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President John F. Kennedy once said, "A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers." Each Veterans Day, we take time to honor our brave veterans. These women and men have served our country with courage. They've made great sacrifices to protect our freedoms. We owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never repay. One way we can support them is by ensuring that they get the benefits they earned. I'm proud of the work my office has do...
When walking backwards it's easy to see where you have been, but difficult to see where you are going. You have to really crane your neck to see where you are headed in order to keep from tripping. Although it is impractical to get through each day walking backwards, this is how many people go through life. When walking backwards, the view is clear. You see exactly where you have been, along with the route you have taken. However, unless you turn around, you'll struggle making real forward...
Strange how certain books captivate my interest, others not as much. I find myself going back again and again to reread Mark Forsyth's 2013 book, "The Elements of Eloquence." In Forsyth's "Preface," he writes, "Shakespeare was not a genius. He was the most wonderful writer who ever breathed. But not a genius. Instead, he learned rhetorical techniques and tricks." Of Shakespeare's first plays-"Love's Labour's Lost," "Titus Andronicus," and "Henry VI, Part 1"-Forsyth says, "there is not a single...
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Matthew 15:11 This is written because some remember, children did not listen, grandchildren became disoriented, and great-grandchildren have taken the wrong road. Evil is determined, to overcome good and God. We, the People, have come into a national wonder land. Who, what, when and where is the road to God's signs, wonders and miracles? Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1939 movie "The Wizard of OZ" exposes a pilgrim's progress in this world. The rainbow says bluebi...
The 2024 election is over. Americans voted for change. President Donald Trump's re-election, along with Republican majorities in the House and Senate, marks a turning point for our country. The people of the United States have spoken clearly and decisively. We rejected the failed leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Instead, Americans voted for a better economy, a secure border, and American strength projected abroad. It's time to get...
Time to take a break... Every once in a while we need to pause, take a deep breath and step outside of the daily grind. So without making apologies if I step on some political toes here are some humorous moments from days gone by. You deserve a chuckle for enduring today’s weirdness. While in the Navy (late 1960s & early 1970s) my favorite watches were mid watches – a 2 hour watch between midnight and 0400. Those scheduled to have a mid watch could to go to the mess hall before, or after the...
Much frustration results when a person tries to be someone who they are not. When this happens a number of factors are at play. Pressure to conform to the expectations of others, the desire for acceptance, and the yearning to emulate other's lifestyles are some of them. You are a unique individual. No one else is exactly like you. You have aptitudes, abilities, desires, and a personality unlike anyone else's. You need to recognize and be who you are. It's easy to get caught up with trends and...
"To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgement and equity." Proverbs 1:2,3 Many people misunderstand who God is, what He's up to, where He stands, when He moves, how He plumbs circumstances and why He uses the people He does. A study of Proverbs, Psalms and New Testament, will find that God is not nice. He is just, right and good. He is not fair. He is gracious, kind and equitable. That is, what He does for me,...
Manufacturing is critical for Nebraska's economy. It contributes $21.6 billion to our annual gross domestic product. That's a 57% increase from five years ago. Manufacturing is our second-largest economic sector. It's easy to see why. Whether it's the food we eat, the machines we use, or the tools that help farmers and ranchers thrive, manufacturing touches every part of our daily lives. As we end Manufacturing Month, let's celebrate the many successes of this growing industry. Manufacturing is...
Some people have ambition while others don't. But ambition isn't required for happiness. So, does ambition serve a purpose? Ambition is beneficial when it originates from your own desire. Ambition can be detrimental if it is externally imposed on you by another person. A common example of externally imposed ambition is a parent's expectations for their son or daughter. The expectation of the parents may be at odds with what their child desires. When the child grows up and strives to please...
Abraham Lincoln of Illinois was elected President of the United States of America on November 6, 1860, for a four-year term. One year later, on November 6, 1861, Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was elected President of the Confederate States of America for a six-year term. Between those two dates, eleven states, each in the south, voted to secede from the Union and form their own government, the Confederates States of America. That division between north and south over the issue of slavery had...
"I will stand my watch and see what the Lord will say when I am corrected. Write the Vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he who reads may hastily run with it," Habakkuk 2 It's clear God is not Democrat or Republican. He is The Covenant Keeper Psalm 89:34 He issued a 'white paper' to our Founding Fathers who had this verse firmly in mind. They knew a Republic was an experiment, yet it has become a beacon to other nations as a pinnacle to reach for. We, The People, are privileged to carry...
In America, elections are about choices. Choices have consequences. A president's policies and priorities shape our economy, our freedoms, and our standing in the world. We saw it in 2016 when voters chose Donald Trump. His policies built a strong economy that included lower taxes and energy independence. He also brought strength and security at home and abroad. We saw the consequences of our elections again in 2020. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have brought stubbornly high costs of living and...
Shortly before the spring of 1959 our family moved out of a freezer of a house located near the Immaculate Conception Grade School in Fairbanks, AK. We tried living in a small apartment complex on the southwest side of town, but the apartment had a couple of problems. It was too expensive to keep at a livable temperature (lack of insulation) and it was infested with all kinds of critters including cockroaches and mice, left over from previous tenants. Mom and dad immediately started looking for...
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (asking), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6 God is counting on We, the People to plant seeds of faith into HIS Biblical agenda for Man by voting. Bible too hard to understand? Vote for the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Inalienable Rights! NO LAW bars the Church from being involved in politics. Amendment #1. To remove this amendment will destroy our inner yolk, the strengt...
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data released in September revealed tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with sexual assault and homicide convictions could be loose in the U.S. right now. These violent offenders should have never been allowed entry to our country. They certainly shouldn't still be here roaming free. I'm working with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) on the BE GONE Act to deport individuals with these convictions currently in the country and block those seeking to enter....
Everyone has problems, challenges, adversity, and obstacles they have to deal with. Collectively, these are commonly referred to as troubles. Rather than being a master of our situation, we allow our circumstances to govern us. We react to whatever is happening rather than acting to produce the outcome we want. For many, their troubles become their constant companions. They leave work and bring their troubles home. They go to work and bring the troubles from home with them. Wherever they go,...
Allen Guelzo, history professor at Princeton, tells a story about Lincoln that he included in his recent book, "Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment." Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, one and a half years into the Civil War. He justified his Proclamation out of "military necessity." Eleven states of the Union had rebelled and threatened the Federal Government's very existence. Freeing slaves in the Confederacy, Lincoln...
A Grimm's Fairy Tale designed to reflect the heart of Man goes like this: "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again." Have We, The People, seen Humpty, our nation, teetering, there, and said, "Well. someday he'll wake up and sit right?" Did the Church call to Humpty and show him a way more perfect? If not, the Church left We, The People, untaught, even directed to look the other way, while the nat...
Vice President Kamala Harris has shown us repeatedly that she's willing to abandon her alleged principles to make her radical agenda more appealing to the American people. It's misleading and dishonest. Recently, she shared that the latest principle she's willing to abandon is the U.S. Senate filibuster. By doing so, she would be burning down an American institution to force her radical policies through Congress. It's a slap in the face to tens of millions of common-sense Americans who will...
As a reader of this column, you are striving to improve your life. You want to attain your goals and bring your dreams into reality. You want to break through your self-imposed limitations. So you follow all of the advice in this column. But you think nothing is working. You are doing all the right things. Your attitude is positive. You are motivated. You have specific goals and a plan to reach them. You are taking action. Yet, still you feel as if you are not making the progress you had hoped...
I've been a game player for more decades than I care to think about. I've played several different card games, a couple dozen different board games including checkers, Monopoly and chess. I've played games with marbles and became relatively good at them. In various boxes and cabinets in my house I have games that can be played by the little ones and others I can play with their parents. And in spite of my age I can also play games on a computer . . . mostly war games with other guys and gals on...
Today begins Sukkot. Malachi 1:2 "'I have loved you', says the Lord. 'Yes, I have loved Jacob.'" God so loves His people that He just wants to be among us. Father so arranged the fall feasts filled with figs for their healing power, olives for oil to anoint with joy and wine, blood of grapes, that we might be merry and enter rest. "For the Lord of Hosts has purposed. His hand is stretched out and who can turn it back?" Isaiah 14:27. God used a merciless murderer, Herod, who, when he found...
This week marks one year since Hamas terrorists unleashed a barbaric, unprovoked attack against Israel. We must not forget the atrocities committed on October 7th, 2023. Hamas terrorists raped women and kidnapped over 200 people. 1,195 innocents were brutally murdered, including 40 American citizens. One year later, nearly 100 hostages have yet to be returned. This includes seven Americans. Some of these hostages have likely already been murdered as well. We must stand with Israel as it confront...
Happiness isn't a reaction; it is a cause. People who wait for specific circumstances to materialize before they are happy are putting the cart before the horse. People who are happy attract positive situations. Those who walk around with a scowl are a magnet for the very things they are unhappy about. You don't need a reason to be happy. Being happy is a lot more enjoyable than being miserable. Since feeling crummy isn't pleasant, and it doesn't make your situation better, why not be happy...