Embrace Grace: Reacting to a Crisis Pregnancy

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

Amy Ford of Embrace Grace visited Glenn Beck the other day:



Highlights:

•  Book title: A Bump in Life.

• The Church has failed us.

• Equiping the Church to love on single and pregnant girls.

• After girls choose life, the Church far too often turns its back on them.

• Pro-life saves the babies; pro-Love saves the mommies and the babies.

• Stopping Generational Patterns.

• Abortion rates are higher for subsequent children than the first.

• The Church is supposed to be spiritual family, not kicking people when they're down. 

• People have weird hangups about adoption. 

• Pro-lifers are waaaaaaay too mean.

Lame Duck City Council threatens South Austin road project

"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

SIGH...

The Austin City Council, with about two-and-a-half months left to govern before giving way to a new, larger council of uncertain leanings, is considering legal action to prevent construction of the Texas 45 Southwest tollway.

The council Thursday will consider a resolution — sponsored by council members Kathie Tovo and Laura Morrison — directing city staff “to explore legal options available to the City of Austin” regarding Texas 45 Southwest and report to the council by Nov. 20.

In theory, that would give the current council time to have its lawyers file a lawsuit or take overt steps to stop construction of the proposed 3.6-mile, four-lane toll road on the city’s southwest border.

“I don’t want to talk specifically about any particular legal actions at this point,” Tovo told the American-Statesman Monday. “We need to act as quickly as possible. This is a fast-moving project.”

Tovo — who is running for election from District 9 of the new geographically elected council against fellow incumbent Chris Riley and a third candidate — demurred when asked if the point was to erect a roadblock for the project before a new council comes in that might favor Texas 45 Southwest.

In a 6-1 vote in May, the current council approved a resolution laying out what amounted to a policy case against building the road.

“We do have a history with this council,” Tovo said. “Certainly the existing council understands this subject well.”

This lame duck City Council cannot leave office soon enough; learn more about District 8 candidate Ellen Troxclair here.

Konni Burton gives liberal special interest group a conniption fit

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."
Proverbs 31:30

Ought oh, looks like the pro-Abortion, pro-Death Panel, pro-Obamacare Texas Medical Association is mad at Konni Burton:

TMA PAC SD10 Letter by jstewart05

Shorter version of TMA's attack:

Converting three Millenial Davis supporters to Abbott

"The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil."
Joel 2:24

21st st. Co-Op -- Earlier tonight, we visited a friend in the the West Campus area.  The conversation turned to the Governor's race.  We made an offhand comment that instantly converted three (very, very) soft Wendy Davis supporters into committed backers of Greg Abbott.  To be honest, this author was surprised by the strength of the reaction.  It took one word....

...BITCOIN!!!

This author casually mentioned that Greg Abbott was the first major candidate in history to accept campaign contributions in BITCOIN and that the BITCOIN community is moving to Austin as a result.  These kids were floored.  They simply had no idea.

These kids aren't particularly political, but they know BITCOIN is the right side of history.  When they realized a decision Greg Abbott made several months ago is going to bring BITCOIN closer to them, they were genuinely greatful.

It's become a cliche to say that disruptive innovation is going to radically transform the world over the next decade.  It's still true.  Those on the right side of history will reap a whirlwind.

Apparently, it's also good politics.

There's a lesson there; if people are willing to learn it!!!

Heart without Discipline

"He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly."
Proverbs 13:24

What are you supposed to say about a team that gives up 11 penalties and two turnovers with atrocious clock management...yet loses by only five points?!?

The story of 2014 Longhorn Football is the disconnect between potential and execution.  The talent is there, especially on defense.  Unfortunately, the sloppy mistakes continue.

If you're an optimist, there's plenty of good news to take from today's game.  The defense, once again, played spectacular until it got tired; they didn't allow a touchdown until late in the third quarter.  Defensive lineman Malcolm Brown, Linebacker Jordan Hicks, and Safety Quandre Diggs' elite level talent is obvious. They also rallied from a three touchdown deficit to make it close.  Unfortunately, none of that is good enough.

If you're a pessimist, the Longhorns' 2 - 4 record speaks for itself.  Sloppy mistakes killed them, yet again, today.  11 penalties for 85 yards is PATHETIC on a "Raideresque" level.  Multiple turnovers on offense and touchdowns allowed on special teams are likewise unacceptable.  Yet nothing changes....

As a recovering fan of the New York Jets, this author has noticed a disturbing trend: the longer we watch Charlie Strong, the more he reminds us of Herm Edwards.  He's got his motivational quotes, he's got his stupid "rules," yet he can't manage the clock on gameday.  He has until the end of this season to prove his team can learn to stop making sloppy mistakes.

Congratulations to Whitney.  This website cannot deny that our loss today was 100% self-inflicted.  Your 5 - 1 record compared to our 2 - 4 record proves that execution is more important than talent.  It's killing us.  Still, we're happy that you're happy.  OK, we're totally lying with that last statement, but we swear we're trying really really hard not to be a sore loser.  Shut up Whitney.

Bottom Line: Charlie Strong has more than enough talent to win.  Unfortunately, so far he seems unable to execute.  He has 6 games to prove he can stop repeating the same tiresome mistakes, otherwise...Mack Brown 2015?!?

Partying with Austin's Future Taxpayer Friendly Leaders

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice."
Proverbs 29:2 (a)

Local Voice Solutions -- Tonight, taxpayer friendly candidates in 6 of Austin's 10 city council districts spoke at an event in East Austin.  The candidates discussed affordability and the role that Austin's massive, boondoggle prone, city government plays in exacerbating that problem.  This website bring you their remarks in full.

Michael Cargill, District 1:



Highlights:

• Proprietor of Central Texas Gun Works.

• Most conservative candidate in District 1 on the subject of firearms.

• Running to obstruct Mike Martinez's gun grabbing agenda.

• "We're going to maintain all of our constitutional rights."

• Plan for traffic: Widen 183, as a free road, to give commercial traffic a viable path around Downtown Austin.
• Austin is one of the few major cities in America where big trucks pass through downtown.

• Sell "Prime Real Estate" downtown and relocate city offices to the outskirts of the city.

• "We don't need that rail, that rail to nowhere...."

 Jay Wiley, District 6:



Highlights:

• "I'm running because we need a new voice for taxpayers at City Hall...we've never had that before."

• The (in)famous Gretchen Gardner quote.

• "Here's the big picture.  The big picture is that the affordability problem we have in Austin is the direct result of a big and expensive local government.  We've seen what big, expensive government looks like.  It looks like Higher property tax bills, and worse energy bills every month, and it looks like worse and worse traffic every day because we've got all the wrong priorities at City Hall."

• "What I want to do is I want to lower taxes, I want to lessen the bureaucratic largesse at City Hall, and ... most importantly change the culture at City Hall to one that's fiscally responsible and respects taxpayers."

• "We are weeks away from putting the first conservatives on Austin City Council in my lifetime; let's get it done."

Ellen Troxclair, District 8 (She likes puppies and Uber):



Highlights:

• Over a decade of public policy experice at the Capitol combined with real world experience in the Real Estate industry.

• Not a day goes by, either in the campaign or her business, where she doesn't hear about how the Austin CC's decision are negative effecting resident of District 8.

•  "Seems like every year in Austin our cost of living is increasing while our quality of life is not improving."

• It took conversations with thousands of voters before she met her first voter who said property taxes weren't too high...and that person was a recent California transplant.
• Author's Note: We welcome California transplants to Austin...as long as you don't vote for the same crap policies that ruined California.

• "I don't think that our goal, as Austinites, should be to be slightly better than California."
• Author's Note: Ellen makes Chuck DeVore proud!!!

Ed English, District 7:



Highlights:

• "I'm running for a lot of reasons that fall under the umbrella of fiscal responsiblility."

• "I want to be part of a council" that ends wasteful spending and gives taxpayers real relief.

• Donated "several thousand hours" over "a two year period" to pass 10-1 in the first place.

• Seize this opportunity to represent the citizens.

• Only candidate in his district that has worked in the private sector.

• Knows how to ask the right questions about contracts.
• No more water treatment plant #4 or biomass boondoggles.

• First candidate, in any district, to oppose the rail bond tax hike...aka. Leffingwell Loser!!!

Erin McGann, District 9:



Highlights:

•  Only non-incumbent in District 9 and only candidate in the District who is against the rail.

• Background in finance, auditing, and budget review.

• "I am running for city council because our budget is entirely too fat, our spending is not very judicious, and we've got a lot of unicorns and glitter sitting around city hall and not very much bricks and mortar."

• "My opponents are being strongly supported by the status quo and by all of the special interests in Austin so I am being seriously outspent."
• Author's note: Donate here.
  
•  Needs blockwalkers and phonebankers.

Bill Worsham, District 10:



Highlights:

•  "It is way past time to just talk about the traffic, the cost of living, and the red tape that we have to endure in the city of Austin.  

• Endorsed by TAG and TFL.

• Specifically committed to reducing red tape for resturant owners.

• "We are right on the issues of this campaign"

• Opponents are imitating their campaign...."we are the rocket that's ready to launch."

Citizens for Tax Relief NOW releases Austin Taxpayer Protection Pledge

"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

FAN-TAS-TIC:

No doubt you're feeling the strain of how expensive a place Austin has become. The good news is, in a few weeks you can change the balance of power at Austin City Hall. You'll finally have the chance to see Austin become a more affordable city.

Citizens for Tax Relief NOW is a citizen-led grassroots group that wants to make sure people like you get REAL tax relief on Election Day, not more hyperbole.

Right now, we are sending out a candidate pledge to all 78 City Council candidates asking them to sign if they agree that tax relief will make Austin more affordable.

The pledge says:

I, _________________, pledge to support and advocate for a more affordable community as a member of Austin City Council. Greater transparency and financial accountability will ultimately result in a more affordable, thriving community, and in order to achieve this, I pledge to support and advocate for the following actions:

1. Audit the City of Austin
Support and advocate for an independent operational and financial audit of all city departments and functions.

2. Enact a 20% Homestead Exemption

Support and advocate for immediate tax relief for homeowners by implementing the full 20% Homestead Exemption.

3. Budget at the Effective Tax Rate

Support and advocate for annual operating budgets that do not exceed the effective tax rate and for zero-based budgeting for all operations.

If you agree with this message, please forward it to every Austin voter you know. Then, "LIKE" our Facebook page -- we'll keep you posted on City Council candidates who sign the pledge so you who will take REAL steps to lower your cost of living.

Don't use Facebook? Then go to our website and click on Candidate Pledge to see who has signed.

DON'T FORGET! Election Day is November 4, and early voting runs from Oct. 20-31.

To see who's on the ballot in the Council District where you live, CLICK HERE.

Thank you, and God bless!

Cindy Mallette

Organizer, Citizens for Tax Relief NOW
www.citizensfortaxreliefnow.com
cindymallette@gmail.com

As of the time of this publication, Laura Pressley (District 4) and Ed English (District 7) are the first two candidates to sign.