team on the field each and every Saturday."
• For players: "This program's going to be really, really, hard."
• "Some things will be similar" to Charlie.
• ie. Character stuff
• "It's not going to be Camp Texas around here."

Bottom Line: It looks like a good hire, but there's no substitute for actually playing the games (especially for this program).

-----

SCOTX hands Wallace Hall some good news!!!

"He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
Proverbs 28:13

They announced this as a Thanksgiving eve document dump, and the situation with the football program took precedence over the weekend, but great news:

The Texas Supreme Court this week agreed to expedite filings in the case between Regent Wallace Hall and the University of Texas System chancellor he oversees, injecting a glimmer of hope into what had seemed like a doomed quest by Hall.

The court on Tuesday ordered Hall to submit briefings on the merits of his case by Dec. 2. Lawyers representing UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven will be required to respond by Dec. 12. Hall appealed his case to the state's highest civil court in September.

Hall is seeking access to confidential student records related to admissions, hoping to gain more information about an admissions scandal involving students with powerful connections who were admitted to the University of Texas at Austin even though they had low scores.

Also, we know she was just re-elected, but nevertheless a note for a future Republican primary:

In the one-page filing notifying lawyers of the expedited schedule, a clerk notes that Justice Eva Guzman objected to the sped-up process and preferred to give the lawyers more time.

Keep in mind, the UT politburo's strategy this entire time has been to run out the clock on Hall's time as Regent.

Read the whole thing here.

Revelation 17:6-18 -- The DESTRUCTION of Religious Babylon

"I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast
But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”"
Revelation 17:6-18

Pastor Danny Forshee. Great Hills Baptist Church. July 26, 2015:

The Destruction of Religious Babylon - Dr. Danny Forshee - July 26, 2015 from Great Hills Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Outline:

1. The Woman (vv. 7, 15-16, 18)
   A. Her Identity -- Apostate Religion
   B. Her Demise -- Expose her moral corruption.
          -- Beast will turn against her.
   
2. The Beast (vv, 8-14, 17)
   A. The Seven Heads
         -- Some people believe this is the Catholic Church, but it's unlikely.
   B. The Ten Horns
         -- They will kill the woman and will prepare to kill the Lamb
   
3. The Saints of God (vv. 14, 17)
   A. Victory in Jesus
         -- Matthew 20:16
         -- Matthew 22:14
   B. The Authority of God.

Highlights:

• "This is one of the hardest passages of scripture I will ever preach in my entire life."

• That which is unveiled at the apocalypse is preeminently the glorified and enthroned Christ!!!

• The Lamb will overcome them.

• Woman is connected to a city -- Rebuilt Babylon.
• Iraq?!?

• "Praise God and one day all the 'ism's' will be 'WASM'S'."

• God already knows.

• It's not a works religion, but praise God if you're saved you're going to work and you're going to enjoy it!!!

The Charlie Strong era is mercifully over

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Matthew 7:20

Well...it's over.

The Charlie Strong era can best be summed up by the fact that, in a year where they saw the second best single season rushing performance in program history, the team only managed to win five games.  It seems impossible for those two facts to exist side-by-side.  Nevertheless, that's where we are.

As to yesterday's game, it was the same mix of bad penalties, terrible special teams play, and bizarre play calling that have unfortunately marked the past three years.  5 trips inside the red zone only produced 9 points.  That Shane Buchele threw a pick on the final play of the season encapsulates everything.

On the other hand, D'Onta Foreman did become only the second running back in program history to rush for over 2000 yards.  For as much as the team struggled this season, Foreman's individual performance was a sight to behold.  The play that put him over 2000:

But Foreman's performance was merely a silver lining in what was otherwise a listless and uninspired performance from a team following a coach whose body language throughout the game indicated the degree to which he had become resigned to the status quo:

Bottom Line: Tom Herman, at least on paper, appears to be walking into a pretty good situation.  He simply needs to take the flashes of brilliance and have them execute more consistently.  Time will tell, but sports is cyclical.

Charlie Strong situation forces media to acknowledge UT Politburo's INCOMPETENCE

“Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
Psalm 52:7

Charlie Strong is a good Christian man.  The current situation is unfortunate, even as it's become undeniable.  That being said, some of the headlines we've seen this week from media outlets that spent years schilling for Bill Powers and the business as usual crowd is a sight to behold:











Bottom Line: The situation with the football program is an unfortunate reflection of the fact that UT is run by a good ol' boy network that protects its own.  Perhaps if the above media outlets had insisted upon accountability when the University was creating a 'forgivable loan' slush fund, lying on its financial statements, creating a secret admissions program for the offspring of powerful legislators (and their donors), or raising tuition, the current mess might have been avoided.  At a minimum, the irony is rich.

ABSURD anti-Burton attacks beget UNLIKELY Defender....

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Galatians 6:9

You know you've entered bizarro world when the Ft. Worth Star Telegram defends Konni Burton:

State Sen. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, has filed Senate Bill 242, expanding current law dealing with parent’s right to school district information about their children.

Burton would expand language in the Education Code to make sure all knowledge about students — not just written records — would be available to parents.

Some parents and LGBTQ advocates have warned that the changes would require teachers and/or faculty to reach out to parents to tell them about a child’s sexual orientation.

“The focus of our bill has nothing to do with issues of sexuality and gender, and everything to do with how parents are treated by the government entities they fund,” Burton says in a statement posted on her website.

....

She wants to change the language in the existing law to reflect a more ironclad policy: If parents ask; faculty and teachers must tell.

But the key word is ask. Parents would have to ask teachers for the information. Nothing in the language of the bill requires faculty to be proactive with any knowledge about or from students.

“The bill does not require a school district employee to stop everything they’re doing and reach out to a parent,” Burton wrote.

Nor does it remove the existing child abuse exemption. Texas law allows school faculty to make judgment calls and withhold information if a student’s safety is endangered.

....

If the student’s safety isn’t in danger, parents have the right to know what’s going on with their children — even if causes awkwardness at home.

If there is reason to believe a student would be kicked out the house, neglected or in any way their safety is undermined, that would fall under the child abuse exemption and schools should protect the student.

This bill isn’t the disaster that some say it is, but it requires careful examination of its language.

Read the whole thing here.

-----

It's impossible to overstate the significance of this editorial.  Since the Tea Party became a significant force in Tarrant County, the Star-Telegram has become notorious for cheap shot attacks against various grassroots activities.  This kerfuffle was tailor-made for them.

That the Star-Telegram, of all media outlets, decided this non-troversey was absurd speaks volumes.

Paxton backs Hall (again) on Government Transparency!!!

"He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
Proverbs 28:13

Fantastic, via the Daily Texan:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and two UT System Board of Regents members filed court briefs last week in favor of Regent Wallace Hall’s lawsuit against Chancellor William McRaven.

This is Hall’s second appeal in the case regarding McRaven’s refusal to divulge private student information from an investigation about student admissions led by Hall.

....

Paxton said he has fully supported Hall’s efforts to gain access to confidential student records. In previous court briefs, Paxton said University regents have a right to access University information to fulfill their duty as regents and he continues to hold this opinion going into Hall’s second appeal.

“The attorney general previously issued an attorney general opinion holding that University regents have a right of access to University information to fulfill their fiduciary duty to the University,” Kayleigh Lovvorn, media relations for Paxton, said in an email.

Paxton continues to hold this opinion going into Hall’s second appeal, Lovvorn said.

“Both the Board’s rules and Texas law ensure that Regent Hall can only use the information he obtains for legitimate educational interests, providing a criminal penalty for the use or disclosure of information that has not been made public,” Paxton said in his court brief. “The University has no basis to assume the information requested will be used in a way as to violate state and federal privacy laws.”

Hall said in his lawsuit System officials don’t have the power to restrict a regent’s access to information, but the Board of Regents voted 6-3 in favor of denying him access in 2015.

Read the whole thing here.

Burton files modest education transparency bill; Sexual Authoritarians throw fit....

"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."
2 Corinthians 11:14

Last week, Konni Burton filed a bill that would increase transparency and parental involvement in government schools.  This was met with hysteria from disingenuous national left wing groups claiming the bill would 'out' homosexual students.  Today, Burton explained the issue in detail:

[T]he focus of our bill has nothing to do with issues of sexuality and gender, and everything to do with how parents are treated by the government entities they fund. I would firmly stand against any policy that treated parents as unessential in their child’s life, regardless of what group the policies were intended for. You will not find the words “sexuality” or “gender” anywhere in the proposed bill. You will find, in addition to what is already a parent’s right to know (again, listed above), that we include the child’s general well-being and health, both physical and mental, in our proposed legislation.

It’s also imperative to note that existing law, as well as my proposed bill, have an exception for abuse or neglect, which clearly calls for reporting without the knowledge or consent of the parent.

Beyond that, the bill does not require a school district employee to stop everything they’re doing and reach out to a parent. Again, state law already secures a parent’s right to know on numerous elements of their child’s life and teachers today are not expected, asked, or mandated to stop mid-lesson to reach a parent. Currently, a teacher may decide when and how to proactively reach out to a parent about anything of importance to them, which is how it should work. The proposed bill does absolutely nothing to change this present mechanism for a parent’s right to know. The bill does, however, strengthen the existing expectation that when a parent contacts a school and inquires about their child, they will receive accurate information and not be punished by local policies that while well-intended, do more harm than good.

Many of the extremely sad and dire scenarios being spread by those who peddle in misinformation and stoke the flames of fear are not only incongruous to the proposed bill as written, they are incongruous with existing state law. In short: parents and schools have always been partners in the education and rearing of children, and they have always exchanged information in the best interest of the child. However, myself and others witnessed firsthand a local school in my district attempt to subvert that relationship.

Read the whole thing here.

Patrick announces more priorities for 85th #TXLEGE....

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"
Ephesians 3:20

SB 16 should be for constitutional carry rather than mucking around with the CHL system, but nevertheless a solid list (and SB 19 is AWESOME):

PR 11 21 2016 Lt. Gov. Patrick Announces Additional Legislative Priorities by Cahnman on Scribd

Revelation 17:1-6 -- Religious Babylon

The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS

OF THE EARTH.

I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
Revelation 17:1-6

Pastor Danny Forshee.  Great Hills Baptist Church.  July 19, 2015:

Religious Babylon - Dr. Danny Forshee - July 19, 2015 from Great Hills Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Outline:

- John 16:33

1. The Woman (vv. 1-6)
   - Jeremiah 51:7
   - Discusses Judgement First
   - Reckless and immoral behavior
   - Amalgamated one world 'religion'
   
2. The Beast (v. 3)
   - Behind the persecution.
   
3. The Saints (v. 6)
   - Us

Highlights:

• She's called the Greek word for 'whore' seven separate times.

• John is more overwhelmed here than at any previous point in the apocalypse.

• Judgement of her sexual immorality will be GREAT.
• 'Fornication' as a spiritual metaphor

• The antichrist will be 'in bed' with this religion.

• Tolerance is king, conviction is a vice.

• Whenever religious authorities get in bed with political authorities, that's not good.
• Author's Note: That means things like state directed churches (like in Russia) or islamic caliphates, NOT Christians running for office.

Kolkhorst Correctly Characterizes Socialized Education Industrial Complex

"Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

Good for her:

Guts. That's what Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst showed this year when she took on the state's powerful education lobby with harsh but true words.

She said a few months back at an Austin hearing that the Texas Association of School Boards, which trains trustees in almost every school district, "indoctrinates" its members into "a kind of culture" that is unhealthy for schoolchildren.

It's an adults-first, children-second mindset, the Brenham lawmaker said. Too much emphasis on the next building, not enough on academics.

Read the whole thing here.

First Major Pro-Life SENATE Bill of 85th #TXLEGE Filed!!!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5

We've yet to make final decisions about how we will pursue the life issue next session, but this is a strong start:

PR 11 17 2016 Lt. Gov. Patrick Statement on Filing of the Pre-Born Protection and Dignity Act by Cahnman on Scribd

Bottom Line: What you really need is a full ban on dismemberment abortions (to say nothing about a full ban on ALL abortions), but considering political reality at the Capitol this might be an achievable step towards eliminating the most abhorrent practices in which we learned two summers ago that Planned Parenthood was engaged.

85th #TXLEGE: "Kitchen Table Agenda" = More Spending

"There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it."
Proverbs 21:20

[Author's Note: Never forget, the Democrats in the Texas House are Joe Straus' cat's paw.]

There is a quite obviously focused-grouped talking point we've been hearing with increasing frequency over the past month: "Kitchen Table Agenda."

A couple days ago, the Trib and the Democrats let the cat out of the bag:

Minutes later, a group of Democrats from the Texas House criticized what they characterized as an embrace of divisiveness in the Senate and promised to focus on what they characterized as "kitchen table" matters.

"We have been the grownups" in the Legislature, said Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin. "We are going to continue to be the grownups."

....

The Democrats, meanwhile said they'd focus on reforming the state's school finance system, improving access to health care and making it easier for residents to register to vote and cast a ballot on election day.

Many Democrats and school officials had been hoping that the Supreme Court of Texas would rule that the state's method of funding schools is unconstitutional, forcing the state to take on the political perilous task of rebuilding it. That didn't happen, though the court did say the system was problematic and should be fixed.

Such a fix was notably absent from Patrick's list of priorities. But Democrats listed it near the top.

"We know that the school finance system is broken," said Rep. Mary González, D-Clint. "We know that, as the Supreme Court said, we need transformational change."

One key way to do that is for the state to send more money to the school districts, which would ease the property tax burden that homeowners pay to fund K-12 education, Democrats said. Howard, for instance, said she filed a bill on Monday that would force the state to pay at least half of the cost of education each year.

Translation: Pour more money down the rathole of existing bureaucracies without asking for anything in return.

Read the whole thing here.

Is Texas State Fair hiding FINANCIAL SHENANIGANS?!?

"If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft."
Exodus 22:3

The indefatigable Jon Cassidy asks the question:

In March 2015, Austin attorney Jennifer Riggs filed an open records request with the fair asking for extensive financial records, contracts, and correspondence among fair executives and Dallas officials.

The exorbitant salaries that the ostensibly nonprofit State Fair corporation pays its officials have long been the subject of controversy, as have the fair’s failed ventures, such as the short-lived Summer Adventures water park, which benefited contractors and few others while losing millions.

When Riggs sought to take a closer look at the fair’s records, on behalf of an undisclosed client, the company responded first by asking her to narrow down her request – a common response by government agencies. When Riggs refused, the fair took the unheard-of step of suing, insisting that it wasn’t a government agency subject to public records laws.

Read the whole thing here.

Stickland Resumes the fight for CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY!!!

"But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Psalm 3:3

Good for him:

PRCon Carry Stickland by Cahnman on Scribd

Full text of the bill:

HB 375 -- 85 (R) by Cahnman on Scribd

Bottom Line: Since the last legislative session, a half dozen states have passed constitutional carry. There's no excuse.  They will be graded on this one.

Is the UT Politburo (literally) stealing from the poor?!?

‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Deuteronomy 27:19

We've got to imagine this is technically legal, but it's still reprehensible:

The University of Texas Dell Medical School and Travis County’s health care district appear to have misspent local tax dollars that are supposed to be used for indigent care, activists charged Monday in a report that calls on county commissioners to order an independent audit.

The report, written by lawyer and activist Fred Lewis, questions the disposition of $105 million in county property taxes collected by Central Health and transferred to the Dell school. Travis County voters in 2012 agreed to raise property taxes, with $35 million a year going to the medical school.

The report contends that state law restricts Central Health’s spending to health care for poor people but that the money appears to have been improperly commingled with other medical school funds and spent on governmental affairs, communications, general administration, and faculty and staff salaries unrelated to such health care.

Read the whole thing here.

Texas Democrats resume valiant defense of...TAMPONS?!?

"But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish;
A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine."
Jeremiah 10:8

For those unaware, today is the first day legislators could file bills for the upcoming #TXLEGE session; two separate Democrats filed bills that are wildly amusing to those of us who remember the tampon trampoline from four years ago.

HB 55, by Guillen:

HB55 - 85 (R) by Cahnman on Scribd

HB 232, by Alvarado (yes, THAT Alvarado):

HB232 - 85 (R) by Cahnman on Scribd

Bottom Line: With all due respect to Texas Democrats, this is why nobody takes you seriously.

...while Patrick prioritizes a basket of reforms!!!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"
Ephesians 3:20

We didn't intend a contrast piece, but Dan Patrick released his top legislative priorities literally while we were working on the previous post about about Straus:

PR 11 14 2016 Lt. Gov. Patrick Announces Top Ten Priorities by Cahnman on Scribd

Bottom Line: We suspect we will actively work to move #1, #2, #3, #8, and #9 across the finish line.

Straus preaches Status Quo....

"As a dog returns to his own vomit,
So a fool repeats his folly."
Proverbs 26:11

Oh good grief, from his latest newsletter:

Voters across the country sent a powerful message: They are unhappy with how Washington works...or doesn't work. And in many ways, the national election underscored the importance of keeping Washington-style dysfunction out of the Texas Legislature.

How do we do that? By solving problems and putting results ahead of politics.

[Author's Note: Emphasis added.]

Read the whole thing here.

Revelation 16:10-21 -- The BOWL Judgements (Part 2)

[Author's Note: This was the sermon that covers the Supreme Court's 'marriage' ruling in Obergefell.]

Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain
Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up
Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken
Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.
Revelation 16:10-21

Pastor Danny Forshee.  Great Hills Baptist Church.  July 5, 2015:

The Bowl Judgments, Part 2 - Dr. Danny Forshee - July 5, 2015 from Great Hills Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Highlights:

• Grace AND Truth.

• In order to get to the point of Revelation, we have to start taking steps away from God; that's what the Obergefell ruling was.

• The antichrist will dupe the entire world.

• The author of these judgments is God Himself.

• There is a devil, and he is real, and he fills people with anger and hate.

• When Jesus comes, I do not want to be in a compromising position.

• Be more concerned with spreading the Gospel than the timing of God's judgement.

About this morning....

"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

"Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God."
Matthew 5:9

God threw us a curveball this morning, but the takeaway is obvious: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is more powerful than cheap political demagoguery.

-----

We were on our way to Church in North Austin when we came across the "Love Trumps Hate" rally at City Hall.  It was about what you would expect from such an event.  A bunch of hardcore leftest were whipping a crowd of frightened people into a frenzy over misdeeds which may or may not occur during the Trump presidency.

The event was emceed by some pregnant chick whose husband is an illegal alien.  While it's easy to empathize with her plight, that empathy only goes so far.  Rather than calling for immigration laws more in line with economic reality, her remarks embodied the sense of entitlement so frequently found at pro-illegal immigration events.

As longer term readers know, this website isn't particularly hard line on the subject of immigration.  Current U.S. immigration laws were written by labor unions in the 1960's and are thus out of step with anything remotely resembling economic reality.  Nevertheless, admitting you broke the law and apologizing for doing so (even if the law in question is unenforceable) would go a long way towards healing the situation instead of inflaming it for political purposes.

When it comes to inflaming the situation for political purposes, it was impossible to top Mayor Adler and Greg Casar.  Both spoke and pledged various degrees of...blah, blah, blah..."resistance" to Trump in the coming years.  We weren't able to capture all of their remarks, but you can view a representative sample below:

Adler:



Casar:



Unfortunately, Donald Trump and Greg Casar have a lot more in common than either would admit. They're both demagogues who inflame racial tensions for political power.  They just play to different audiences.

-----

And if that were the end of it, that would have meant an interesting political morning....

....but it wasn't.

We've been curious about the LifeAustin downtown services for several months.  They meet at the ACL theater every Sunday and we frequently see them while we're in transit to our home Church in North Austin.  Today's event at City Hall finished just in time to attend their worship service one block north.

It was a back-to-basics Gospel message about healing.  While the message dealt specifically with guilt and shame, it was just as applicable to the tensions that have become inflamed through national politics.  But in order to take advantage of God's healing, we first need repentance.

Repentance...ain't that the truth.

All of us bear responsibility for the mess in which we currently find ourselves.  That mess predated the recently concluded presidential election and it's aftermath.  Those events just made it unignorably public.

-----

Bottom Line: We have no idea what the next few years will bring, but we will place our trust in the healing power of Gospel over cheap political demagoguery from either the left or what passes for the "right" these days.

So Long Charlie....

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Matthew 7:20

Following back-to-back gutsy wins that had returned the discussion of his future to a close call, Charlie Strong's Longhorns blew yet another winnable game this afternoon against West Virginia at DKR.

Shane Buchele and D'Onta Foreman continued to lead the way.  The defense looked better.  Unfortunately, even 536 yards of total offense and four turnovers were insufficient in the face of ongoing sloppiness...which is why those four turnovers only begat seven points.

The strange playcalling and clock mismanagement continued as well, with essentially zero rhyme or reason behind going for it/kicking a field goal on fourth down.

Burnt Orange Nation sums up our feelings:

Texas had plenty of opportunities for win this game, but the result and the struggles were all too familiar — special teams mistakes, problems on third down on both sides of the ball, and the inability to take advantage of turnovers.

Oh yeah, and the typical game management mistake or two from its embattled head coach.

Bottom Line: We're long past the point of moral victories or progress despite losses.  Nobody denies that this team has flashes of brilliance, but consistent execution just isn't there and there's no reason to believe it will emerge under the status quo.  To quote the old MTV show, "NEXT"....

-----

Longhorns First Touchdown:



Longhorns Second Touchdown:



-----