The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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The 2024 Legislative Session begins next week. It will be difficult to replicate the success of last year’s regular session. The 2023 year was a premier year for any first year of a quadrennium. Indeed, it may be one of the most momentous in state history. It was historic because of the vast amount of money available to be appropriated. When asked what grade I would give the legislative session at its conclusion, I gave it the highest I have ever given: B+. It would have gotten an A, but l...
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next. Amen The...
I know we are in a new year, but allow me to look back into 2023 and share with you some observations and accolades from the last year. My old friend Mac McArthur has been Executive Director and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer of the Alabaman State Employees Association for 26 years now. He is one of my best friends and we talk about once or twice a month. Our conversations last an hour as we enjoy regaling stories of Alabama politics. Nobody knows Alabama political stories or Alabama political...
Let 2024 be the year of new adventures! Plan out new adventures instead of wasting time on New Year's Resolutions. Did you know that for 92% of people, New Year's resolutions fail? The result is often discouragement, and we end up feeling like "New year, same me." Try something different this year. Try planning New Year Adventures. So, what are some New Year Adventures you can plan for 2024? Plan Fun Adventures With True Friends "Not all those who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien, The...
The Relevance: Through CHRIST God came to earth! “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” -John 1:14 NIV “ The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,,and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) -Matthew 1:23 NIV Christmas is relevant for you and me, because Jesus Christ came to earth on that first Christmas to reveal God’s heart towards us. The wonder of Christmas is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago, because Jesus is still walking...
We had a very distinguished congressional delegation from Alabama during the 30-year span of 1934-1964. The congressmen from the Heart of Dixie appeared to be born to serve in Congress. Their pedigrees were all similar. They had pretty much been born and raised in the town that they would eventually represent in Congress. Almost all had gone to the University of Alabama for their education and most had graduated from Alabama’s Law School. While at the Capstone, most had been members of Greek f...
In recent years, healthcare has eclipsed agriculture as Dothan’s major industry. Dothan is the medical mecca for the entire Wiregrass, as well as rural northwest Florida and southwest Georgia. It has premier medical professionals only matched by Birmingham in the state of Alabama. Dothan doctors dominate the economy in the world’s largest peanut producing locale. One of the pioneers of this medical revolution was Dothan’s Dr. Furnie Johnston, who passed away a few weeks ago at 94 years old....
In the world of sports, G.O.A.T. Stands for the “Greatest Of All Time”. In the sports world there are several people who come to mind: Tom Brady in the NFL has won 7 Super Bowls; Michael Phelps, the swimmer, has won 28 Olympic Medals of which 23 were Gold; Michael Jordan is arguably the best NBA player who ever lived; Roger Federer won 8 Wimbledons and 20 Grand-slams; Lionel Messi is the most decorated soccer player ever and is the king of the soccer world with 44 titles and 42 trophies. Whi...
It’s official and final, Alabama will elect our seven member congressional delegation under new lines next year. The federal court has spoken. The special master drawing the lines has acted and the final omnipotent power, the U.S. Supreme Court, has concurred and confirmed the decision. It is over. The result that the plaintiffs desired has been decreed by the courts. There will be a new second majority Black Congressional district. This accomplishment has been sought for decades. Now the q...
The Three Big Impact Quesions Several years ago I read about a survey that was taken of 100 people over the age of 90. They were ask this simple question: If you had your life to live all over again, what would you do different? The top three responses were: 1. I would reflect more. 2. I would risk more. 3. I would invest more in things that outlast me. These three responses served as a catalyst to me and caused me to start thinking about the impact I wanted to make with my life. I want to live...
As the long hot summer ends and Labor Day approaches, let’s take a look back at what occurred over the last three summer months, politically. First of all, it was one of the hottest summers on record. Temperatures soared into the hundreds as early as late June. On one of those late June days, one of the hottest political events of the year occurred. The annual Tomato Sandwich Lunch event hosted by Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate was the biggest, yet. The twentieth annual Tomato S...
This series on “Legacy: Outlive Your Life” will be a three part series focused on what I call “The Big Three Life/Legacy Questions”: 1.The Heart Question: Is my heart growing bigger? 2.The Joy Question: Is my joy going deeper? 3.The Passion Question: Is my passion getting hotter? In part one we will focus on the heart question. Is my heart growing bigger? In other words, is my love for God and for others growing bigger? Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” -John 15:12 And the dis...
Make no mistake about it, the decision as to where the heralded National Space Command Headquarters will be located is political. If you think otherwise, you are politically naïve. Senator Richard Shelby is the reason and only reason that the federal military officials even considered moving Space Command from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama in the first place, period. Folks, you are just beginning to see the impact Senator Shelby’s retirement meant to the State of Alabama. Our freshman co...
Two of my favorite truth quotes are: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” -Jesus, John 8:32 And … The Apostle Paul states, “ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.” -1 Corinthians 13:6 God is truth. When we tell the truth, we live as God wants us to live and as God has commanded us to live. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” Or “You shall not lie.” -Exodus 20:16 When we lie, we go against what God expects of us, and we disobey His Comma...
The recently completed Regular Session of the Alabama legislature was a success. It began on a high note and ended positively. Why? There was plenty of money to spend. Both the General Fund Budget and the Education Budget had historic amounts of money. Most of the focus of the Session was on budgeting, as it should be, because that is the only constitutional mandate that the legislature is tasked with in the 105 day Regular Session. Gov. Kay Ivey laid out her agenda in her State of the State...
Sometimes overlooked and often unsung, Alabama’s community and technical colleges are on a roll. It is time they get the recognition they deserve as workhorses for the state’s economy. There are 24 community and technical colleges in the state, located on 50 different campuses with over 130 service locations. This means every Alabamian reading these words is close to incredible education and training opportunities. The colleges offer over 300 degrees and certifications, and award more than 30,...
Over the years, I have witnessed hundreds of people fall away from God and the church. Many of these were avid believers that faithfully followed Jesus, passionately worshipped every Sunday and boldly witnessed to their faith. And they simply walked away from it all. What happened to them? Why did they simply walk away from God and their faith in Christ? Some may ask, “Why and how did they backslide?” I am convinced that the major reason people fall away from God and the church is not bec...
Kay Ivey is Alabama's second female governor. Lurleen Wallace was the first. Ironically, Kay Ivey's idol and impetus for striving to be governor was Lurleen Wallace. Kay's first involvement in state politics was as a campaign worker for Governor Lurleen's 1966 race for governor when Kay Ivey was a student at Auburn. It was 55 year ago in May 1968 that our first female governor, Lurleen Wallace, passed away. She was a genuinely humble person. Lurleen Wallace was very popular. The state fell in...
Congratulations to all the High School and College graduates! On behalf of all of us in the cities, towns and communities across Alabama, we honor your accomplishments, and we are proud of each of you! No doubt all of you have been blessed, encouraged and challenged by some great Baccalaureate Addresses and Commencement Speeches. But, may I add my three cheers and offer “Three Big C’s” to think about as you step out into your next season of life? This advice also applies to all who wish to th...
As the first Regular Session of the Quadrennium evolves there are a myriad of complex issues arising. I am reminded of three simple truisms regarding the Alabama legislature and the governing of the State of Alabama. First of all, if anything significant or controversial or any major initiative is to be addressed, then it is dealt with in the first year of the four-year quadrennium. Thus, giving legislators three years before their constituents vote on them again. The political pragmatism and...
Would you love to experience fresh power in your life? You can! Many people feel powerless in so many areas of their lives. Many feel powerless to change their circumstances, their anxieties, their worries, their relationships, their marriages, their children, their financial conditions, their jobs, their bad habits, their addictions, their attitudes and so many other things in their lives they would like to change. Did you know that Jesus came to offer us the power to change as well as the...
Alabama's original 1901 Constitution had a law whereby the governor could only serve one four-year term and not succeed themselves. In 1968, the law was changed and since then the governor and all other constitutional offices in the state can now serve two consecutive terms. This one term and you are done, made for a very interesting, anticipated, and competitive governor's race every four years. They could begin four years in advance in earnest, and they would begin. Since Kay Ivey will be...
Everyone is betting their life on something! What are you betting your life on? I am betting my life on the fact that Jesus is who he said he is! “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - Jesus, John 14:6 I am the way. Jesus said this in a conversation with the disciples at the last supper. He had just told the disciples that he must go away. And that they knew the way to where he was going. He was speaking about his arrest later that night and his...
Many of you may be surprised to know that politicians and preachers are often friends while on earth. They actually run in the same circles in their communities as well as around the state. It has been my pleasure to have known a good many Godly ministers. During my lifetime here in our beloved state of Alabama, there have been some outstanding ministers, but three men stand out as legendary and will go down in the annals of Alabama history as the three greatest preachers of this generation....
Would you say you are easily offended? Or would you say, like most people do, “I have thick skin so I am not easily offended.” But I would say to you that all of us can be offended, and all of us will be offended and probably many times by many people. Being offended is an inevitable part of life. Even Jesus said so…. “It is impossible that no offenses should come…” Jesus, Luke 17:1 NKJV In other words, it is impossible to avoid being offended by someone. Offenses are inevitable. If we are obse...
