Tim's Blog (Original, No?): 06/01/2005

Random Pic of the Day - "At dinner with Nathan Barnes."

Work Night at the Strack Shack

My boss, Wesley Strackbein, has a property of patriarchal proportions (six acres of trees, fields, rocks, and a creek, anyway) where he lives about an hour north of San Antonio. Last night I journeyed to his abode with Michael Gobart and Peter Bradrick to participate in a work night. The goal: to take dominion over the grass and the wayward driveway tree branches.

Arriving at Wes’ home around 5:30 p.m., he gave us an enjoyable (and, for me, long-anticipated) tour of his property, including the Strack Shack (the Strack Shack is another blog post for another time) and his present domicile. After about an hour of wandering around his land and admiring his labors on inside his home and out, we set to work cutting grass, weed-wacking, and trimming trees. We were able to accomplish much of our goal, diligently employing our respective energies until night fell.

As a reward for our labors, Wesley’s mom and her four daughters (the Strackbein ladies had arrived later in the evening) made us an outstanding meal of spaghetti, salad, string beans, and garlic bread (several of those menu items included ingredients from the Strackbeins’ own garden). What a wonderful ending to our day, enjoying excellent food and good Christian fellowship!

Following are a few pictures from the evening. Enjoy.

The Strack Shack.

Inside the Shack with Wesley Strackbein.

Wesley's present dwelling place, also located on his property.

Rock steps leading down to the creek behind Wesley's house. Wes helped build these steps when he was twelve years old.

Peter Bradrick hauling firewood in his truck. Lookin' good, Pete.

Mrs. Strackbein and Elizabeth preparing the meal.

Summer Soccer

Growing up I enjoyed playing many different sports. My athletic activities included baseball, basketball, football, tennis, volleyball, and other physically stimulating games. However, the sport I have held to be my "first love" since I was six years old, playing it twice a week with my home school group every autumn for eleven years, is the sweet, sweet sport of soccer.

This month I have enjoyed the opportunity to return to my "first love," playing in a summer soccer league at a local park two nights a week (at least on those nights when I was in town). To my dismay I have experienced a very stark reality, namely that my level of competition growing up, when I ruled the field and scored at will, was incredibly lacking (to put it charitably). Therefore, this past month has been a good lesson of humility and perseverance, as my playing endeavors fall far short of many others playing with and against me. However, I can truly say that I have enjoyed the exercise, have profited from some serious humbling, and will be playing again in July (tonight was the final game of our June season).

Thanks to Lourdes Torres, who graciously consented to capture the evening with my camera (she was there peacefully watching Andrew with Mr. Torres when Barnes and I requested her to act as photographer with our cameras), I finally have some pictures to share with everyone. Pictures are not a replacement for watching something in person, but Lourdes did get some cool shots that I think you will enjoy.

Contemplating. . . .something?

You can't see the ball, but I'll bet you can guess where it is.

Go Michael! Look at that intensity.

Hey, look. I got the ball.

Barnes staring down the competition.

Chief Justice Roy Moore Comments on Supreme Court's Recent Ten Commandments Decisions

From The Wall Street Journal Online

COMMENTARY

A Higher Authority
By ROY S. MOORE
June 30, 2005; Page A12

"All told this Court's jurisprudence leaves courts, governments, and believers and nonbelievers alike confused -- an observation that is hardly new." With these words Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accurately described the Court's latest efforts in McCreary County, Kentucky v. ACLU of Kentucky and Van Orden v. Perry to determine whether public displays of the Ten Commandments on state property are consistent with the United States Constitution.

In McCreary County, the Court ruled 5-4 that the display of the Ten Commandments was unconstitutional under the Lemon test because they found a "predominantly religious purpose," i.e., to acknowledge the one true God.

In Van Orden, faced with a monument of the Ten Commandments on the state Capitol grounds in Austin, Texas, the Court, rejecting the use of the three-part Lemon test and relying more on history, found 5-4 that the monument in that case was acceptable partly because it had remained in place for nearly 40 years and was a "passive" display among 37 other historical markers on the state Capitol grounds.

The McCreary County case became the controlling precedent of the Court because the reasoning in the Van Orden case was adopted by only four of the five justices who voted to uphold the display. Justice Stephen Breyer rejected the reasoning of the other justices in the majority, but agreed to allow the monument to remain based on his own "legal judgment." Therefore, Van Orden did not become a majority opinion of the Court.

No wonder the American people are confused by such conflicting results contained in 10 separate writings that have no consistent legal analysis. The text of the First Amendment's Religion Clauses reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," but was quoted in its entirety only one time in all the writings of the justices.

As Justice Thomas so appropriately noted, one may, and indeed must, question why the Court cautiously avoids the words of the First Amendment. We need to restore the original definitions of "law," "establishment," and "religion" in the First Amendment. A monument or display could never be a "law," the mere posting or installation of it is not an "establishment," and the recognition of God by the public display of the Ten Commandments is not "religion." After all, the original definition of the word "religion" -- the duties we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging those duties -- which was recognized by the Supreme Court years ago, acknowledged God and a higher law.

With these cases, it should be clear that, as Justice Antonin Scalia opined in his McCreary County dissent, "[n]othing stands behind the Court's assertion that governmental affirmation of the society's belief in God is unconstitutional except the Court's own say-so . . . ."

In 1952, Justice William O. Douglas, writing for the Court, stated in Zorach v. Clauson, "We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being." And in 1961 in McGowan v. Maryland, Justice Douglas observed that the "institutions of our society are founded on a belief that there is an authority higher than the authority of the state, that there is a moral law which the state is powerless to alter, and that the state possesses rights conferred by the Creator which government must respect." However, this week in McCreary County and Van Orden, the High Court contradicts history, logic, and law in denying our inalienable right to acknowledge God.

Certainly our courts have become arbitrary in depriving Americans of life by legal abortion or starvation, by snatching property rights for private economic gain (as we saw last week in Kelo v. New London), and now this week by restricting our freedom to acknowledge God. Every state constitution acknowledges God and so does our national motto, "In God We Trust." Ironically, the Supreme Court itself opens with what they called a prayer in Engel v. Vitale, "God save the United States and this Honorable Court."

* * *

A remedy is available in the Constitution Restoration Act of 2005 -- pending in both houses of Congress as H.R.1070 and S.520 -- which would enjoin the federal courts and the Supreme Court, under Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, from interfering with the right of public officials to acknowledge God, and prevent those courts from ruling by foreign law rather than the United States Constitution they are sworn to uphold.

Article VI of the Constitution requires all state and federal officials to support that Constitution as the "supreme Law of the Land." The American people ask no more and they deserve no less.

May God save the United States from this Honorable Court.

Mr. Moore, former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, is the author of "So Help Me God" (Broadman & Holman, 2005).

- My Comments -
While I believe there are additional short-term options for remedying our nation's judicial crisis (e.g., removing law-breaking judges from office through present, constitutionally permissable means), the Chief Justice accurately states that an immediate remedy is necessary. I am grateful for his insightful appraisal of the matter and for his continued, vigilant stand for truth.

Praise the Lord for faithful men like Chief Justice Roy Moore, men who are willing to sacrifice their prestige, power, and positions in order to remain obedient to His Higher Law.

Random Pic of the Day - "Not going anywhere for a while?"

Random Pic of the Day - "Seeing double."

Random Pic of the Day - "Pot Providence at BCA."

All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy

This evening I arrived "house" after a week-long trip of business and pleasure (sometimes ‘tis best to mix the two). My journey consisted of stops in St. Charles, St. Louis, Neosho, Joplin, Springfield, and Branson, each a Missouri city. Accompanying me on each leg of the trip was my good friend Mark Stubblefield.

Mark and I started our week on Monday by setting up the Vision Forum booths at the CHEF of Missouri home school conference in St. Charles. We successfully located our inventory, changed our minds about table setup arrangements approximately 17 times, and eventually completed our display. Tuesday morning we arrived back at the convention center (which is brand new and quite spiffy, by the way), and spent the majority of the next two days exhibiting. Many thanks to CHEF for allowing us to be a part of their 2005 conference.

On Wednesday Mark and I enjoyed the very competent and gracious assistance of the Zes young ladies, long-time veterans of the Vision Forum book tables. Many thanks to Sarah, Rebekah, and Hannah for bringing the missing femininity to VF’s booth (Mark and I just weren’t up to the task). Thanks to Mr. Zes, as well, for allowing his daughters to lend their respective hands to our exhibiting endeavors, and also for his invaluable aid in assisting all of us as we packed our materials at the close of the conference. It’s so much fun to have friends and allies all over the country, and the Zes family once again proved themselves to be such this past week.

Lunch with the always-hospitable Serven family was the first order of business for Mark and me on Thursday. Mrs. Serven had attended the conference with several of her children, and she had graciously invited us to her home during one of her visits to the Vision Forum booth. After concluding that our schedule was open for lunch on Thursday, Mark and I were very grateful to accept! Nathanael Cordz, former co-intern and another of my Missouri friends, joined us for the mid-day meal at the Serven home, and all of us enjoyed sweet fellowship and excellent food courtesy of the Serven family. (In my capacity of field reporter, allow me to mention that the Serven’s home is quite lovely and that they should be finished with their basement modifications within the next three weeks.)

Nathan Serven and Cordz joined Mark and me as we traveled to David Fry’s house in St. Louis to visit him and receive a St. Louis tour, David Fry style. To those of you who have not been afforded the privilege of meeting the inimitable Mr. Fry, please accept my condolences. David is a hard-working, book-reading, fun-loving, aesthetic-conscious, hat-wearing, consummate gentleman, a rare mixture to be sure. David showed us his latest work projects, including his own house, took us to his favorite St. Louis dining establishment, O’Connell’s Pub (greatest burger I’ve ever eaten, and that’s high praise from a burger connoisseur like myself), drove us around town while offering insightful, entrepreneurial commentary into house-building projects throughout the city, introduced us to one of the hat shops he frequents, and wandered the shelves of a local Borders with us as the capper to our day. Thanks, David, for a fantastic afternoon and evening!

After departing David’s house, Mark and I drove the approximately five hours necessary to reach his home in Neosho. Gratefully Mark was successful in staying awake without my help, because my waking abilities were more or less nil toward the end of the trip. (An idea of my level of sleepiness: while singing in an effort to keep Mark awake, I fell asleep mid-sentence. That’s not easy to do.) Eventually Mark and I arrived at his home and gratefully tumbled into our respective beds.

Mark and I spent most of Friday visiting his home-towns past and present, as well as the Precious Moments facility where he sometimes does independent contract work. Although neither Mark nor I profess membership in Precious Moments’ fan club, its complex is rather amazing. Featuring countless pieces of artwork from founder Sam Butcher, as well as a variety of museums, miniature castles, a wedding chapel, an RV park, and numerous gardens, Precious Moments Inspiration Park is truly a sight to behold.

During our tour Mark showed me the house where he grew up, as well as a waterfall and river which he used to visit on hot days. We also hiked around another body of water and soaked in the beauty of tall trees, rolling hills, and placid lakes, each of which are regularly missing from my normal environs (sigh). Good times.

Dinner was provided by Mrs. Stubblefield (Mark’s mom, for anyone who is wondering) and was delicious. We ate lasagna, bread, green beans with bacon, and salad, followed by a tasty strawberry cake and ice cream. Mark showed me some old family pictures, and I enjoyed fellowshipping with Mr. and Mrs. Stubblefield (now I know why I have such a great friend). A fine dinner, to be sure.

Later that night Mark and I headed to the local tennis court. Alas, I was beaten. Still searching for a suitable excuse. . .

Saturday, the final full day of my trip, was spent primarily in Springfield and Branson. In Springfield Mark and I visited the national headquarters of Bass Pro Shops. What an array of sights! We saw huge catfish, monstrous bass, turtles, snakes, and a wide variety of mounted animals. For one’s purchasing pleasure, Bass Pro Shops stocks just about outdoor amenity one can imagine, from boats, to ATVs, to firearms, to camping gear, to golfclubs, and everything in between. Waterfalls, streams, and ponds complete the image of an indoor outdoor paradise that is Bass Pro Shops.

The remainder of our day was spent in Branson. Mark generously treated us to dinner and a show on board the Branson Belle, a three-million pound riverboat. That was a treat! Later we played miniature golf, in which I redeemed myself from the ignominy of Friday’s tennis games.

Many thanks to the Stubblefield family for their tremendous hospitality. I immensely enjoyed my time in Missouri, thanks in very large part to their gracious hosting. May God bless them mightily as they faithfully serve Him through service to His saints. Special thanks to Mark for putting up with me all week, and for so generously giving his time to serve at the conference. Until California, Marcus!

Setting up the booth.

Lookin' very dapper, Marcus.

Look how much they're enjoying those books! Which title do you want to buy?

Working the table.

What's a trip to St. Louis without a picture of the Gateway Arch?

Fry Headquarters.

Strong evidence of David's green thumb.

Just a glimpse into David Fry's incredible house.

Mixing business with pleasure, David talks shop while driving us around St. Louis.

Might I suggest a different purchase, Mr. Stubblefield?

Precious Moments, coming up.

The wedding chapel.

The falls near Mark's old home.

Sam Butcher created this castle for his grandchildren.

Bass Pro Shops' national headquarters.

Gettin' friendly with the bear.

Missouri beauty.

The Branson Belle, in all of her three-million pound glory.

The Branson Belle is powered exclusively by these paddlewheels.

A view from the Branson Belle.

One segment of the entertainment: Tom Oliver and his talking dog, Irving.

A picturesque miniature golf course, to be sure.

Full swing now, Marcus.

Random Pic of the Day - "He 'da man."

Random Pic of the Day - "Will the real Tarzan please step forward?"

Random Pic of the Day - "Michael and Grace Gobart: A Sweet and Godly Couple!"

Greetings and Felicitations, Father, on this Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Dad. Go Eagles!

Memorial Day

I haven’t much time to write about the events of this year’s Memorial Day, although it was by far the most eventful Memorial Day I have ever enjoyed. From God-glorifying speeches by veterans, to rides in World War II vehicles, to the landing of a Vietnam-ear helicopter, to the beauty and hospitality of the Brown’s farm, Memorial Day 2005 is unmatched in the annals of my Memorial Day experiences. Add the fact that I was reunited with my fellow 2003 Vision Forum interns, and no man could ask for more (well, at least not much more!).

To comment at all about the Memorial Day picnic and not to communicate my tremendous gratitude to the Brown family for their incomprehensible hospitality would be to hold myself up as an unforgivable, self-absorbed, incorrigible wretch. In order to avert such a disastrous happening, I want to loudly declare that the Brown’s love for God’s people through service and hospitality is to be commended and followed by Christians everywhere. The Browns repeatedly gave of their time and resources to bless their local community, hosting literally hundreds (perhaps more than one thousand) of guests at the picnic. Working tirelessly with members from their local church to make everything “perfect,” the Browns succeeded valiantly in their quest to honor the Lord and bless their friends and family. Their Christian testimony was a witness to all who attended, both saved and unsaved. May God prosper Scott, Debra, Kelly, Blair, David, and Claudia Brown mightily for their faithful service in His kingdom.

Pictures will have to suffice as explanation of the day’s activities. Enjoy!