Front Porch Magazine - Fall-Winter 2025-2026

Churches Saving the Nation by Restoring Higher Education

During college, many of our young people drift from their faith — nearly six out of ten leave the church during those critical years due in large part to the proliferation of sinful, liberal, ideologies. I’ve seen this up close, even in the lives of my closest friends. That’s why we launched CHEF - the Christian Higher Education Foundation to restore the nation by training churches how to share the value of Christian schools and provide scholarships for their respective youth to attend Christ-centered, Biblically grounded, colleges and universities.

Through our partnership with The Front Porch Magazine, a portion of ad revenue now flows back into church-based scholarship funds — helping congregations invest directly in their next generation of Christian leaders.

Church Scholarship Amounts List

Track and give to your church’s scholarship progress here: https://givebutter.com/churchbasedscholarships

Pocket Tazer Stun Gun

A Great Gift for the Wife

Last weekend I saw something at Larry’s Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I cam across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized.

The effects of the Tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long term adverse affect on our assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety...??

WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home...I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I’d get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.

AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn’t be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right?

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

teries.

All the while I’m looking at this little device measuring about 5” long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference (loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries); pretty cute really, and thinking to myself, ‘no possible way!’

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I’ll do my best.

I’m sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side so as to say, ‘Don’t do it stupid,’ reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny lil ole thing couldn’t hurt all that bad...I decided to give myself a one second burst just for the heck of it.

I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and...

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION...WHAT THE...!!!

I’m pretty sure Hulk Hogan ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, my upper body on fire, with my left arm tucked under by body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and then thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised.

Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, direction in one hand, and Tazer in another.

The directions said that: a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and major loss of bodily control; and a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water.

Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the bat-

Note:

If you ever feel compelled to ‘mug’ yourself with a Tazer, one note of caution:

There is NO such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of the thing until it is dislodged from you hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor?

A three second burst would be considered conservative!

A minute of so later (I can’t be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collect my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape.

*My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace.

*The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was.

*My triceps, right thigh and upper body still twitching.

*My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighted 88 lbs.

*I had no control over the drooling.

*I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head, which I believe came from my hair.

PS: My wife can’t stop laughing about my experience, loved the gift and now regularly threatens me with it.

If you think education is difficult, try being stupid!!!!

Butch and June Taylor call it their “cabin in a forest”—a home looking just like a red cabin tucked among tall trees in the Birch Creek Forest subdivision near Somerville. It wasn’t perfect when they found it in 2020, right in the masked, quiet heart of COVID. “We were sure the place had potential,” June laughs. “But none of the cabinets were where I could reach them, and the shutters by the sink hit the big faucet. Not built for me—but it was us.”

The yard needed love—huge cut trunks lay in what they now call “the pasture”—but the seller agreed to clear them. Soon Butch and June set about making the house truly theirs, lowering shelves, weather-sealing the big porch, and dreaming up the next project. Butch’s new project is to build a set of drawers for June’s office area. June explained, “He will use scrap wood to build a replacement for the set of plastic drawers I have. We call it the “boho” look because of all the different kinds of wood used. We moved here with wood to spare.”

Texas born, the Taylors spent years in New Mexico before returning to Burleson County in 2016 to be closer to aging family. Faith and community guided the search. “We wanted to be near the church,” June says. They landed minutes from Community Chapel, where Wednesday night and Sunday morning anchor the week. “Our preacher has the best balance of grace and obedience I’ve ever heard,” Butch says. “God will accept you as you are—but He won’t leave you that way.”

From their own porch, their vision stretches far beyond Birch Creek. Together with their church, Butch and June support missions in Uganda, Nepal, and other places where locals are eager to hear of this belief that is so foreign to the warring spirit that they were raised under “It’s humbling,” June reflects, “to sit on this porch with a cup of coffee and think about believers across the world who don’t have the same freedom nor the privilege

Cabin in theForest

of having been raised by a God fearing family.” Whether preparing Sunday school lessons for three-year-olds or sending funds abroad, their front porch becomes part of a larger porch—a meeting place of faith, fellowship, and hope that stretches across continents.

Before retirement, Butch farmed cotton for two decades—until back-toback disaster years in 1980 and ’81 forced a change. That turn led to 25 years at the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home, where he eventually helped launch a single-parent program. “When we left, there were 10 or 12 families; now it’s about 30,” he says, still proud of the growth.

Life here is simpler. Coffee on the porch beats any drive-thru (though a McDonald’s near H-E-B is a treat after appointments). The lake’s private launch is close when water levels cooperate. Summers can be too hot for fishing, and neighbors come and go—one new owner cleared a complete lot of trees, “so now we can really see we’ve got neighbors,” Butch jokes. Still, the circle is wide: church friends in nearby subdivisions, a few on Park Road 4, a family member who lives close by and their two daughters, one in CA and one who lives a few hours away. When June sent house photos to the Texas daughter, she texted back “You’ll be all right with a red house?” “Only in a forest,” June replied.

The porch holds stories—about their grandson on the spectrum who calls weekly with Bible questions, then flew to California and was baptized in the Pacific by his longtime mentor. About the old leather-cased NASB study Bible that still shows up every Sunday. About marital spats that now end in a grin: “Most of our fights are hearing (maybe use communication failure)? fights,” June says. “We don’t hear well nor correctly, then laugh at how silly it was.”

A quirky house. A faithful rhythm. A porch that puddles just enough after a rain to prove the weather-seal did its job. It may not be perfect—but as June says, “That’s us. And that’s a good fit.” And from that simple porch in Burleson County, the Taylors help send the gospel abroad—proof that sometimes the most local of places can still open wide enough to touch the world.

I really love the tone of your article. It’s nice to know we communicated what was important to us and you said it beautifully. The red parts are just suggestions. You can rephrase as you think best. Thanks for practically making us do this. You are much appreciated.

From us to you

Editors Note

Dear Readers,

The world is steeped in grave darkness.

Now, more than ever, the voice of smalltown, common-sense America must be heard.

The Lord tells us: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” — Matthew 5:14

At The Front Porch Magazine, we carry that light—truth, community, and joy—to every reader willing to listen.

We may find our readers dismayed, angry, or dejected; but we wont’ leave you there.

We equip. We encourage. We educate.

And together, you share the light. So that the light of life may shine from every front porch across America.

We are honored to partner with CHEF — the Christian Higher Education Foundation — in this recipe for restoration: equipping local churches to send the next generation to Christcentered colleges. Read more on page 6.

Our publication is now even easier to share with others! Sign up and share our email newsletter by scanning the QR code below with your smart phone or email magazine@chefscholars. org.

Sincerely, Sandi

&

Tyler

on

Sheriff Gene Hermes A Life of Service and Straight Truth Spotlight

Burleson County’s

Unique Heritage

People in all walks of life influence those around them. In this column, we will be featuring those who have made an impact in our small towns.

In Burleson County, some people become part of the landscape— steady as a live oak, familiar as a courthouse step. Sheriff Gene Edward Hermes was one of those people.

Born April 26, 1966, in Kenedy, Texas, Hermes devoted his adult life to public service. He worked with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Caldwell Police Department, and eventually the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office, where he rose from investigator to sheriff. First elected in March 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Hermes led until his passing on May 31, 2025, at age 59, after a long battle with cancer.

“Gene was a very honest guy—one of the best friends I ever had,” remembered former Sheriff Dale Stroud, who worked closely with Hermes. “He just couldn’t stand liars. If you weren’t truthful, that didn’t work with him.”

Hermes’s honesty wasn’t bluster; it was a way of doing the job. He believed the public deserved clear eyes and clean hands. In investigations, he could be all business—“head down, doing it right,” as Stroud put it—yet he kept a quiet sense of humor that made long

days bearable. One favorite story from his time as an investigator was the online sting he led, posing as a 16-year-old girl to catch predators. It was gutsy, painstaking work that put him out there on the line, and he did it well because protecting people—especially the vulnerable— was the point.

The practical challenges of rural law enforcement never changed: fewer deputies than calls, tight budgets, and a community that still expects you to be there when the phone rings. Hermes led through that with calm, insisting on thorough training and crystal-clear reports. As Stroud explained, “What you put in writing is what the grand jury sees. They may never meet you—they meet your report.” Under Hermes, young deputies learned to measure their actions by three touchstones: do what’s right, make sure it’s legal, and confirm it’s ethical.

Faith anchored him, too. A member of First Baptist Church, Hermes carried his convictions quietly into the office: fairness without favoritism, compassion without compromise. He showed up for people—at scenes, at church, at community events when his health allowed. And he showed up for his team. When the work pressed in, he’d find a private space with Stroud, talk it through, and then shoulder the next hard thing. Leadership, in his view, wasn’t noise; it was presence.

Illness became a long chapter—first colon cancer in 2017, then liver cancer beginning in 2022—but it never became his identity. He kept serving, traveling back and forth for treatment, doing what he could as strength allowed. That perseverance wasn’t theatrical; it was Gene: steady, grateful for another day to do the work.

Ask around and you’ll hear the same themes: he looked like a sheriff—neat hat, pressed shirt—but more importantly, he acted like one. He ran a clean ship. He expected the truth. He loved this county and the people in it.

Sheriff Hermes is survived by his wife, Sherri Hermes, and their daughter, Caylee Nicole Hermes, along with siblings, extended family, and many friends who will miss his quiet nod and firm handshake. In a time that often rewards the loudest voice, Gene Hermes chose the straightest path. Burleson County is better for it.

with recollections shared by Sheriff Dale Stroud

Why I Am Not A Communist

By Brad Oliver, AIC, EGA, SM

It was 1962 when I first was introduced to Communism. It was an easier time for most American families. Everyone had friends, jobs, and church was the center of our world. The only thing I feared was the bully on the walk home. This was pretty much how it was. The idea that the communist people would want to kill us all was inconceivable. Our parents and our government were looking under every rock for communists with many in my neighborhood building bomb shelters in their back yards.

The televisions nightly echoed calls for war. Our schools were on high alert in preparation for the worst. America was preparing for an attack with test sirens signaling a pending nuclear event. In my elementary classroom we participated in nuclear drills ducking down under our desks and balling up. We can all laugh now knowing what a pointless exercise that would be in a direct hit, but it wasn’t funny then. It was frightening.

This was a dark time for America. Russia had secretly set up nuclear missiles inside Cuba just 94 miles from Florida aided by the newly installed Communist Fidel Castro about a year earlier in the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion. This event has isolated Cuba to this day, and unfortunately, Americans both young and old have forgotten history.

Now, what is communism and what is socialism? It started with a man named Karl Marx in the 1800s who used both words interchangeably. While Marx is considered the father of this political ideology, it is his protégé Joseph Stalin that is known for the bloody birth of communism killing an estimated 20 million people. This record number of deaths was short-lived, as Mao Zedong (under the guise of socialism) buried an estimated 65 million people in China using man-made famines mostly to accomplish his goals. Upon Mao’s death in 1976, his successors line up to take up the cause rose up instituting communism with an iron fist. China is now a world-wide threat.

Let us flash forward 63 years in my story. It is now 2025, and America is flirting with a social experiment prepared specifically for naïve, unlearned, and apathetic citizenry. Socialism has been tried in Russia, China, Cuba, and Venezuela over the past 100 years and all have failed.

New York City has its first so-called democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani whose real agenda is evolving. He is now poised to upset the current political system with promises of free bus rides, rent controls, constructing 200,000 new affordable housing units, increasing minimum wage by 2030 to $30 per hour, and of course, higher taxes on corporations and highincome earners to pay for it all. He is obviously, a real fan of Robin Hood.

Recent surveys indicate Americans age 40 and under primarily support a move to socialism. If the United States does not immediately abandon this social experiment in communism with socialistic tendencies, the very near future will see control in every area of our lives. Propaganda, facial recognition, travel restrictions, financial controls through digital currency, healthcare access, and man-made food shortages. Sound familiar? All these are now fully implemented in China and being rolled out in the United States of America soon. Our only hope is to stand up and unite with the understanding that none of us is as strong as all of us.

Brad Oliver is local to Caldwell for 36 years. He has written technical and training materials for over 40 years and has trained both Insurance professionals and FEMA personnel over the past decade. Currently, he is working with FEMA as a subject matter expert.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

1 Man Rules

We always hear “the rules” from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. These are OUR rules: Please note… these are all numbered “1” ON PURPOSE!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You’re a big girl. If it’s up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don’t hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Saturday = sports. It’s like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:

* Subtle hints do not work!

* Strong hints do not work!

* Obvious hints do not work!

* JUST SAY IT!

1. ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That’s what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days

1. If you think you’re fat, you probably are. Don’t ask us

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done, not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colours, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a colour. Pump-

kin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say “nothing,” we will act like nothing’s wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don’t want an answer to, expect an answer you don’t want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine, Really

1. Don’t ask us what we’re thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as:

* Sport,

* Cars,

* or Computers

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round is a shape.

1. Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight, but did you know men really don’t mind that, it’s like camping.

When I was 9 months pregnant with my son, my mom & I were on the side of the road, struggling with a flat. A car with 4 men stopped, not to help, but to ask directions to a local golf course.

My mom sent them 15 miles in the wrong direction.

SHE IS THE LEGEND WHO SHAPED ME!

RELATING TO THE BIBLE BY OUR FRIENDSHIP

Rev. Melvin L. Dornak, Pastor St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

Leading off with a question about spiritual growth—Whom can you name as a friend or favorite reading from the Old Testament? For myself, I take a special attraction to the major prophet EZEKIEL whose name means God strengthens. Ezekiel was called by God to strengthen the people, especially their faith while facing turmoil, conflict, exile, but saw strength by vision as God opened his faith and perseverance.

Growing up, I was intrigued by that big book I saw as the Family Bible, an heirloom I have to this day in my Rectory. I was enamored by its photos as I envisioned the movements of God’s people from one page of photos to the next. Among the prophets, for whatever reason, I was determined to read all 48 chap-

ters of EZEKIEL. Not easy to understand but reminded me how God will test his people while always revealing mercy and a new beginning. From my daily Office of Prayer readings, here is a passage from the prophet:

The word of the Lord came to me: I will sprinkle clean water upon you to make you clean… I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. 36: 25-26.

I came across an interesting novel that draws upon the life of Ezekiel, entitled, By the Rivers of Babylon (Michael D. O’Brien. Liturgical Press, 2022), which shares his childhood, youth, young adult, call of prophecy, to the close of his life. Written in descriptive dialogue and interspersed with Scriptural passages, I could see with another lens, the visual side of the period of the Old Testament where God leads and sets His will over this prophet. Here is a passage toward the end of the novel:

And thus in my thirtieth year, in the third month, my life is anointed for service unto the Lord, my being consecrated to him forever…. so I may offer fit praise and thanksgiving and teaching in the house of the Lord. Mine is a priesthoodof the soul. [pg. 389]

During my seminary studies, I took the mandated retreat for Candidacy to the Oblate Retreat Center in Sarita, Texas. Here, one stays in an individual hut with each one named after Biblical figures; I was given the hut named Ezekiel! Well, for 8 silent days of prayer, I reflected on my vocation; studying the Scriptures, and meeting with a Spiritual Director (only time to talk) whereby I received spiritual counsel. As a priest, I journeyed to Montreal, Quebec and concelebrated in a French Mass at the Basilica of Notre Dame. On a different day, I toured around this grand interior and decided to take a seat, and there he was, a life-size statue of Ezekiel—oh those big sandals that wore out on those tireless journeys! Like the other major prophets wellspoken—Isaiah and Jeremiah, like the watchman, Ezekiel is on the watch over me and us! Whomever you choose, we endeavor to grow further in God’s word.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

Big Man In A Small Town

A woman’s husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single day.

One day, when he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer.

As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears;

“ You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times.

When I got fired, you were there to support me

When my business failed, you were there.

When I got shot, you were by my side.

When we lost the house, you stayed right here.

When my health started failing, you were still by my side.

You know what?”

“What dear?” she asked gently, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth.

”I think you’re bad luck.”

I had a tree I wanted removed ,because it was too close to the house. I called a tree guy and he came out and did a nice job cutting down the tree. He asked me what I thought and I said it was nice but what about the stump?.... He informed me that he was just a tree guy who cut down trees, If I wanted the stump removed, I would need to call a stump guy. I found a highly recommend “stump” guy and he came and got the stump out......He says there you go...I ask him about the hole.....He says I’m a stump guy I just remove stumps, I don’t fill in the hole......Long story short , He told me I would need to call a Landscaper......I get ahold of a landscaper and I tell him I’m fixing to leave town on a trip and I don’t care what he does, Just fix the hole and make it look nice.

I get back today and find out that he planted a darn tree...

Most people are at the age where they are using their phones to document the good times in their lives.

I’m at the age where I use my phone to take pictures of labels that I can’t read and use my phone to enlarge the print so that I can read it.

Tell our Advertisers you saw them in the Front Porch Magazine

“The Meaning of The flag-DrapeD Coffin”

What a wonderful lesson this was for me. I do not recall ever being taught this in school.

All Americans should be given this lesson. Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought. Our founding fathers used GOD’s word and teachings to establish our Great Nation and I think it’s high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation’s history.

Please pass it along and be proud of the country we live in, and even more proud of those who serve to protect our ‘GOD-GIVEN’ rights and freedoms. I hope you take the time to read this ... To understand what the flag draped coffin really means ...

Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers: Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?

Have you ever noticed that the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day! The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life. The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, ‘Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.’

The 6th fold is for where people’s hearts lie. It is with their heart that

they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic..

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews’ eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians’ eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their Nations motto, ‘In God We Trust.’

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. In the future, you’ll see flags folded and now you will know why.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

BEST DIVORCE LETTER EVER

Dear Wife,

I’m writing you this letter to tell you that I’m leaving you forever. I’ve been a good man to you for 7 years & I have nothing to show for it. These last 2 weeks have been horrible. ... Your boss called to tell me that you quit your job today & that was the last straw. Last week, you came home & didn’t even notice I had a new haircut, had cooked your favorite meal & even wore a brand new pair of silk boxers. You ate in 2 minutes, & went straight to sleep after watching all of your soaps. You don’t tell me you love me anymore; you don’t want anything that connects us as husband & wife. Either you’re cheating on me or you don’t love me anymore; whatever the case, I’m gone.

Your EX-Husband

P.S. don’t try to find me. Your SISTER & I are moving away to West Virginia together! Have a great life!

My teacher told me not to worry about spelling because in the future there will be autocorrect.

And for that I am eternally grapfruit.

Dear Ex-Husband, Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter.

It’s true you & I have been married for 7 years, although a good man is a far cry from what you’ve been. I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your constant whining & griping too bad that doesn’t work. I DID notice when you got a hair cut last week, but the 1st thing that came to mind was ‘You look just like a girl!’ Since my mother raised me not to say anything if you can’t say something nice, I didn’t comment. And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY SISTER, because I stopped eating pork 7 years ago. About those new silk boxers: I turned away from you because the $49.99 price tag was still on them, & I prayed it was a coincidence that my sister had just borrowed $50 from me that morning. After all of this, I still loved you & felt we could work it out. So when I hit the lotto for 10 million dollars, I quit my job & bought us 2 tickets to Jamaica But when I got home you were gone.. Everything happens for a reason, I guess. I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted. My lawyer said that the letter you wrote ensures you won’t get a dime from me. So take care.

Signed, Your Ex-Wife, Rich & Free!

P.S. I don’t know if I ever told you this, but my sister Carla was born Carl. I hope that’s not a problem.

Be grateful that no matter how much chocolate you eat, your earrings will still fit.

Communism or Freedom: An Examination for the United States

Author Anonymous

Understanding Communism

Communism is a socio-economic ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless society where the means of production—factories, land, resources—are owned collectively by the people. Rooted in the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, communism emerged in reaction to the inequalities perceived in capitalist societies. In theory, this system abolishes private property, religion, eliminates class differences, and seeks to redistribute wealth and resources so that everyone’s basic needs are met.

Communism proposes that, through revolution or gradual reform, the state would control all production and distribution during a “transitional” phase, ultimately dissolving into a society where each person contributes according to their ability and receives according to their need. In practice, historical attempts at communism have varied widely, with the former Soviet Union, China under Mao Zedong, and Cuba, each interpreting and implementing Marxist principles differently.

Freedom: The American Ideal

Freedom, as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, encompasses civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press; economic liberty, including property rights and the ability to pursue one’s own enterprise; and political freedoms, such as the right to vote and participate in governance. These concepts are not merely legal constructs but are woven into the cultural and social fabric of American life.

The American idea of freedom is closely linked to liberal democracy and market economics. Citizens are encouraged to pursue their own ambitions, express their beliefs openly, and participate in shaping their government. The market economy allows individuals to own property, start businesses, and engage in commerce with limited interference from the state.

Freedom has shaped the United States into a nation of great diversity, innovation, and prosperity. The American system emphasizes checks and balances, political pluralism, and individual rights. This has fostered a culture of entrepreneurship, scientific advancement, and vibrant civic life.

Perceived Strengths of Communism (Present when all humans become perfect)

• Economic Equality: By redistributing wealth and abolishing private property, communism seeks to ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met and to minimize class divisions.

Weaknesses of Communism

• Limited Individual Freedom: Historical examples show significant restrictions on civil liberties, including limitations on freedom of

speech, political opposition, and personal choice, which results in:

• Incentives: Non-existent: Since everyone earns the same wages, everyone receives the same distribution of resources and services regardless of their individual contribution (or lack of contribution), motivation to exceed the minimum required can wane. This absence of personal stakes in innovation or productivity stifles ambition, resulting in a system where creative and entrepreneurial spirits are subdued.

• Economic Inefficiency: Centralized planning can lead to inefficiencies, lack of innovation, and shortages of goods due to the absence of market signals.

• Authoritarian Tendencies: Efforts to enforce equality have often resulted in the concentration of power and suppression of dissent.

Strengths of Freedom

• Individual Rights: The protection of civil liberties allows people to express themselves, practice their beliefs, and pursue their interests.

• Economic Innovation: The market system incentivizes creativity, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement.

• Political Pluralism: A democratic system offers avenues for change and accommodates a diversity of opinions and lifestyles.

Given the history, values, and structure of American society, the preservation and enhancement of freedom align most closely with the nation’s foundational principles. While communism offers compelling arguments for equality and social welfare, its historical track record in practice has often come at the cost of personal liberty and political pluralism—values held in the highest regard by American citizens.

Moreover, the American system is not static—it has demonstrated the ability to evolve, addressing its shortcomings through democratic processes, social reform, and economic adaptation. The ongoing challenge for the United States is to maintain its dedication to freedom and opportunity while finding ways to reduce inequality and ensure that all citizens can fully participate in and benefit from the promise of American life.

Conclusion

The question of whether communism or freedom is “best” for the United States is not simply academic—it touches on deep-seated values and lived experiences. While the concept of communism advocates equality and collective well-being, the cost in terms of individual freedom and historical outcomes is undeniable.

The United States’ dedication to freedom, coupled with continual efforts to broaden inclusion and opportunity, remains the only path for our Nation’s future.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

Honest Lawyer

Think lawyers don’t have heart, read the best lawyer story of all time... Bar none.

The Salvation Army realized that it had never received a donation from the city’s most successful lawyer. So a volunteer paid the lawyer a visit in his lavish office.

The volunteer opened the meeting by saying, “Our research shows that even though your annual income is over two million dollars, you don’t give a penny to charity. Wouldn’t you like to give something back to Your community?”

The lawyer thinks for a minute and says, “First, did your research also show you that my mother is dying after a long painful illness and she has huge medical bills that are far beyond her ability to pay?”

Embarrassed, the rep mumbles, “Uh, no, I didn’t know that.”

“Secondly,” says the lawyer, “Did it show that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair and is unable to support his wife and six children?”

The stricken rep begins to stammer an apology, but is cut off again.

“Thirdly, did your research also show you that my sister’s husband died in a dreadful car accident, leaving her penniless with a mortgage and three children, one of whom is disabled and another that has learning disabilities requiring an array of private tutors?”

The humiliated rep, completely beaten, says, “I’m so sorry. I had no idea..”

And the lawyer says, “So, if I didn’t give any money to them; what makes you think I’d give any to you?”

Do you ever wake up, kiss the person sleeping beside you, and feel glad that you are alive? I just did and apparently will not be allowed on this airline again...

EvErything Old is nEw AgAin

by Tammy Kubecka

We all know that history repeats itself in many different ways. Fashion trends, music and even recipes come back around eventually and younger generations think they’ve discovered something new!

It’s also known that history repeats itself through conflicts and harmony. Historians are now facing a new kind of challenge. Our County, and most counties in Texas, is experiencing a population boom. How do we teach new residents about our County history? And for that matter, how do we educate lifelong residents and spark their interest and pride in Burleson County?

We hope that our new residents will learn about the origins of their new home, and county historians know it’s time to revisit the basics of our history. We’re known for our Czech and German heritage, but we did have a pretty interesting history prior to that!

State Highway 21 is basically the original, main route of El Camino Real. The trail began over 300 years ago as animal trails, and then became Native American trails. Spanish, French and Mexican explorers, missionaries and tradesmen started using the trail that runs from Louisiana to Laredo. By chance, Burleson County is the exact halfway point on the route, a point that was not unknown to travelers in the 1700s and early 1800s. Historical maps document the Camino through our county, as the Old San Antonio Road, or Nacogdoches to San Antonio Road, or just Camino Real…the King’s Road.

An interesting bit of trivia, and proof that the route through Burleson County was widely used, is found on historic maps showing Davidson Creek labeled as Arroyo Nuncio. It means “a place of rest” or a rest stop, and wouldn’t be named as such unless that was a known landmark.

Old Mexican records tell of a Guarda, or guard post, established on the Brazos River in the 1700s. A Mexican fort was in the County in 183032. The fort, commanded by Colonel Jose Francisco Ruiz, was to keep illegal immigrants out of Mexico. That would be the Americans traipsing across the southern United States, across Louisiana, and into Tejas. The story of Fort Tenoxtitlan and its Commander can take days to explain because there’s so many unique twists and turns. Just know that Colonel Ruiz became one of two native “Texans” to sign our Declaration of Independence.

Early settlers in the County came from Virginia, Tennessee and all across the south, with a dream of owning land and becoming prosperous. But the County faced a lot of adversity as well. The Civil War saw several companies form in the County. World War One brought about the first of our contribution to the Army’s 36th Division. About 1000 men enlisted during the Great War. Burleson County stepped up again during World War II with about 1300 men and women enlisted in the military. They were the only county in Texas to supply an entire company, born of the local National Guard unit to become Company E of the 36th Division. Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan…wherever there was and is conflict, Burleson County residents have shown their deep patriotism to our great country with service members and strong support back home.

Where Native Americans roamed hundreds, and thousands, of years ago, became the heart blood of the County with farming and ranching. Agriculture has built and supported this County through the decades. When Eastern European immigrants began arriving in the later 1800s, one of the great attractions of this area was the rich farmland and the ability for families to support themselves with a piece of land for crops and livestock.

Newcomers in the county probably think we move a little slower in Burleson County, and maybe so, but we’ve been on this pace forward for years. Being a little bit laid back gives us more time to reflect on where we came from, how we developed this County, and who our families are. We don’t take our history for granted and continue to learn about the people and events that come before us. Each of us carry a piece of our past inside as we face the future.

Burleson County is very fortunate to have a number of historical groups and museums that preserve, and brag about, our history: The Burleson County Historical Commission that’s appointed by the county (every county in the State has one!) who also operates the Museum in the Courthouse; the Burleson County Historical Society (who owns the Kraitchar House); The Somerville Area Historical Society (with a Museum); supporters who maintain The Burleson County Czech Museum and the Deanville Heritage Foundation who maintains the restored Deanville Depot. There is also a chapter of the Texas Czech Heritage Society in our County, and the Civic Center Museum featuring Caldwell city history.

Wow! That’s really something for everyone, and each group always needs members and/or volunteers and visitors. We all do tours and appointments. You can call the Chamber of Commerce for contact information for any of these groups. For natives of the area, it’s probably time you refreshed yourself on county and family history. We encourage our new residents to learn the “new” history of Burleson County. You’ll be amazed!

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

A young man was walking through a supermarket to pick a few things when he noticed an old lady following him around Thinking nothing of it, he ignored her and continued on Finally, he went to the checkout line, but she got in front of him.

“Pardon me,” she said, “I’m sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable

It’s just that you look just like my son who just died recently.”

“I’m very sorry,” replied the young man, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Yes,” she said “As I’m leaving, can you say ‘Goodbye mother’? It would make me feel much better.”

“Sure,” answered the young man

As the old woman was leaving, he called out, “Goodbye mother!”

As he stepped up to the checkout counter, he saw that his total was $127.50

“How can that be?” he asked, “I only purchased a few things!”

“Your mother said that you would pay for her,”

The preacher, in his Sunday sermon, used “Forgive Your Enemies” as his subject. After a long sermon, he asked how many were willing to forgive their enemies. About half held up their hands. Not satisfied he harangued for another twenty minutes and repeated his question. This time he received a response of about 80 percent. Still unsatisfied, he lectured for another 15 minutes and repeated his question. With all thoughts now on Sunday dinner, all responded except one elderly lady in the rear.

“Mrs. Jones, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?”

“I don’t have any.”

“Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?”

“Ninety three.”

“Mrs. Jones, please come down in front and tell the congregation how a person can live to be ninety-three, and not have an enemy in the world.”

The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, very slowly turned around and said: “It’s easy, I just outlived them.”

DON’T FORGET:

The same people who believe that Trump is a racist, believe that Bruce Jenner is a woman.

What’s the Deal with Communism?

I’ve had the privilege of knowing some folks that lived in Soviet bloc countries before 1990, specifically Romania and Poland. The Romanian was one of the first in his country to be able to travel abroad for a theological education, which was impossible before the fall of the dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. The other was a girl from Poland who described getting up at three in the morning to go stand in line for bread at government-run grocery stores. I’ve never heard anyone that’s lived under communism talk about how great it was.

The basic problem with communism, meaning the socio-political theory put forward by Karl Marx, is that it has no basis in anything transcendent (it operates under the assumption that there is no God) and its motive force is class struggle, the idea that what moves the world and gives it meaning is an ongoing battle between “haves” and “have-nots.” So, for positive social change to happen, the “have-nots (peons, proletariat, workers of the world, etc.)” need to get really fired-up about what wealthy people are holding back from them, fired-up enough to foment revolution in which the capital (or wealth) held by the wealthy is forcefully redistributed across society. That’s the idea, anyway. Marx was what you would call an idealist, a man making promises about no more government telling you what to do, no more greedy rich people hogging all the stuff, and a happy brotherhood of workers living in perfect cooperation, based on theories that sound perfectly inspiring on paper but that don’t mesh with reality. But what actually

would have seen that coming.

Two things from Scripture come to mind as I ponder why Marxism appeals to universityeducated young people in affluent countries. One is Jesus’ words, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Communism claims to be the antidote to greed by eliminating anyone’s claim to private property, but the revolution moves forward by appealing to a person’s sense of being a “havenot,” and inflaming rage against the “privileged.” The other is from Isaiah, “my people go into exile for lack of knowledge.” In that context “knowledge” refers to the law of God, but I think there is a principle there that applies more broadly. Only an informed, educated people can maintain a constitutional republic. The whole point of the project behind our Constitution was allowing an educated populace with a moral backbone to be as self-governing as possible. If the majority of the population is not educated, doesn’t understand the basic workings of our government (or economy), doesn’t think soberly about the wisdom and character of our political candidates, and isn’t positively involved in the life of their local community, our ability to self-govern will fizzle out. Something like communism is waiting in the wings.

What is the antidote to all this? Understanding. An understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe, which the Bible abundantly provides. I encourage people to read the book of Genesis, not only to understand the rest of the Bible, but to understand why the world we live in is the way it is. On top of that I would add an understanding of general history, how the modern world we live in has taken shape, and how our government and economy actually work. My wife and I have been listening to Thomas Sowell’s Basic Economics on audiobook, which is a fairly easy-to-understand discussion of how wealth is created, and how governmental action affects the economy. In short, if there is something good our government has done for us, it is insisting that everyone go to school and learn to read. If you are able to read this, take advantage of that skill. Right understanding, or wisdom, enables right action, or virtue. Virtue enables us to be self-governing, which will preserve our freedom.

Bio

Blessed to be a Blessing

by Hilda Hellums Baker

In 1996 Hilda Baker moved from Houston to Caldwell determined to put her conviction, that God was still a faithful, prayer answering God into action by building a Christian retreat center in Chriesman.

Hilda is the founder and president of the Cross Roads Retreat, and author of “Stand At The Cross Roads” a book which tells the true story of her struggles as God brought his plan into being through her. Hilda enjoys sharing her faith story with groups and organizations whenever she can.

In 2003 Hilda married Pat Baker and together they continued growing Cross Roads. Along with Pat, Hilda was one of the founders of the former Area 3:16 church. She also serves on the board of Impact Burleson County, a ministry founded by her husband. Hilda also remains an active member of the Brazos Valley Emmaus Community, a ministry for the spiritual development of Christian leaders.

Many people interpret Acts 4:32-36 to mean that God’s plan was for his people to live in a communist or at best a socialist society. The text partly reads, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” While this sounds like communism, it is not. In Communism the state owns everything and doles it out as it sees fit. in verse 34 we see that the people still owned property when it stated, “from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them.” choosing to do this willingly, out of love, gratitude and generosity, not by a mandate from the state, Jesus, or any other entity.

From the beginning, Jesus was all about Spiritual formation, charity and personal sacrifice. The key word being “personal” sacrifice. Leviticus 23:22 says, “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you.” When the state, an organization or even a church requires you to give of your resources so that they can then redistribute it to take care of the poor and needy it is a form of socialism. They want the control; they want to choose how your resources are spent. This removes all sense of personal fulfillment, or responsibility and removes any possibility of you receiving a blessing or growing spiritually through the act of one-on-one loving and giving.

There are many forms of socialism. There is a very fine line between Classic Socialism and Communism. Classic Socialism rejects the right for anyone to own personal property or most forms of economically valuable property like grocery stores, hospitals, and major industries. They are owned and controlled by the state. Some forms allow personal property to be owned. But in both personal property and wages are then heavily taxed and redistributed to make everyone’s financial resources equal.

God never called on us to sell all our possessions. Deuteronomy 15:11 says, “There will never cease to be poor in the land, therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brother, to the needy and to the poor in your land.” John 12 talks about how Judas accused Mary of wasting an expensive bottle of her perfume by pouring it over Jesus’ feet in the days before he was to be crucified. Judas wanted to sell it and give the money to the poor, but Jesus said in verse 8 it’s ok, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” In other words, it is ok to take care of ourselves, it is ok to find pleasure and enjoy the fruits of our labors. A favorite saying of my mom’s mother was “noblesse oblige”, which infers the responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged. We are to give generously out of our surplus. Genesis 12:2—3 reads,” I will bless you, “God says to Abraham, “and all the people on earth will be blessed through you.” That is our calling.

Ever since the Garden of Eden God has been all about free will. Jesus is all about generosity and sharing, but only as acts of individual, free-will – not state imposed redistribution of wealth. To be forced by the government to be charitable is meaningless. Just like tithing, to please God it must come from a heartful of gratitude – not a grudging expectation. Gratitude for what he’s done for us, not what we can do for him. It must come from an intense desire to share His love with those who need it, in whatever way they need to feel or hear it. Jesus was all about spiritual growth, and spiritual growth happens when we see need, feel the Holy Spirit’s pull and act joyfully out of our abundance. We are blessed when we bless others in the name of Jesus.

THE ANSWER TO COMMUNISM

Bio: Caroline DeBerry is the founder and CEO of Tenagrity Solutions (www. tenagrity-solutions.com) –a firm that offers strategy, government affairs, operations, and communications consulting. Internationally respected, Caroline has received numerous awards throughout her career –having served as a senior congressional staffer, federal analyst, C-suite executive in a policy think tank and healthcare nonprofit, among other roles. She has worked with high-ranking officials such as those in the military and the White House and Cabinet Secretaries. She is also a published author; her most recent book is a conversational commentary on the biblical book Esther, titled Esther: The Woman Who Didn’t Know Her Place. Feel free to contact Caroline at info@ tenagrity-solutions.com.

There are only so many doctors, nurses, and medications. That’s supply. There are always people in need of those doctors, nurses, and medicines. That’s demand. What should be done when there’s not enough supply for the demand?

Some would argue the government should control the supply and determine how it’s distributed to meet some of the demand. In a word, that’s communism.

Communism is a loss of freedom; it is the forced sharing of a society’s assets as determined by an elite few who are usually if not always insulated from the society’s actual needs and who “make their living” from administering the communal code they establish.

Now I could discuss the differences among communism, socialism, and capitalism. But that is not the purpose of this article. This article will 1) explain why communism doesn’t work; 2) warn my fellow Americans; 3) offer a solution.

Why doesn’t communism work?

While I was a senior congressional staffer, I dealt with health

issues facing our constituents, especially those in rural areas. For example, Medicare established policies that impacted how much oxygen suppliers were paid. The Medicare employees essentially left out the rural areas because their needs were inconvenient (one size does not fit all). The situation escalated, and our constituents in the mountains were literally going to die if Medicare did not reverse its actions within 24 hours (we convinced Medicare to do so).

Now I’m not saying Medicare is communism. It’s not. However, it is mismanaged by the government (the worst CEO). It is running out of money while failing to adequately take care of people who paid their taxes with the promise of a great insurance plan.

Like big businesses, government bureaucracies are “too big to fall” and too removed from voters. With big businesses, consumers will typically take their money elsewhere or establish competing businesses. But you can’t compete with the government (it’s by nature a monopoly).

Now here is my warning. The “governing elite” take from you and threaten to withhold what they promised you if you don’t live the way they want you to. That is no longer a business-like scenario; that is almost a form of religion.

Each human is made in God’s image with an inherent understanding of right versus wrong as determined by our Maker –not by fellow humans who have their own selfish agendas.

It’s easy to say ,“let someone else do it,” and it’s even easier to say, “let the government do it.” But when we let the government do something that we ourselves and our communities could do, we surrender our freedom and taxpayer dollars to fund their inefficient and usually at best only slightly effective management of the task at hand.

So how do we fix this? We must really examine what politicians are promising and be ready to say, “No, I’ll stand up and do whatever it is that needs to be done.” That is the best answer to communism. The reward of doing your part is freedom.

Love Your Enemies

Over the years, I have volunteered in many roles, some rewarding, some challenging, but none as volatile as what I’m currently faced with. Since 2023, I have served as president on the Board of Directors for a community that we own property in. In serving my community, I’ve encountered conflict, accusations, and even character assassination from people who have never even met me. There have been many moments where I wanted to lash out, and honestly, a few moments when I actually did. But through it all, I’ve been reminded of one unshakable truth: the answers to every struggle we face, whether betrayal, bitterness, or injustice, are found within the pages of the Bible. It is there that I have learned not just how to lead, but also how we must forgive. Not just how to speak truth, but learning how to do so with grace.

When our community governance was challenged by personal vendettas and misinformation, the temptation was to respond with equal force. But somewhere between the Bylaws and the bitterness, I found myself returning to a verse I’ve known since childhood: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)

Of all the teachings of Jesus, loving our enemies may be the most difficult to live out. It goes against our instincts, and it certainly isn’t what the world encourages. The challenge becomes even greater when those “enemies” were once neighbors, colleagues, or even friends.

Our current board has been praised for the positive changes we’ve brought to our community, restoring trust, improving transparency, and serving with integrity but lately, that foundation has been shaken. A lawsuit, fueled by misinformation and personal vendettas, has stirred division and confusion. Some who once stood with us have now been swayed by a campaign of half-truths and false narratives. Ironically, one of the original instigators behind our community’s conflict has now positioned herself as a neighborhood hero being praised by those who either don’t know the truth or choose not to see it.

The situation above reminds me of how quickly public opinion also turned against Jesus. The same crowds that welcomed Him with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna” later cried out for His crucifixion. Days after celebrating Jesus’ arrival, they were given a choice, Jesus or Barabbas. Faced with truth and deception, they chose the one who looked like a savior, never realizing they were rejecting the One who came to save them. That same pattern is unfolding in our community. Someone who helped sow division now stands in the spotlight, praised by those who don’t know the full story. Like Barabbas, their appeal is loud and persuasive but not rooted in truth. Just as Jesus remained silent before His accusers, I’ve learned that sometimes the best response is not to shout louder, but just stand firmer.

Truth may not always be the loudest voice in the room or win the popularity contest, but it endures long after the noise fades. As accusations continue and the legal process unfolds, I’ve made a conscious choice, not to retaliate, but to remain rooted in resolve. I will stand firm in what is right, and I refuse to let bitterness take hold.

Jesus didn’t just teach love. He embodied it. When Peter denied Him three times, Jesus didn’t shame him. He restored him gently, asking, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15–19). When Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, Jesus still called him “friend.” (Matthew 26:50). When He hung on the cross, surrounded by mockers and executioners, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

These are lessons that still speak to us today. They were deliberate acts of mercy in the face of betrayal, injustice, and cruelty. Even today,

they challenge us to rethink what it means to lead, to serve, and to forgive.

Of course, forgiving loved ones is often easier. We know their hearts. We’ve shared laughter, meals, and memories. There’s a foundation of trust, even when it’s sometimes shaken. But forgiving your enemies? That’s when grace stops being easy and starts requiring strength.

So how do we bridge that gap?

First, we pray for them by name. Not for vindication, but for healing. It softens our hearts and shifts our focus from justice to mercy. Second, we separate the person from the behavior. Acknowledge the harm, but don’t let it define their entire identity. People are more than their worst moments.

Third, we remember our own need for grace. We’ve all wounded others, sometimes unknowingly. Forgiveness can be a mirror for us just as much as it is a gift to ourselves.

And finally, we must set boundaries without bitterness. Forgiveness doesn’t mean enabling. It means releasing resentment while still protecting what’s right.

Remember how Joseph forgave the brothers who sold him into slavery? Remember how David spared the life of Saul, who sought to kill him? And Jesus? Jesus forgave the very people who nailed Him to the cross. These aren’t just biblical stories of the past; they still shape and guide us on how we should continue to live. They also remind us that forgiveness isn’t weakness. It’s actually strength.

Whether in our neighborhoods, our churches, or our families, we will face opposition. We are not called to win battles, we are called to reflect Jesus in our lives. Sometimes, our most powerful testimony will be how we treat those who mistreat us.

This chapter of life I’m currently in may be marked by conflict, but I believe it will also be remembered for integrity, progress, and a steadfast commitment to what’s right. Every decision my fellow board members and I have made, has been rooted in the desire to truly help and improve the community and the lives of those we serve. We know, that by choosing love over retaliation, we honor the One who loved us first.

To love your enemies is to rise above the urge to retaliate. It means choosing mercy when judgment feels justified and offering grace where none has been earned. It’s not about ignoring wrongdoing, it’s about refusing to let it define your response. Jesus didn’t love selectively; He loved sacrificially. When we follow His example, we become vessels of healing in places fractured by pride, pain, and division. Loving our enemies doesn’t mean we lose, force, but by faith. We lead not by proving that in the end, love and truth still wins.

is a licensed Texas REALTOR®. She is a member of the National and Texas Association of Realtors and the local B/CS Association of Realtors. She is currently affiliated with Cross-Town Realty which is located in Caldwell and serves the Brazos Valley area. Renita has been in the real estate business since 2009 and would love to help you with your real estate needs. She may be reached at 979-220-9106 or by email at info@ agentrenita.com

Is Evil at Our Front Porch?

A.D. Mueller holds a Political Science degree from Texas State University and is a rancher, refinery equipment agent, and Republican Precinct Chairman in Burleson County. A lifelong conservative activist, he has traveled through Russia and Nicaragua.

“Communism is an evil, demonic religion, and has infected America to its bones. It will tear this nation apart if not driven from our shores.” - Jesse Kelly, Anti-Communist Manifesto.

The seeds of socialism are being planted in American soil. Today’s progressives follow the same playbook that has destroyed nations and murdered millions throughout history.

The Marxist Foundation

Communism, founded by Marx and Engels in 1848, seeks to replace capitalism and religion with state control. Marx’s promise “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need” sounds noble until you see reality.

The track record is horrifying: Soviet Communists executed hundreds of thousands and sent millions to die in Gulags. Communist regimes spread through Europe, Asia, and beyond after World War II. Conservative estimates show over 94 million people died during communist purges and famines.

Marx’s Blueprint for Control

Marx outlined a ten-point plan that sounds frighteningly familiar today:

1. Abolish private property

2. Heavy taxes on producers

3. Abolish inheritance rights

4. Control all banks and credit

5. Government control of media

6. State control of factories and unions

7. Equal pay for all labor

8. State control of education

9. Farm and Ranches under state control and ownership

10. Freedom of speech and thought is controlled

From the 1960s to Today’s Leaders

Today’s progressives have roots in 1960s radical movements. These spiritually impoverished activists rejected American values and worshipped communist leaders like Castro, Mao, and Che Guevara. Groups like the Black Panthers and SDS infiltrated universities to destroy the American way of life.

The scary part? Some former radicals are now mainstream leaders. Senator Bernie Sanders visited Communist Russia and nearly became the Democratic nominee. The revolutionaries of yesterday are today’s power brokers.

The Modern Assault on Freedom

Progressives use communist tactics. Like Orwell warned in 1984 and Animal Farm, they redefine words and rewrite history while using the media for propaganda.

The irony is staggering—liberals scream about threats to democracy while suppressing free speech. In Nicaragua, my cousin Stedman Muller was a Contra leader fighting communists in the 1980s. Dictator Ortega’s secret police took him for speaking out. Free speech—the essence of being human—isn’t allowed under communism.

The Pattern Emerges

Look around America today. Progressives call others fascist while tearing down monuments and burning cities. Socialist mayoral candidates run openly in New York, Minneapolis, and Chicago, pledging to defund police and redistribute wealth.

The pattern is clear—it’s Marx’s playbook implemented step by step.

The Fight for America’s Soul

The communist movement didn’t die with the Iron Curtain—it evolved. We see it today in Venezuela and Nicaragua’s dictatorships, backed by Russia and China.

The goal remains: first socialism, then their promised utopia. But history shows the truth—communist utopia leads only to mass graves and broken nations.

America stands at a crossroads. We can choose freedom, free enterprise, and individual liberty that built the greatest nation in history. Or we can follow socialism down the same bloody path that destroyed every nation foolish enough to try it?

The choice is ours. But we must choose now, before it’s too late.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

A preacher is coming to the end of his sermon and he tells the congregation, “In preparation for next week’s sermon, everybody read Leviticus chapter 28.”

Next week when everybody comes in the preacher follows up, “Now who read Leviticus chapter 28?” Almost everybody raises their hands. The preacher says, “Okay, good. There is no Leviticus chapter 28. I’d like to begin my sermon on lying.” ***************

A man walks through the backwoods and sees a sign in front of a rundown, shanty-style house: Talking Dog for Sale.

He rings the bell and the owner appears and says the dog is in the backyard.

The man goes into the backyard and sees a handsome Labrador Retriever sitting there.

“Can you talk?” he asks.

The Labrador answers, “Of course.

After the man gets over the shock of hearing a dog talk, he asks, “So, what’s your story?”

The Labrador looks up and says, “I discovered I could talk when I was a very little puppy. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA. Soon they were flying me from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one thought a dog could eavesdrop.

“For eight years, I was one of their most valuable spies. But I got really tired of running around, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger, so I decided to settle down. I got a job doing undercover security at the airport, walking around and eavesdropping on suspicious people. I uncovered some incredible deals and got a bunch of medals.

“I got married, had a bunch of babies, and now I’m retired.”

The man was surprised. He goes back inside and asks the owner how much he wants for the dog.

“Ten dollars,” he says.

“Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why are you selling it so cheap?”

“Because the dog is a liar. He didn’t do any of that stuff.”

95% of electric vehicles are still on the road.

The remaining 5% made it all the way home.

9/11

The anniversary has just passed... but we will never forget!

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked two commercial airplanes and deliberately crashed them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York City, causing both towers to collapse. The attack, orchestrated by the Islamist extremist group al-Qaeda, was the deadliest terrorist act in U.S. history

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, we were about 5 hours out of Frankfurt, flying over the North Atlantic.

All of a sudden the curtains parted and I was told to go to the cockpit, immediately, to see the captain. As soon as I got there I noticed that the crew had that “All Business” look on their faces. The captain handed me a printed message. It was from Delta’s main office in Atlanta and simply read, “All airways over the Continental United States are closed to commercial air traffic. Land ASAP at the nearest airport. Advise your destination.”

No one said a word about what this could mean. We knew it was a serious situation and we needed to find terra firma quickly. The captain determined that the nearest airport was 400 miles behind us in Gander, Newfoundland.

He requested approval for a route change from the Canadian traf-

fic controller and approval was granted immediately — no questions asked. We found out later, of course, why there was no hesitation in approving our request.

While the flight crew prepared the airplane for landing, another message arrived from Atlanta telling us about some terrorist activity in the New York area. A few minutes later word came in about the hijackings.

We decided to LIE to the passengers while we were still in the air. We told them the plane had a simple instrument problem and that we needed to land at the nearest airport in Gander, Newfoundland, to have it checked out.

We promised to give more information after landing in Gander. There was much grumbling among the passengers, but that’s nothing new! Forty minutes later, we landed in Gander. Local time at Gander was 12:30 PM that’s 11:00 AM EST.

There were already about 20 other airplanes on the ground from all over the world that had taken this detour on their way to the US.

After we parked on the ramp, the captain made the following announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, you must be wondering if all these airplanes around us have the same instrument problem as we have. The reality is that we are here for another reason.”

Then he went on to explain the little bit we knew about the situation in the US. There were loud gasps and stares of disbelief. The captain informed passengers that Ground control in Gander told us to stay put.

The Canadian Government was in charge of our situation and no one was allowed to get off the aircraft. No one on the ground was allowed to come near any of the air crafts. Only airport police would come around periodically, look us over and go on to the next airplane.

In the next hour or so more planes landed and Gander ended up with 53 airplanes from all over the world, 27 of which were US commercial jets.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

A 45 year old woman from Los Angeles had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital.

While in surgery, she had a supernatural near-death experience.

Her spirit was lifted up to heaven where she met God and asked Him, “Is it my time?”

God replied, “No, you have 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live.”

After recovering, the woman decided to live life to the fullest and make the most of the time she had left.

She decided to stay in the hospital and have plastic surgery on her face, liposuction, breast augmentation and removal of abdominal fat.

She also called a hairdresser to dye her hair and an orthodontist to do a “teeth lift”.

She figured if she had so much time ahead of her, she should live

it the best way she could.

After her last plastic surgery, she put on a new dress with matching heels, left the hospital, walked across the street, and a BAM! An ambulance ran her over and she died instantly.

As she passed through the gates of heaven, she reached out to God and demanded to know what had happened.

“You told me I had 43 years left! Why didn’t you save me from the ambulance?”

And God replied, “Oh, it’s you? My bad, I didn’t recognize you.

TAGS:

Front Porch Magazine would like to thank our advertisers and writers for their continued support.

Contributed by Burleson County Sheriff’s Department

William Rios, Sheriff

“I’ve worn this badge for over 40 years, long enough to know one thing for certain: when people can’t defend themselves, bad things happen.

Out here in rural America, we don’t have the luxury of a patrol vehicle on every corner or a deputy at every doorstep. Our communities rely on their own good sense, their neighbors, and yes, their firearms, to stay safe until help arrives. That’s not paranoia—it’s reality. It’s how people have protected their families for generations.

This isn’t just about personal safety. It’s about a broader truth: history has shown, time and again, that when governments disarm their citizens, it doesn’t end in peace. It ends in tragedy.

Stalin disarmed the Russian people before unleashing mass starvation and purges that killed millions. Mao did the same in China, leading to catastrophic policies that caused the deaths of more people than both world wars combined. In Cambodia,

Why the Second Ammendment Matters

The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Pol Pot seized weapons before a quarter of the population was slaughtered. Castro disarmed the Cuban people, and generations lived in fear under a brutal regime.

Each of those leaders promised safety. They said, “Turn in your guns, and we’ll protect you.” But once the people were defenseless, who protected them from the government? No one.

This is why the Second Amendment exists. It’s not just about hunting. It’s not just about sport. It’s about freedom. It’s about making sure that no matter what storms this nation faces— whether enemies abroad or tyranny at home—the American people are never left powerless.

I don’t say this to stir up fear. I say it because I’ve taken an oath to defend the Constitution, and I love the community I serve. My job is to help keep people safe. But my duty also includes reminding folks of this simple truth: freedom doesn’t last if the people can’t defend it.

We’re lucky to live in a nation where our rights are spelled out clearly. But rights only matter if we protect them. Out here, we understand that freedom and security don’t come from government promises—they come from preparedness, responsibility, and resolve.

And that’s why the Second Amendment still matters.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

At a trial in a small town in Nebraska.

… the prosecutor called his first witness, an elderly grandmother, to the stand.

He walked up to her and said, “Mrs. Williams, do you know who I am?”

The woman replied: “Of course I know who you are, Mr. Rawley. I have known you since you were a little boy, and frankly, you are a disappointment. You lie, cheat on your wife, manipulate people and talk behind their backs. You think you’re somebody, but if you had any sense you’d realize you’re nothing more than a mediocre pencil pusher. I know exactly who you are.”

The prosecutor’s jaw dropped to the floor. Shocked, he pointed across the room to divert attention and asked: “Ms. Williams…do you know who the defense

attorney is?”

The woman replied: “Of course I do. I have known Mr. Carbuncle since he was a child. He is a lazy bigot with a drinking problem. He cannot maintain a normal relationship with anyone and is one of the worst lawyers in the county. On top of that, he has cheated on his wife with three different women, including your wife. Yeah, I know exactly who he is.”

The defense attorney looked like he was going to have a stroke.

The judge ordered the prosecutor and defense attorney to approach and whispered to them in a low but agitated voice,

“If one of you brats asks her if she knows who I am, I’ll put you both behind bars for life!”

Poetry by Jim Wilson

Jim Wilson is a 75-year-old, white male with no criminal record. He is a retired, Texas small animal veterinarian currently specializing in grass growing, gardening, writing, and public elementary school volunteering in the Burton/ Brenham area. Wilson is a philosophically conservative Republican with closet Democratic idealist empathy, and therefore has absolutely no credentials to be a poet. However, he has written more than 600 poems since 2000, and he feels compelled to share them with unsuspecting victims. Wilson’s publishing credits include Concho River Review, Ft. Davis Mt. Dispatch, and others. Wilson’s Down to Earth Poetry won the North Texas Book Festival Book Award for best poetry book and he has been nominated for and has been finalists in other writer award competitions.

After boiling down 75 years of life I have either gotten down to the distilled nectar or the scum at the bottom of the pot. Frankly, any particular day can go either way, but this is what I want to tell you. Live in the now moment of your life. Touch it, twist it, clarify it, gripe about it, enjoy it, but above all be conscious of it.

So, live now. Make the most of it because now is where your pot is boiling and where you can turn the heat up or down as necessary. This is where you can affect your life. Do it. Enjoy.

Word Wanderings

The wind blows and the chimes tinkle, Two tired, familiar, expected verbs, adequate in their own wayasynonymical but parallelesque because chimes don’t blow and wind doesn’t tinkle.

But that’s neither here nor there. Yet it is both here and there as the English language can show you, because what I wanted to say before I was sidetracked by the asides is-

the wind blows over the open chimney pipe sounding a hollow, creepy swoosh that if you hold your lips and you heart just right becomes a whistle that calls the dog and announces a happy day.

Out of Alphabet by February

When a highly tolerant and optimistic person meets a readily judgmental and pessimistic person, they may fall in love, and work hard to blend.

When they do, it can be like Katrina hitting New Orleans and leaving the city in better shape, than before the hurricane.

Cleaning up the daily debris will be a lifelong joy, or it can be-

The Nature Channel Brings You The Sins of Rocky Squirrel

He looks in. Sees ‘em. Smells ‘em down there, delicious, desirable, discarded squirrel delicaciesburger bun and black banana.

Chattering, “Come to papa, yum yumss.” Rocky Squirrel circles the rim of the topless black metal Midwest Waste Dumpster.

Launching a hundred slides down every inch of edge, the tireless, timid swordsman thrusts and fear parries. Each plunge leaves in view only hangy-ony toes and flit-flit tail.

The vertical sides are slick. The bin is deep. Look at thast tail snap! He is pissed and passionate. Will he stay Rocky, the hungry squirrel, or will be become Rocky, the landfill squirrel?

Tune in tomorrow. Will desire overcome discretion and rocky become a trash truck’s compactor impression?

America’s Most Consequential Battle

It should come as no surprise that throughout America’s staggering rise to “greatest nation” status we have faced a number of formidable foes. Our time-honored values—religious freedom, democracy, pluralism, and the fruits of economic success—have won us not only admiration, but also the ire of enemies who despise liberty. From Islamic jihadists bent on destroying the West, to domestic terrorists who seek to tear us apart from within, to rogue nation states with nuclear ambitions, America has always lived in the shadow of danger.

Yet while those enemies remain pervasive and powerful threats to our safety and sovereignty today, all pale in comparison to the past, present, and future harm at the hands of the world’s communists.

Our younger readers readily recognize the catastrophic death and destruction wrought by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan during World War II. Our more mature readers, shaken, angry, and despairing from our costly efforts to contain communism in Korea and Vietnam, often neglect to share with America’s youth the ongoing and future danger of communism. And so, in honor of the sacrifice of my great-grandfather, Lloyd Mitchell— an Air Force navigator in World War II who risked his life in the fight against tyranny—I remind and implore my fellow Americans: we must maintain a holy fear and sober respect for the real and present danger communism represents.

It is easy, especially in an age of comfort and distraction, to fall prey to the enticing promises of the utopia fabricated by German philosopher Karl Marx. To his credit, Marx diagnosed genuine problems within industrial capitalism: exploitation of workers, profits prioritized over people, and rising wealth inequality. His prescription—equal workloads, shared profits, and distribution “according to need”—sounds noble. It even echoes certain words of Jesus: to bear one another’s burdens, to avoid storing up treasure for oneself, to care for the poor.

But here lies the trap. Marx’s vision promised heaven on earth, but delivered only hell. Every nation that embraced his ideas—Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Cambodia—ended not in freedom and justice, but in

Written by J. Tyler Clark

bloodshed, poverty, starvation, and oppression. Far from uplifting the poor, communism enslaved them to the state.

In our own country, the Christian left has attempted to blend the teachings of Marx with the teachings of Christ, confusing charity with compulsion. They impose policies under the banner of “social justice,” extending biblical admonitions far beyond their true intent. Some preach that living “your truth” is the gospel, that universalism replaces repentance, that Christ demands open borders without discernment, that God would never interfere with any relationship, no matter how contrary to His Word.

This blending of Marx and Christ distorts both. The gospel is voluntary; communism is compulsory. Charity is commanded to the believer; redistribution is imposed by the state. Christ frees; communism enslaves. And while such rhetoric may sound good, it has proven to be one of the greatest internal threats to America— an erosion of freedom from within.

We need only look abroad to see communism’s modern face. In China, peaceful students were crushed in Tiananmen Square for daring to speak freely. In Hong Kong in 2020, protesters who longed for liberty were beaten back under Beijing’s boot. Today, China extends its grasp in the South China Sea, threatens Taiwan, and poisons American streets with fentanyl funneled through Mexican cartels.

Communism is not a relic of history—it is alive, ruthless, and global. And its victims are not only “their own people.” Increasingly, it is our people—our families— who suffer from its reach.

The French government recently recognized my great-grandfather’s sacrifice by awarding him the Legion of Honor, its highest decoration for non-citizens. Foreign nations remember the cost of defending freedom. The question is: will America remember?

If we forget—if we dismiss communism as yesterday’s problem, if we fail to recognize its modern disguises— then the danger may not stay abroad. It may one day be found much closer to home. Perhaps even on your own front porch.

From the Back Porch

Real flight announcements

Occasionally, airline attendants make an effort to make the “inflight safety lecture” and their other announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:

Pilot - “Folks, we have reached our cruising altitude now, so I am going to switch the seat belt sign off. Feel free to move about as you wish, but please stay inside the plane till we land ... it’s a bit cold outside, and if you walk on the wings it affects the flight pattern.”

As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Washington National, a lone voice comes over the loudspeaker: “Whoa, big fella. WHOA!”

From a Southwest Airlines employee.... “Welcome aboard Southwest Flight XXX to YYY. To operate your seatbelt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seatbelt, and if you don’t know how to operate one, you probably shouldn’t be out in public unsupervised. In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with two small children, decide now which one you love more.

Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but they’ll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Southwest Airlines.”

“As you exit the plane, please make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.”

“Last one off the plane must clean it.”

And from the pilot during his welcome message: “We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry ...Unfortunately none of them are on this flight...!

Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, “That was quite a bump and I know what ya’ll are thinking. I’m here to tell you it wasn’t the airline’s fault, it wasn’t the pilot’s fault, it wasn’t the flight attendants’ fault.....it was the asphalt!”

Another flight Attendant’s comment on a less than perfect landing: “We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.”

After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the Flight Attendant came on with, “Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt up against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we’ll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.

Part of a Flight Attendant’s arrival announcement: “We’d like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you’ll think of us here at US Airways.”

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

After driving for about sixteen hours, a truck driver decides to pull over and get some sleep.

Just as he falls asleep, he is awakened by a knock at the cab door.

“Can you tell me the time, please?” asks a jogger.

“Yes, it’s 4:30,” the trucker replies.

He falls asleep again, only to be awakened by another jogger who wants to know the time.

“It’s 4:40!” shouts the trucker.

Deciding to try to get some sleep, he writes on a piece of paper: “I DON’T KNOW THE TIME” and sticks it on the windshield.

But he wakes up again…

“It’s 5:25!” another runner shouts at him.

If you’re buying a watch from Amazon, be warned. I learned the hard way that if it says you can swim with it, this only applies if you can already swim without it.

A young man from Minnesota moves to Florida and goes to a big box store looking for a job.

The manager asks, “Do you have any sales experience?”

The kid says, “Yes. I was a salesman in Minnesota.”

The manager likes the boy and gives him the job. “You start tomorrow. I’ll come back after closing and see how you’re doing.”

His first day on the job was tough, but he got through it. After the store closed, the boss came in. “How many customers bought from you today?”

The boy said, “One.”

The boss said, “Only one? Our salesmen get an average of 20 to 30 customers a day. How much did you sell?”

The boy says, “$110,500.00.”

The boss says, “$110,500.00? What did you sell?”

The boy says, “First I sold him a small fishing hook, then I sold him a medium fishing rod, then I sold him a large fishing rod, then I sold him a new fishing rod.

The boy continued: “Then I asked him where he was going fishing and he said he was going to the beach, so I told him he needed a boat, so we went to the boat department and I sold him a Chris Craft with a twin engine. Then he said his Honda Civic wouldn’t tow him, so I took him to the automotive department and sold him a 4×4 Expedition.

The boss said, “A man came in to buy fishing rods and you sold him a BOAT and a TRUCK?”

The kid said, “No, the guy came in to buy a bumper for his wife and I said…” “Dude, your weekend sucks, you should go fishing.”

New MediciNe vs Old MediciNe

by Jack F. McKemie, DVM

The theme for this issue is freedom versus communism. Today, I will parallel veterinary medicine with the evolution of liberalism in the USA. Make no mistake, the roots of socialism/communism/liberalism began with the democratic party in the 1950’s or before. The democrats have slowly and stealthily advanced one-party authoritarian rule with the help from legacy media. Their goal is to dissolve the constitution and merge the USA into a one world order in which no one will be allowed personal property or freedoms. Like a bad case of hemorrhoids, democrats hide this ultimate goal but pop out regularly to inspire their base and to aggravate conservative Americans. The democrats have corrupted public education, the election process and worst of all, established conclaves of assimilated or accept the USA as their new country. Make no mistake, these people are here with the purpose to vote to elect in more liberal politicians to further subvert and change our country. Barak Hussain Obama – Hope and Change!!

are very selective in their cellular binding and thus their function.

JAK inhibitors are the original immunomodulators and unfortunately will bind to more than one type of JAK receptor site. However, JAK inhibitors are much more selective than traditional medications but can produce some unwanted side effects. These side effects include immunosuppression in young animals and possible cancer formation in pets prone to neoplastic or already active undetected cancers. mAG are proteins much more selective in their receptor cell selection and have very few, if any, side effects. However, mAG can only be administered by injection verse the JAK inhibitor are oral administration. mAG are also very species selective which will slow the research and development. Drug companies must see dollar bills before they invest in new drugs. Regardless, both of these medications are the future of both human and veterinary medicine because of their selectivity and increased safety.

Unlike traditional medications which not only inhibit the target cells but also affect other body cells causing unwanted side effects, biotherapy focuses on specific targets much like the Trump administration.

Liberalism/socialism/communism, demand equality, make everyone equal! Therefore freedom, innovation and advancement of the human side effects of stagnation and ultimately failure. Communism involves authoritarian rule, which provides a mass effect much like traditional medicine, treating one problem but making three more.

Veterinary medicine is advancing at expeditious rates as is the human field as well. With the advent of genomic sequencing and artificial intelligence, researchers can mass produce artificial proteins that mimics the natural body responses. Basically, this newer science is known as biological therapy. This new therapy is also known as immuno or biotherapy and are man-made proteins that bind to natural cell receptors in the body to change the bodies response to disease. These man-made proteins come in two classes, Janus Kinases (JAK) and monoclonal antibody (mAG) which bind to immunological body cells and alter that cell’s production of cytokines. Cytokines are the Paul Revere of the body and signals other natural body cells that there is a disease process going down and to prepare for attack. The JAK and mAG proteins

In contrast to communism, traditional medicine and a constitutional republic are still the corner stone of therapeutics and freedom. However, I do predict the further innovation and introduction of more focal biotherapies that will advance safer and more effective therapies for humans and pets. I also pray for our President and his excellent administration to continue re-inventing government to a more responsive and effective government. Dissolving centralized Federal rule, reestablishing state’s rights and replacing activist judicial judges will be paramount for this administration. Thus, our savior DJT can selective and focally solve the world’s problems which has escalated with the past democratic administration.

Cheers!

JFM

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

There was an old couple.

they noticed that they were getting more and more forgetful and decided to go to the doctor.

The doctor told them to start writing things down so they wouldn’t forget.

They went home and the old woman told her husband to bring her a bowl of ice cream. “She said, “You might want to write this down.

He said, “No, I remember that you wanted a bowl of ice cream.

So the wife told her husband that she wanted a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream. “Write that down,” she said to him.

“No, no, I remember: you want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream,” he said again.

Then the old woman said she wanted a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top. She said to her husband, “Write that down.

Again he said, “No, I understand. You want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top.” He went to get the ice cream and spent an unusually long time in the kitchen, over 30 minutes.

He comes to his wife and hands her a plate of bacon and eggs.

The old woman looks at the plate for a while, then looks at her husband and asks, “Where’s the toast?”

The older I get, the more I understand why roosters just scream to start their day.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

I burn about 2000 calories every time I put on fitted sheets by myself.

Stay away from NEGATIVE PEOPLE they have a PROBLEM for every solution.

~Albert Einstein~

The

best thing about being older is that I did all my stupid stuff before the internet.

Holiday Scams

How to Stay Protected During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a busy time of year, meant to be filled with family, gifting, and celebrating. However, amidst all the fun holiday events lurks a large threat, holiday scams. Unfortunately, this time of year is the most common time for bad actors to try to steal money, data, and sensitive information to gain access to your accounts. Nobody wants to deal with a scam around the holidays, so it’s important to educate yourself on potential threats and ensure that you and your families are protected.

What are Holiday Scams?

Holiday scams are yearly threats that attack holiday shoppers and sellers typically during the months of November, December, and January. These scams can come in the form of email, text message, phone call/voicemail, or even through a note left at your doorstep.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that nonpayment and non-delivery schemes cost victims around $282 million a year and increasing. According to the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report, there were a total of 51,679 holiday scams reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). With the growing impact of AI and current cyber trends, we expect to see a higher rate of successful holiday scams in 2024 than ever before.

Types of Holiday Scams:

There are six specific holiday scams to be aware of this holiday season:

Tips for Protecting Yourself During the Holiday Season:

When shopping for or selling products online this holiday season, keep these four tips in mind to prevent potential scams. Look for red flags to identity scams.

• Never click a link or open an attachment from any unknown sources.

• If a deal appears too good to be true, it probably is.

• Be wary of urgent offers/requests.

Only visit trusted websites.

• Only visit websites with https and a lock symbol in the URL.

• Avoid visiting websites through targeted or sponsored ads, in stead search for the brand or site directly.

• Duplicate websites are created to mimic well-known compa nies, thoroughly review the website before making any purchas es, paying extra attention to websites with words like “discount” or “Black Friday” in the URL

• If you’re unsure if an interaction is legitimate, contact the com pany directly.

Donate to reputable charities or organizations that you trust.

• Do thorough research before completing any donations.

• Be suspicious of newly formed charities.

Protect your accounts.

• If possible, make purchases with credit cards or use third-party payment methods like Apple Pay and PayPal.

• Add purchase alerts to your accounts to monitor for unauthor ized transactions.

• Enable transaction limits, restrict international purchases, or re quire verification for online transactions.

• Avoid using public Wi-Fi without a VPN or a mobile hotspot.

• Enable multi-factor authentication to add an additional layer of protection to your accounts.

What to Do if You Are a Victim of Holiday Scams

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a holiday scam, ensure that all communication with the scammer is halted. If the scammer obtained any sensitive information such as your Social Security number, contact the credit bureaus, and the Social Security Administration. If they have compromised any banking information, contact the financial institution as soon as possible so that they can assist with the situation.

If you are a victim of fraud, please contact your LPL Financial advisor.

If you would like to report a case of a holiday scam to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, please use this link: https://www.

This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC. Tracking #664410 (Exp. 11/27)

Kavon Novak, Fightin’ Texas Aggie class of ‘91, is a Registered Investment Manager, Wealth Advisor with LPL Financial. He holds a Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 license. Kavon has been in the financial industry since 1998 and is a multi-year “Outstanding Client Service” award recipient. He serves as a Caldwell City Alderman and is an active member on the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Board of Directors. In addition, he is involved with the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce, the Caldwell Men’s Lions Club, and the Caldwell Rotary Club. For a complementary financial consultation call 979-255-8796.

Why You Want to Avoid Probate Court

Bio: J. Tyler Clark is a co-editor and ad manager for the Front Porch Magazine. He is an estate planning and probate attorney based out of Caldwell, TX. He also is the Founder and CEO of the Christian Higher Education Foundation which helps increase access to Christian colleges and universities.

Losing a loved one is one of life’s greatest challenges. In those moments of grief, families need time to mourn, support one another, and begin healing. Unfortunately, far too many Americans add unnecessary stress to that season by leaving their loved ones to sort out final affairs in probate court.

Here in Burleson County, Judge Schroeder is well respected and loved. Families who must appear before him are treated fairly and with compassion. Yet even with the kindest of judges, probate court is something most families wish they could avoid. Here are three particularly dreadful reasons why probate is best kept out of your estate plan.

Probate is Public

When an estate passes through probate, all filings—including sensitive details about assets, debts, and beneficiaries—become part of the public record. That means anyone can access the information. For families who value privacy, this can feel like an invasion at the worst possible time. Worse, it sometimes exposes beneficiaries to unwanted attention from scam artists, creditors, or estranged relatives who suddenly reappear.

Probate is Costly

Probate court comes with fees. Filing fees, court costs, executor compensation, attorney’s fees—all of these quickly add up. Every dollar spent in probate is a dollar that does not go to your loved ones. Even relatively simple estates can see thousands of dollars drained away. Larger or contested estates can see costs spiral out of control, reducing what heirs ultimately receive. With careful estate planning, these expenses can often be minimized or eliminated entirely.

Probate is Slow

Families already navigating grief often find probate’s delays unbearable. Even a straightforward case can take months to finalize. If disputes arise, probate can stretch on for years. During that time, heirs may be unable to access assets they need for living expenses, medical bills, or the upkeep of family property. Instead of peace and closure, the family is left waiting—sometimes in limbo.

A Better Path Forward

The good news is probate isn’t inevitable. With thoughtful estate planning, you can ensure that your assets pass smoothly and privately to your loved ones. Tools like living trusts, beneficiary designations, transfer-on-death deeds, and powers of attorney can all play a role in avoiding the probate process.

Estate planning is about more than documents; it’s about peace of mind. It’s about knowing that your spouse won’t have to untangle a legal mess, that your children will be cared for, and that your final wishes will be honored. By making these decisions now, you give your family the priceless gift of clarity and security.

At the Law Office of J. Tyler Clark, we help families across Burleson County and beyond build estate plans that keep them out of probate court. If you’ve been putting it off, now is the time to act.

Give us a call (see our ad on page 5) or sign up for our free educational email series to learn how to protect your family from the burden of probate.

Old age .... I decided, is a gift

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body - the wrinkles, the baggy eyes and the sagging butt. and often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don’t agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. as I’ve aged, I’ve become more kind to myself and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend. I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t need, but looks so avante-garde on my patio. I am entitled to overeat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read until 4:00 am and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50s & 60s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. a heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say “no” and mean it. I can say “yes” and mean it. as you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. and I shall eat dessert every single day.

This woman truly deserves recognition.

A man was checking in for his flight when the agent asked how old his daughter was. He told her that his daughter had just turned two. The agent then asked if she had her own ticket. The man seemed confused, thinking she could fly for free. He had booked the ticket when his daughter was still one, but her birthday was in January. He seemed really upset when he realized the mistake, and mentioned he couldn’t afford to buy her a ticket or change the flight at the last minute. You could see how heartbroken he was as he stepped aside, trying to make some calls, while hugging his daughter and holding his head in his hands.

A woman standing nearby at the counter overheard everything. She walked up to the man and asked what was wrong. After talking for a little while, they walked back to the counter together.

She pointed to the man’s daughter and said, “I want to buy her ticket.”

The agent asked if she knew how much the ticket would cost. The woman replied, “$700 something?” The agent confirmed, “$749.”

Circle of Kindness

Without hesitation, the woman said, “That’s fine,” and pulled out her credit card. I was right there, so I told her, “God bless you!” as they printed out the ticket. The agent talked about how she had goosebumps. The man hugged the woman and asked how he could repay her. The woman simply said, “Don’t worry about it.” She just wanted to help him and his daughter, no matter what it cost.

When the supermarket clerk tallied up my groceries, it was $12 over what I had on me. I began to remove items from the bags when another shopper handed me a $20 bill. “Please don’t put yourself out,” I told him.

“Let me tell you a story,” he said. “My mother is in the hospital with cancer. I visit her every day and bring her flowers. I went this morning, and she got mad at me for spending my money on more flowers. She demanded that I do something else with that money. So, here, please accept this. It is my mother’s flowers.”

A Beautiful Soul in the Dead Letter Department

Our 14-yearold dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words: Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

Two deer-est friends (get it?!) decide to try hunting for the first time but agree to split up to increases their chances. “What if we get lost?” says one of them. “Fire three shots up in the air, every hour on the hour,” says the other. “I saw it on TV.” Sure enough, one of the hunters finds himself lost in the woods, so he fires three shots up into the air every hour on the hour. The next day the other hunter finds his friend with the help of the Forest Ranger. “Did you do what I said?” asks the hunter. “Yes, I fired three shots up into the air every hour on the hour, until I ran out of arrows.”

Two deer hunters hire a pilot to take them way back into the forest. After the hunt, the pilot returns and sees that they shot six deer. “The plane won’t carry six deer; you’ll have to leave two of them,” says the pilot, trying to be friendly. Unwilling to leave any of their spoils, the hunters reply, “We got six on the plane last year.” The pilot gives in, and just five minutes after takeoff, the plane crashes into the forest. Lucky to be alive, one of the hunters says, “Any idea where we are?” The second hunter replies, “Yeah, right about where our plane went down last year.”

************

After years of marriage, a wife finally decided she wanted to go hunting with her husband to see what it was all about. He buys her a rifle and all the gear, gets her comfortable shooting the gun and is ready to go hunt. Puts her in a blind and tells her to shoot a deer if she sees one, that he’d be just over the hill and would come when he heard the shot. As he gets over the hill he hears a shot, so he turns around and starts walking back. Then another shot, so he walks a little faster. Then BANG BANG BANG. Now he’s at a dead sprint back to her blind. He shows up to find her pointing her gun at a mounty. Mounty says, “ok ok lady, it’s your deer, just let me get my saddle off him.”

You know you’re over 50 when you have ‘upstairs ibuprofen’ and ‘downstairs ibuprofen’.

Why Preplan!

Susan Hendrickson is the Pre-planning Specialist at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas. “For generations, Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home has been honored to help families in our community prepare for the future. By guiding you through the preplanning process, we strive to protect the people you cherish and give you peace of mind today”, says Susan.

When organizing our affairs, we often think of wills, insurance, and retirement plans. Yet one of the most important— and most overlooked—steps is planning for our final wishes. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, and preparing for life’s one certainty can ease a tremendous burden on the people we love most.

Too often, families walk through the doors of a funeral home in the wake of an unexpected loss. In addition to their grief, they are suddenly faced with making dozens of difficult decisions—usually within the first 24 hours. From service details to financial arrangements, the weight of these choices can feel overwhelming.

Preplanning relieves that burden. By making arrangements in advance, you gain the opportunity to:

•Make clear, thoughtful decisions. Grief clouds judgment. Preplanning allows you to decide what is right for you and your family with a clear mind and steady heart.

• Ensure your wishes are honored. From the type of service to personal touches, preplanning gives you the assurance that everything will be carried out exactly as you would want.

•A void family conflict. Loved ones may hold different opinions about what “should” be done, which can create stress in an already emotional time. Preplanning removes the uncertainty and prevents disagreements.

• Ease financial strain. Even with life insurance, funds are not always immediately available. Preplanning can address these costs, providing practical relief for your family when they need it most.

Ultimately, having your plans in place is a final, lasting gift of love. It is a way of saying, “I thought of you. I wanted to make this easier for you.”

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

Two men are driving in Alabama when they are pulled over by a state trooper.

The trooper approaches, bangs his baton on the window, the driver rolls down the window, and the trooper hits him in the head with the baton.

The driver says, “Why did you do that?”

The trooper says, “You’re in Alabama, son. Your license will be ready when I pull you over.”

The driver says, “I’m sorry, officer, I’m not from around here.”

The officer checks the man’s license and it is clean.

He gives the man his license back and goes to the passenger side and knocks on the window.

The passenger rolls down the window and the policeman strikes him with his baton.

The passenger says, “Why did you do that?”

The cop says, “I’m just granting wishes.”

The passenger says, “Huh?”

The cop says, “I know two miles down the road you’ll be saying, ‘I wish that he had done that to me.”

Prayer Given in Kansas

Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities; But this is what they heard:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it Freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea. With the Lord’s help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called ‘one nation under God.’

If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”

A man used to give a beggar $1000 every month. The man continued in this state for a period of time. One day, he gave the beggar only $750. The beggar was surprised by that, but he said to himself, $750 is better than nothing. He left. After a month, he gave the beggar only $500. The beggar was surprised! He said to the man, “You used to give me $1000, then it decreased and became $750. Now, $500, why?” May I know the reason? The man replied, “In the past, all my children were young and I was well-off, so I would give you $1000. Then my daughter grew up and entered university, and the university expenses were high, so I started giving you $750. Now, my second son entered university, and the expenses increased, so I gave you $500.” The beggar asked him, “How many children do you have?” The man replied, “Four.” The beggar asked, “And will you educate them all at my expense?!” Sometimes, others consider kindness and good deeds as their right and not as generosity from you.

How to Catch Wild Hogs

“Remove one freedom per generation and soon you will have no freedom and no one would have noticed.”

by Karl Marx, Co-Founder of Communism

There was a chemistry professor in a large college that had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab, the professor noticed one young man, an exchange student, who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting Communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country’s government and install a new communist regime.

In the midst of his story, he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked: “Do you know how to catch wild pigs?”

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said that it was no joke. “You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come every day to eat the free food.

When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side.

The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat that free corn again. You then slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.

Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.”

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening in America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tax exemptions, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare entitlements, medicine, drugs, etc., while we continually lose our freedoms, just a little at a time.

One should always remember two truths:

1. There is no such thing as a free lunch, and 2. You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.

If you see that all of this wonderful government “help” is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America, you might want to

share this with your friends.

If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life, then you will probably not share this. BUT, God help us all when the gate slams shut!

Think about this:

“The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living.”

A thought to remember, Marx said, “Remove one freedom per generation and soon you will have no freedom and no one would have noticed.”

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

Tom has finally decided to marry his longtime girlfriend.

One evening after his honeymoon, he was cleaning one of his hot rods for an upcoming show.

His wife was standing on a bench watching him. After a long period of silence, she finally speaks.

“Honey, I’ve been thinking, now that we’re married, maybe it’s time to stop spending all your time in the garage and you should probably think about selling all your cars.”

A horrified look appears on Tom’s face.

“Darling, what’s wrong?” he says.

“For a moment you’re starting to sound like my exwife.”

“Ex-wife!” she shouts, “You never told me you were married before!”

Tom’s response,

“I wasn’t”.

A little girl was sitting at the kitchen table drawing a picture of her parents with crayons.

She started thinking about her grandparents… what

about her grandparents’ parents? What about her parents?

She asked his mother thoughtfully: “Mom, where do people come from? I mean, does everyone have a family?”

“God created Adam and Eve, and they had children, and those children had children of their own, and so on until today,” her mother replied.

The girl nodded. After a while, she needed a blue crayon for the sky in her picture, so she went to her room to get another box of crayons.

When she got to her room, she saw that her father was there and had set up a shelf. She asked him the same question.

“Many years ago, there were monkeys from which the human race evolved,” her father replied.

Confused, the girl turned to her mother and said, “Mom, you tricked me! You told me the human race was created by God, but my father said they evolved from monkeys!”

The mother replied, “Well, dear, it’s very simple. I told you my side of the family, and your father told you his side.”

They Walk Among Us.... And

They Vote!

We had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a ‘large’ enough motor on the opener. I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time, a 1/2 horsepower. He shook his head and said, “Lady, you need a 1/4 horsepower.” I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said, “NO, it’s not. Four is larger than two...”

My daughter and I went through the McDonald’s take-out window and I gave the clerk a $5 bill.... Our total was $4.25, so I also handed her a quarter. She said, “You gave me too much money.” I said, “Yes I know, but this way you can just give me a dollar bill back.” She sighed and went to get the manager who asked me to repeat my request. I did so, and he handed me back the quarter, and said “We’re sorry but we cannot do that kind of thing.” The clerk then proceeded to give me back $1 and 75 cents in change.

I live in a semi-rural area.... We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the DEER CROSSING sign on our road. The reason: “Too many deer are being hit by cars out here! I don’t think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore.”

My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for ‘minimal lettuce.’ He said he was sorry, but they only had iceberg lettuce.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

politics is the art of looking for trouble finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies. ~groucho marx~ suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of c ongress; but i repeat myself.

~mark t wain~

a woman goes to the doctor’s office and is examined by one of the new young doctors.

after about four minutes in the exam room, the woman starts screaming and runs down the hall. an older doctor stopped her and asked her what was wrong, and she told him her story.

after listening to her, the doctor told her to sit in another room and rest.

The older doctor went to the end of the hall where the first doctor was and said, “what’s wrong? mrs. terry is 66 years old, she has four grown children and seven grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?”

The new doctor continued to write on his clipboard and said without looking up,

“yes, yes. but does she still have hiccups?”

i have wondered at times what the ten c ommandments would have looked like if moses had run them through the us c ongress.

~ronald reagan~

From Slavery to Freedom: Meaning of Freedom

Kenneth Hardy

themselves by being a better person, by doing good deeds, or by just trying harder.

Jesus then makes a key distinction in the next verse: “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.” Slaves are temporary help, but a son has a permanent spot. The slave is always working to earn a place, while the free person has a secure and eternal home.

The ultimate solution comes in verse 36: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” This isn’t freedom to sin; it’s freedom from sin. It’s the ability to finally choose what is right because the power that once controlled you has been broken. The person who is free doesn’t have to keep struggling to save themselves. They can now live a new life out of gratitude and love, serving God and others. This freedom isn’t something you earn; it’s a gift.

The difference between a slave and a free person is huge. The slave trusts in their own strength, trying to climb their way to freedom. This path is exhausting and never really works because it doesn’t get to the root of the problem. A free person, on the other hand, understands they can’t free themselves. They humbly accept the gift of freedom offered by Jesus. Their freedom isn’t just the absence of a master, but the presence of a new one—Jesus Christ— who gives them a new purpose and a permanent place in God’s family. It’s a liberating freedom, where you can finally be who you were meant to be.

Most of us spend our lives chasing freedom. We want to be free to do what we want, when we want. We think it’s all about breaking chains and living without rules. But what if real freedom isn’t about being free to do whatever you please, but about being set free from something else entirely? That’s a question the Bible answers in a surprising way, shifting our focus from being a slave to becoming free.

Jesus had a lot to say about this. In John 8:34,” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” ( ESV) He lays it out plain and simple: “everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” Think about that. You might believe you’re your own master, but Jesus says no. He says we’re actually slaves, held captive not by a person or a government, but by our own sinful nature. It’s like we’re caught in a bad cycle—sinning because we can’t help it, and being trapped because of it. We’re not the heroes of our own stories; we’re the ones who need rescuing. This is the condition of the slave—the person who believes they can fix

If you’ve been trying to free yourself, feeling worn out by the constant struggle, consider this invitation. Lay down your efforts and accept the freedom Jesus offers. He wants to set you free from the inside out, so you can truly be “free indeed.”

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

Two people living in a retirement home, an old man and an old woman, had known each other for several years. One evening there was a community dinner in the large meeting hall.

They were both at the same table, facing each other. During the meal, the man gave her a few admiring glances and then finally worked up the courage to ask her, “Will you marry me?”

After about six seconds of “careful consideration,” she said, “Yes. Yes, I will.

The meal ended, and after some pleasant conversation, they went to their respective places.

The next morning, the man was in a bad mood. “Did she say ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” He could not remember. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember. Not even a faint memory.

Frightened, he went to the phone and called her. First he told her that he couldn’t remember as well as he used to. Then he reviewed the good evening that had passed.

When he got a little more courage, he asked, “When I asked you to marry me, did you say ‘yes’ or ‘no’?”

He was delighted to hear her say, “Yes, I did, and I said it with all my heart.

Then he continued, “I’m so glad you called because I couldn’t remember who asked me!”

The room was filled with pregnant women and their husbands.

The Lamaze class was in full swing.

The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe properly and the men how to provide the necessary reassurance at this stage of the plan.

“Ladies, exercise is good for you,” the instructor announced. “Walking is especially good for you.

… And gentlemen, it doesn’t hurt to take time to walk with your partner!”

The room was very quiet. Finally, in the middle of the group, a man raised his hand.

“Yes?” the instructor asked.

“… Do you mind if I carry a golf bag while we walk?”

That Was no lady, That Was My Horse

Being rural raised in the 40s and 50s had distinct advantages. I don’t remember what they were; but when I complained about the farm work, daddy reminded me of their character building qualities. Of course he didn’t farm; he worked in Atlanta and left the farming to my granddaddy, my brother, and me.

Daddy thought if a boy plowed a mule all day, he wouldn’t get into devilment at night. He was right. Our mule, Jack, never went carousing at night. He never used tobacco or alcohol; nor did he swear.

A mule is a hybrid animal. He’s half jackass and half horse - not unlike some people you may know, be related to, or voted for.

Donkeys have 62 chromosomes; horses have 64. When bred together the offspring have 63, a number that can’t be divided equally, therefore mules are sterile.

Mules have the sure footedness, patience and endurance of a donkey, and the vigor and strength of a horse. They can be maintained on less food than a horse. These characteristics make them preferable to horses for work animals.

Mules respond to a different language than other people. When you’re plowing a mule you don’t give it directions by saying, “go right mule”, or “go left mule”. Gee is mule talk to step to the right. Haw, means step to t he left.

Daddy - the one who didn’t farm - sold Jack, the gentleman mule, and bought a horse. She was a big, fast walking, high strung, gray horse named Lady - but she wasn’t. She was strong enough to pull up Stone mountain by the roots.

My granddaddy, or my brother, could plow her al day without a problem, but not me.

When I was plowing she had little respect for gee and ow. If I said gee she might gee, she might haw, she might go straight, or she might stop.

One scalding, hot day I was “laying by” a field of corn. Most crops got two or more plowings during growing season. The last plowing

was called “laying by” the crop. Revivals at church were timed to begin after “laying by” time, when farmers had a break before harvest. Lady had been cantankerous all morning. I was tired of her smashing the corn with her big feet; she was tired of me shrieking gee, and haw. After one of my verbal assaults, she stopped, refused to budge, turned her head and gave me a defiant stare that said...I won’t say what it said; I don’t use that kind of language.

Pushed over the edge, as any normal person would have been, I grabbed a fist sized rock and blasted her rear end with it. Coincidentally, she chose that exact moment to run away. She headed for the barn at a lope dragging the plow and tearing down corn. I steamed for home - and the shotgun. Mama was waiting with Lady when I fumed into the barnyard. Her demeanor told me to forget the shotgun; she had taken sides with the horse in our harmless little feud. She ripped a limb off a pear tree and, as she said, taught me to control my terrible temper tantrums. Had Lady had one less chromosome my disposition and dignity would have been salvaged. She would have been a mule - and a lady.

and newspapers, and prior to his death was active in numerous civic and school organizations. His book, 40 Years at Aggieland, was published in 2013.

Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers

A highway patrol officer stopped an elderly woman for driving 10 mph on the highway.

As he walked up to the old woman’s car, he noticed that there were 3 other old people who looked very frightened and stiff.

He leaned over to the old woman’s window and noticed that she was as calm as could be.

“Do you know why I stopped you, ma’am?”

“No, I don’t,” she replied sweetly.

“You were driving ten miles an hour on the highway. That is a serious hazard to other drivers.”

The policeman could not stop looking at the three frightened passengers.

The little old lady pointed to a nearby sign. “Isn’t the speed limit 10?”

The policeman looked at the sign and laughed. “Ma’am, that sign tells you what highway you are on. Interstate 10.”

The little old lady burst out laughing. “Oh, I’m sorry!”

The officer decided it was an honest mistake and wanted to let her go. But his curiosity got the better of him. “May I ask why your passengers are so frightened?”

The little old lady laughed again. “Probably because I just got off Interstate 175.”

A young man was inspired to help with his church’s fundraiser.

He asked the preacher if he could go door to door selling Bibles.

The preacher agreed, but knowing that the young man stuttered, he gave him only 3 Bibles to sell.

The next day, the young man returned and asked for more.

The preacher gave him 5 more.

The next day the preacher gave him 10 more.

By the end of the week, the young man had broken the church record for the most Bibles sold in a week.

The preacher believed that divine intervention had taken place. He was amazed and wanted to know the young man’s secret.

So the preacher asked the young man how he was able to sell so many Bibles in such a short time.

The young man smiled and said, I asked them if they wanted to buy a Bible or if they wanted me to read it to them.

A Letter of Love to the Next Generation

Hello. While we may begin as strangers, I pray that by the end of this letter you might recognize yourself in my words. What you hold in your hands is less an article than a time capsule—a glimpse into the hopes, dreams, and fears of 2025, from smalltown Texas, USA.

Inside this capsule are questions I suspect you already carry in your heart: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my duty to God and to my country? Every generation must wrestle with them. Ours is no different, except perhaps that our answers seem more contested now than ever before.

I write not as a scholar or statesman, but as an ordinary American—one among many in towns like Caldwell. We live quiet lives, working hard, raising families, and doing our best to serve our neighbors. But even in our ordinary lives, we sense something greater stirring. We feel the tension between truth and falsehood, between freedom and control, between faith and despair. Truth. Freedom. These are the words echoing through our conversations at church, at the feed store, at the family dinner table. We long for our children to inherit a nation that still values them, a community that still believes right and wrong are more than shifting opinions, and a country that still bows before Almighty God.

Yet we fear that America is drifting. We see a culture that forgets its heritage, leaders who mock faith, and institutions that prefer ideology over integrity. And so we pray. We teach. We tell stories

of sacrifice and courage. Because liberty is never more than one generation away from extinction.

But this is not a letter of despair. It is a letter of hope. Hope that young men and women will rise with strength of conviction. Hope that families will hold fast to one another. Hope that churches will shine light in the darkness. Hope that America’s best days can still lie ahead if her people will simply remember who they are.

And who are we? We are free people under God. That is our heritage. That is our calling.

Perhaps, by now, you recognize the voice behind these words. Perhaps you’ve heard them before on campuses, in podcasts, or at rallies where young conservatives gather. You’ve seen this message amplified in the life and legacy of one who spoke boldly, often controversially, but always with conviction. So let me introduce myself.

I am Charlie Kirk.

And if you love truth, if you cherish freedom, if you trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, then you too are Charlie. His name may be gone from this world, but his legacy lives on in every heart that refuses to surrender America’s future to lies and despair.

Written by J. Tyler Clark

When the Chatter Ends

Becky Schenk is a real estate professional based in Burleson County here to help you sweeten the deal with local insight and personalized service. Honey, let’s move! Reach her at 979-587-0059.

In the end, it’s like the weather. The talk rolls in and fades out with each new project she starts or with any small mistake that folks decide means something bigger. And just like a storm, it doesn’t just pass by, it touches her reputation, her energy, her creativity, and even how safe she feels when she’s out in public.

Instead of worrying about the chatter, look within yourself. That’s where the truth lives. That’s where the real work begins. When you step away from the noise, you discover that your worth was never meant to be measured by the world’s chatter. It was meant to be found in the quiet recognition of who you are, what you’ve survived, and how you choose to keep going.The outside noise fades. The judgments, the opinions, the assumptions about who you are or how you live your life, no longer matter. People will always have something to say, often without ever knowing your story or the path you’ve walked. But their voices aren’t the ones you need to carry.

In a world where everyone has an opinion and a platform to voice it, the loudest opinions aren’t always the loudest truths. The people who seem to command the most attention aren’t the ones you see on the glossy pages, but the ones who quietly navigate a chorus of whispers, rumors, and gossip. Those who learn to hear the chatter and still walk forward. This is a story about one such person, and about the moment the chatter ends.

Ava sits at a corner table in her café, sunlight spilling across the wooden floors. The chalkboard menu on the wall makes the whole place feel warm and welcoming, like the kind of spot where neighbors come to slow down for a while. With a latte in hand, she’s more of a listener than a talker, even though her name has often been the center of town chatter. On the outside, Ava is just a local business owner who took a dream and turned it into a real gathering place, a café filled with the smell of fresh coffee and friendly conversations.

But behind her easy smile is another kind of work; the quiet effort of holding onto her own story while others try to tell it for her. The talk about Ava isn’t always harmless. Some of it’s kind and some of it’s just plain wrong. It’s the kind of chatter that floats through kitchens, church halls, and back porches, places she’s not always sitting in when her name comes up.

“I’ve learned to listen closely,” she says, running her finger along the edge of her coffee cup. “Gossip isn’t always empty. Sometimes it shows what people are feeling, or what they’re afraid of, or even what they wish was true. The hard part is not letting their version of the story take over your own.”

For Ava, the gossip started small, just a few casual comments here and there. But little by little, those remarks began to repeat and change, like a story retold around different dinner tables. Friends would pass along what they’d heard, and by the next day, the details had shifted again. Before long, people who barely knew her, old coworkers, neighbors, even casual acquaintances, were adding their voices, turning her life into a tale that wasn’t really theirs to tell.

The reasons behind gossip are hardly ever simple. For Ava, it’s a mix of things: running a business in a competitive town, being someone people recognize, and the plain old habit folks have of filling in the blanks when they don’t know the whole story. Some of the talk circles around how she built her café, as if hard work and late nights weren’t enough of an answer. Other times, people question her choices, not knowing the risks she weighed or the sacrifices she made. And then there are the whispers that try to guess her motives, when really, it often comes down to something much more ordinary: people’s own fears of falling behind, of failing, or of being seen too closely.

And as you look inward, something else shifts: you begin to look outward with compassion. You start to see that everyone has lived a life with battles unseen, with moments of joy and heartbreak, with burdens they may never speak of. The chatter often blinds us to that truth, turning people into caricatures of gossip or quick judgments. But silence invites understanding.

The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” When the chatter ends, we stop talking about people and start seeing them as human: fragile, resilient, complex, and worthy of grace.

Chatter isn’t free. It wears on a person, sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in quiet, steady drips. For Ava Moreno, it meant second-guessing her words, holding back ideas, and learning where to draw lines between her business and her private life.

But not all of it was bad. In time, Ava learned to separate helpful feedback from idle talk, to listen for truth without letting rumors define her. She shifted her focus: setting clear boundaries, sharing her story openly, and putting her energy into causes that mattered, like local charities and community projects.

The turning point came at her café’s anniversary, when she turned the celebration into a fundraiser. Neighbors who once traded whispers saw something real: a thriving business, a hardworking team, and a woman giving back.

“It wasn’t about silencing the chatter,” Ava says. “It was about letting the work speak louder than the noise.”

And maybe that’s the lesson for all of us. Gossip will always swirl, but it loses power when proof of character and contribution stand in plain sight. That, my friends, is when the chatter ends.

The Magic Bank Account

The Author is unknown... it was found in the billfold of Coach Paul Bear Bryant, Alabama, after he died in 1982 ..

Imagine that you had won the following *PRIZE* in a contest:

Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 In your private account for your use. However, this prize has certain rules.. The set of Rules:

1. Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away from you.

2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.

3. You may only spend It.

4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day.

5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time, it can say, Game Over!” It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.

What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don’t know because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself, right?

You would try to spend every penny and use it all because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right? ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL... Shocked ??? YES!

Each of us is already a winner Of this *PRIZE*. We just can’t seem to see it.

The PRIZE is *TIME*….

1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a Gift of Life for that day...

2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.

3. What we haven’t used up that day is forever lost.

4. Yesterday is forever.. Gone.

5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time WITHOUT WARNING.. SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.

Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you might think. (Yes, we senior citizens can certainly relate to that…)

So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!

Here’s wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day. Start spending....

“DON’T

COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD !”

Remember; SOME PEOPLE DO NOT GET THAT PRIVILEGE!

Chinese Communist to Christian

Author request to remain anonymous

I was born in a small town in Hunan Province, in south-central China. My family was not religious, though my father observed traditional ancestor rites on New Year’s Day and during the Qingming Festival. From childhood through my university years, I worked hard to become a successor to communism, following the path the state set before me.

When I entered university to study law, I was accepted as a candidate for membership in the Communist Party. But in April 1989, my life changed forever. The student democracy movement erupted in Beijing, and by chance, I traveled there and visited Tiananmen Square. I participated in the movement, witnessed the protests, and was deeply shaken by the events that unfolded. In the aftermath, my candidacy for the Party was revoked. The university issued me a warning, and the National Security Bureau quietly monitored my movements.

For years, I lived in frustration. I wanted to pursue truth and do what was right, yet was constantly told not to. The result was a deep sense of loss and disorientation.

In 2009, I began reading religious literature. By October 2011, I stepped into a century-old church for the first time and discovered the Bible. That encounter transformed my life. I started reading Scripture with my parents and listening to gospel preaching. In July 2012, both of my parents believed in the Lord and were baptized. Our home soon became a gathering place for worship, a small house church.

That same year, my daughter expressed a desire to study in the United States. While researching, I learned more about America’s Christian roots, which stirred my own interest in the Bible and church life. When she departed for the U.S. in August 2013, I was anxious, but prayer gave me peace.

During my father’s final years, our family read the Bible and sang hymns together. In January 2014, I was baptized as a Christian. When my father passed away, we chose to forgo traditional funeral rites, instead dedicating his burial to the worship of God. This bold act of faith shocked our entire town.

The greatest surprise came in August 2018, when I was accepted as a law student at a Christian law school in the United States. Every step of the application and visa process was covered in prayer, and I trusted the Lord’s grace and will.

Here in the United States, I joined a church and became active in the Christian Law Society. My faith deepened daily, and I have seen the Lord work through me to reach others—including many of my fellow Chinese classmates, who also came to Christ.

Today, I strive to live and work as a Christian, grateful for the Lord’s guidance. I thank Him for choosing me, leading me, and writing His story through my life.

If you believe free speech is for you but not your political opponents, you’re a liberal.

If no contrary evidence could change your beliefs, you’re a fundamentalist.

If you believe the state should punish those with contrary views, you’re a totalitarran.

If you believe political opponents should be punished with violence or death, you’re a terrorist.

~R.

K. Rawling~

9/11

Cont’d from Pae 28

Meanwhile, bits of news started to come in over the aircraft radio and for the first time we learned that airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center in New York and into the Pentagon in DC. People were trying to use their cell phones, but were unable to connect due to a different cell system in Canada . Some did get through, but were only able to get to the Canadian operator who would tell them that the lines to the U.S. were either blocked or jammed.

Sometime in the evening the news filtered to us that the World Trade Center buildings had collapsed and that a fourth hijacking had resulted in a crash. By now the passengers were emotionally and physically exhausted, not to mention frightened, but everyone stayed amazingly calm.

We had only to look out the window at the 52 other stranded aircraft to realize that we were not the only ones in this predicament. We had been told earlier that they would be allowing people off the planes one plane at a time. At 6 PM, Gander airport told us that our turn to deplane would be 11 am the next morning.

Passengers were not happy, but they simply resigned themselves to this news without much noise and started to prepare themselves to spend the night on the airplane.

Gander had promised us medical attention, if needed, water, and lavatory servicing. And they were true to their word.

Fortunately we had no medical situations to worry about. We did have a young lady who was 33 weeks into her pregnancy. We took REALLY good care of her. The night passed without incident despite the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.

About 10:30 on the morning of the 12th a convoy of school buses showed up. We got off the plane and were taken to the terminal where we went through Immigration and Customs and then had to register with the Red Cross. After that we (the crew) were separated from the passengers and were taken in vans to a small hotel. We had no idea where our passengers were going. We learned from the Red Cross that the town of Gander has a population of 10,400 people and they had about 10,500 passengers to take care of from all the airplanes that were forced into Gander!

We were told to just relax at the hotel and we would be contacted when the US airports opened again, but not to expect that call for a while.

We found out the total scope of the terror back home only after getting to our hotel and turning on the TV, 24 hours after it all started.

Meanwhile, we had lots of time on our hands and found that the people of Gander were extremely friendly. They started calling us the “plane people.” We enjoyed their hospitality, explored the town of Gander and ended up having a pretty good time.

Two days later, we got that call and were taken back to the Gander airport. Back on the plane, we were reunited with the passengers and found out what they had been doing for the past two days. What we found out was incredible…..

Gander and all the surrounding communities (within about a 75 Kilometer radius) had closed all high schools, meeting halls, lodges, and any other large gathering places. They converted all these facilities to mass lodging areas for all the stranded travelers. Some had cots set up, some had mats with sleeping bags and pillows set up.

ALL the high school students were required to volunteer their time to take care of the “guests.”

Our 218 passengers ended up in a town called Lewisporte, about 45 kilometers from Gander where they were put up in a high school. If any women wanted to be in a women-only facility, that was ar-

ranged.

Families were kept together. All the elderly passengers were taken to private homes.

Remember that young pregnant lady? She was put up in a private home right across the street from a 24-hour Urgent Care facility. There was a dentist on call and both male and female nurses remained with the crowd for the duration.

Phone calls and e-mails to the U.S. and around the world were available to everyone once a day.

During the day, passengers were offered “Excursion” trips. Some people went on boat cruises of the lakes and harbors. Some went for hikes in the local forests.

Local bakeries stayed open to make fresh bread for the guests. Food was prepared by all the residents and brought to the schools. People were driven to restaurants of their choice and offered wonderful meals. Everyone was given tokens for local laundry mats to wash their clothes, since luggage was still on the aircraft.

In other words, every single need was met for those stranded travelers.

Passengers were crying while telling us these stories. Finally, when they were told that U.S. airports had reopened, they were delivered to the airport right on time and without a single passenger missing or late. The local Red Cross had all the information about the whereabouts of each and every passenger and knew which plane they needed to be on and when all the planes were leaving. They coordinated everything beautifully.

It was absolutely incredible.

When passengers came on board, it was like they had been on a cruise. Everyone knew each other by name. They were swapping stories of their stay, impressing each other with who had the better time.

Our flight back to Atlanta looked like a chartered party flight. The crew just stayed out of their way. It was mind-boggling.

Passengers had totally bonded and were calling each other by their first names, exchanging phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses. And then a very unusual thing happened.

One of our passengers approached me and asked if he could make an announcement over the PA system. We never, ever allow that. But this time was different. I said “of course” and handed him the mike. He picked up the PA and reminded everyone about what they had just gone through in the last few days.

He reminded them of the hospitality they had received at the hands of total strangers.

He continued by saying that he would like to do something in return for the good folks of Lewisporte.

“He said he was going to set up a Trust Fund under the name of DELTA 15 (our flight number). The purpose of the trust fund is to provide college scholarships for the high school students of Lewisporte.

He asked for donations of any amount from his fellow travelers. When the paper with donations got back to us with the amounts, names, phone numbers and addresses, the total was for more than $14,000!

“The gentleman, a MD from Virginia , promised to match the donations and to start the administrative work on the scholarship. He also said that he would forward this proposal to Delta Corporate and ask them to donate as well.

As I write this account, the trust fund is at more than $1.5 million and has assisted 134 students in college education.

“I just wanted to share this story because we need good stories right now. It gives me a little bit of hope to know that some people in a faraway place were kind to some strangers who literally dropped in on them.

It reminds me how much good there is in the world.”

“In spite of all the rotten things we see going on in today’s world this story confirms that there are still a lot of good people in the world and when things get bad, they will come forward. Let’s not forget THIS fact.

Wrapping Presents With A Cat

1. Clear large space on table for wrapping present.

2. Go to closet and collect bag in which present is contained, and shut door.

3. Open door and remove cat from closet.

4. Go to cupboard and retrieve rolls of wrapping paper.

5. Go back and remove cat from cupboard.

6. Go to drawer, and collect transparent sticky tape, ribbons, scissors, labels, etc. . .

7. Lay out presents and wrapping materials on table, to enable wrapping strategy to be formed.

8. Go back to drawer to get string, remove cat that has been in the drawer since last visit and collect string.

9. Remove present from bag.

10. Remove cat from bag.

11. Open box to check present, remove cat from box, replace present.

12. Lay out paper to enable cutting to size.

13. Try and smooth out paper, realize cat is underneath and remove cat.

14. Cut the paper to size, keeping the cutting line straight.

15. Throw away first sheet as cat chased the scissors, and tore the paper.

16. Cut second sheet of paper to size - by putting cat in the bag the present came in.

17. Place present on paper.

18. Lift up edges of paper to seal in present. Wonder why edges don’t reach. Realize cat is between present and paper. Remove cat.

19. Place object on paper, to hold in place while tearing transparent sticky tape.

20. Spend 20 minutes carefully trying to remove transparent sticky tape from cat with pair of nail scissors.

21. Seal paper with sticky tape, making corners as neat as

possible.

22. Look for roll of ribbon. Chase cat down hall in order to retrieve ribbon.

23. Try to wrap present with ribbon in a two-directional turn.

24. Re-roll ribbon and remove paper, which is now torn due to cat’s enthusiastic ribbon chase.

25. Repeat steps 13-20 until you reach last sheet of paper.

26. Decide to skip steps 13-17 in order to save time and reduce risk of losing last sheet of paper. Retrieve old card board box that is the right size for sheet of paper.

27. Put present in box, and tie down with string.

28. Remove string, open box and remove cat.

29. Put all packing materials in bag with present and head for locked room.

30. Once inside lockable room, lock door and start to relay out paper and materials.

31. Remove cat from box, unlock door, put cat outside door, close and relock.

32. Repeat previous step as often as is necessary (until you can hear cat from outside door)

33. Lay out last sheet of paper. (This will be difficult in the small area of the toilet, but do your best)

34. Discover cat has already torn paper. Unlock door go out and hunt through various cupboards, looking for sheet of last year’s paper. Remember that you haven’t got any left because cat helped with this last year as well.

35. Return to lockable room, lock door, and sit on toilet and try to make torn sheet of paper look presentable.

36. Seal box, wrap with paper and repair by very carefully sealing with sticky tape. Tie up with ribbon and decorate with bows to hide worst areas.

37. Label. Sit back and admire your handiwork, congratulate yourself on completing a difficult job.

38. Unlock door, and go to kitchen to make drink and feed cat.

39. Spend 15 minutes looking for cat until coming to obvious conclusion.

40. Unwrap present, untie box and remove cat.

41. Go to store and buy a gift bag

In ancient times cats were worshipped as Gods... They have not forgotten this!

Heart and SNIP:

Tackling Pet Overpopulation in Burleson Countyand Other Stuff

Heart and SNIP: Overpopulation in Burleson Countyand Other Stuff

by J. Tyler Clark

by J. Tyler Clark

feral cats are too often left to fend for themselves, one woman has stepped forward to make a difference. Tracy Kellar, a longtime veterinary technician and lifelong animal advocate, is the driving force behind Haven Animal Rescue of Texas (HART) and Project SNIP of Burleson County. Together, these two nonprofit organizations are changing the way our community thinks about animal welfare.

Tracy’s story begins long before she moved here in 2004. Raised in a family of vet techs, she grew up with a passion for caring for animals. After marrying her husband and settling in Burleson County, she quickly noticed a troubling pattern: animals being dumped in rural areas with no shelter, no care, and no way out. At first, she took them in on her own dime, fostering them, providing medical care, and finding homes. But as the problem grew, so did her determination.

“I told people when I started the rescue,” Tracy said, “I can’t just keep rescuing animals if we don’t do something about the reason they need rescuing. And that reason is overpopulation.”

That conviction led her to launch HART, a nonprofit focused on taking in abandoned or unwanted animals, providing vet care, and matching them with forever families. But she didn’t stop there. As president of Project SNIP (Spay/Neuter Initiative Program), Tracy also works on prevention: offering low-cost clinics for dogs and cats, as well as Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) services for feral cats.

The numbers tell the story. At a recent clinic on August 18th, SNIP fixed 51 animals—nine male dogs, seven female dogs, 14 male cats, and 21 female cats. In addition, the group hosts quarterly TNR events, fixing as many as 60 community cats in a single day. These efforts cut down on stray populations, reduce aggressive pack behavior, and improve public health across the county.

But the work isn’t easy. Burleson County has no public shelter, and for years Tracy was told “no” when she approached local officials about

creating one. Instead of waiting, she pressed forward. Today, HART and SNIP are both 501(c)(3) nonprofits with dedicated boards, steady fundraising events, and growing community support. Their big annual fundraisers include “Luck of the Paws,” a dinner and auction each March, and a pumpkin patch fundraiser each October at the Caldwell Library. They also participate in Brazos Valley Gives, rallying donations to keep the mission alive.

Looking ahead, the goal is to raise several hundred thousand dollars for a permanent building—a shelter and clinic space that would serve Burleson County for years to come. The City of Caldwell has even offered land for the project. With about $40–50,000 already earmarked, the dream is within reach.

For local families, supporting the mission can be as simple as sponsoring an animal’s care, donating supplies, or volunteering at a clinic. Businesses are invited to partner as sponsors, particularly for TNR days that provide free services to the public.

Tracy sums it up simply: “If you want an animal, get it fixed. There are too many unwanted animals in this county, and it puts a huge burden on the people trying to help.”

Thanks to her vision and perseverance, Burleson County is taking big steps toward a future where animals—and the families who love them—can thrive.24. If people evolved from monkeys, why are monkeys still around?