3-10-22 

Rugged individualism. Historic work ethic. Can do attitude. These traits helped to

establish America and Americans as a force to be dealt with in the early days of our

new Republic. Challenges were seen as short-lived obstacles over which we would

triumph. Impossible was not a word in the vocabulary of Americans. The more

difficult the task, the more determined and focused we became. There was an

expectation that success was in hand. It was just a matter of time. In today’s

America, those traits that made us successful early in our history are being ridiculed

and we are now unfortunately using a strategy that encourages reliance rather than

independence. It has led to a situation in which 46% of all Americans pay no

Federal Income tax. We are 4% away from a situation in which the genius of

America can be completely undermined at the ballot box by people who don’t work

voting for a redistribution of the wealth of those who do work. When that line gets

crossed and more people receive than contribute, the great experiment that is

America will be over. Our history is very important and instructive. We still have

time to prevent the end of America as we know it if we become students of history

and get back to what made us successful. Independence rather than reliance. Now

that’s Good News.

3-9-22 

Most of you have seen the movie, the Wizard of Oz. An all-time favorite movie.

After all it has a beautiful young girl and an almighty Wizard. Throw in Munchkins

and monkeys along with a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion and you have movie

magic! Each character is in search of something special. The scarecrow wants a

brain. The tin man wants a heart. The lion wants courage. And Dorothy wants to

get home to Kansas and Aunt Em and she is sure that the Wizard can make it all

happen. With today’s technology, we are seeing more and more people who think

that there is some digital answer out there that will make all of their dreams come

true if they can just find the Wizard. Just like Dorothy found out, the Wizard turned

out to be just bells and whistles and lights and not much more behind the curtain.

She had to find her own way back to Kansas and she had the ability to do it through

the relationships she already had and not through the wizardry of technology.

Don’t depend on the wizard. Trust yourself to do the right thing and then do it. With

a little hard work and determination, you will find your Kansas. Now that’s Good

News.

3-8-22 

Did you know that almost every successful corporation has a Board of Directors

that helps them develop strategies for the future, reviews current plans, recommends

courses of action, and keeps the leadership accountable? Dad taught me as a leader

that I need to seek wise counsel. As a result, I have my own personal board of

directors. We have all heard the old saying that no man is an island. Dad also said

that you don’t have to do what they recommend but they may point out something

you hadn’t thought of. The reality is that nobody is smart enough to handle life on

their own. My personal board is made up of key people in my life who can help me

make decisions that I am more likely to be willing to live with…and they will be

better decisions because I have had them reviewed for soundness by people who

want to see me succeed. As a result of my personal board of directors I have made

fewer bad decisions. If you want to be a leader who has a successful career, the

secret is out. You can’t do it on your own. Get your own personal Board of

Directors and seek their counsel. Now that’s Good News.

3-7-22 

My two grandsons, Daniel 7 and AJ 9, celebrate birthdays today and on Saturday.

They are both remarkable kids who are each talented in their own ways and are a

joy to be around. In their young lives, I have watched them adapt to Covid19

restrictions and they have handled them with a skill that I wish many adults had. I

certainly give the lion’s share of the credit to their parents who made adjustments

and sacrifices to make sure that these two youngsters (and two older granddaughters

as well) still enjoyed life during the last two years of Covid19 restrictions. They

followed the protocols, even when the protocol didn’t make sense, and still found

ways to have birthday parties and family get-togethers to celebrate these important

benchmarks in their lives. It was such a delight to see how my daughter and son-in-

law managed to navigate two years of craziness with minimal negative impact on

their family traditions. They, and many other families like them, deserve

recognition for their efforts to make sure that family life continued even under such

dire circumstances. So for my part, Happy Birthday to Daniel and AJ and may the

Lord grant us full relief from Covid19 for your 8 th and 10th birthdays. Now that’s

Good News.

3-4-22 

Mom and dad taught me a long time ago that if you don’t stand up for what is right,

you will fall for anything. Right and wrong does exist. We have become

accustomed to the term tolerance and thus have allowed wrong to go unchallenged

because of political correctness. Tolerance has moved to advocacy. No longer is it

enough for us to be politically correct or silent, we must now become advocates for

things we believe to be wrong or we get labeled as “your just out of it and you are

behind the times.” It doesn’t matter how you package garbage, it is still garbage and

it smells like garbage. No amount of perfume will cover the smell. Marijuana use

is an example. We are losing thousands of kids to marijuana use daily and the

media and social outlets seem to wink at its use as if it is non-consequential in its

impact. Our kids are followers and they have believed the lie that marijuana is “not

so bad.” Students are losing their focus, their desire to succeed, and their zest for

life. A big thanks goes out to so many educational leaders for recognizing the

devastating impact of marijuana on the future of our youth and their renewed efforts

to eliminate it. Now that’s Good News.

3-3-22

In the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States it reads in part:

Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting

the free exercise thereof: Religious freedom is the first part of the Bill of Rights. It

was not simply chance that Religious Freedom was the first thing addressed in the

Bill of Rights. Religion is foundational to who we are as a people. The Pew

Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life, a non-partisan group,

releases its annual statistics on religious restrictions. There was a substantial

increase in both the Government Restriction Index and the Social Hostility Index

over the last 5-10 years. It moved the United States from the category of least

restriction to moderate restrictions. There is a growing hostility against religion in

America. Religious freedom is in fact the first cornerstone of the Bill of Rights. It is

incumbent upon each of us as Americans to make sure that religious freedom for all

Americans is secure now and for the future. True religious freedom allows each of

us to live side by side without trying to kill each other. Religious Freedom is a

cause worth fighting ….and praying for! Now that’s Good News.

3-2-22

I have to admit that I liked fast cars when I was a kid. I thought I was indestructible

and was such a good driver that I would be able to handle any driving situation. My

first fast car was a Chevelle 396 Super Sport. It had over 400 horsepower, was

Bolero Red with Black Leather interior, had four speed manual transmission and

was flat out fast. I have had an RX7, a Corvette, a 370Z and a Tesla Model 3 to

name a few of 30 plus cars I’ve owned. I still like fast but I want you to know that I

control my speed now and am much more conservative with it. I like to think it is

not because of diminished capacity with age but through the wisdom I have gained

with age. I treasure personal health more than the thrill of speed and potential

disaster that comes along with speed. I like the number 55 more than I use to. I like

grandkids, afternoon naps, and spending time just lazing around. Now the question

becomes: How do I help my grandkids understand that life is still fun while mostly

obeying the speed limit. Maybe I will send them a text. That way, I know they will

read it. Now That’s Good News.

3-1-22

The new iphone 13s are now in the marketplace. Each new release is an event unto

itself. Thousands of folks rush to the local Apple store to be among the first to get

the latest and greatest digital device. I have to admit, the pull to be the first is quite

strong and it is amazing to see that your fingerprint and facial image are now the

standard and that each new generation seems to be twice as fast as its predecessor.

But a new disease has emerged as a result of technology. We now have an anxiety

disorder that is commonly known as wait time disorder. Nothing is fast enough

anymore. The old device is way too slow. Waiting is anxiety producing and I must

have the newest or I will simply die from having to wait a micro second longer.

What will I do while I sit here and wait for my device to respond? What if people

see that I have a device that is slow? Will I get criticized for being digitally

deficient? Micro-seconds do count in the digital world and I do not want to be on

the outside looking in. I learned a long time ago that a few deep breaths and a little

down time was actually good for you. Maybe we should use those faster chips to

take a deep breath and relax. Can’t hurt our health, can it? Now that’s Good News.

2-28-22

There are very few Americans who would watch someone struggle to survive and

not lend a hand. We are, after all, the most generous people in the world. But

America is called the Land of Opportunity not the Land of You Owe Me even if I

don’t want to work. Americans are known for giving a hand up rather than just a

hand out. We also use to be a people who wouldn’t take a handout without working

for it. Americans making over $500,000 a year give about 3.4 % of their income

for charitable causes. Those making under $50,000 a year give about 2.1 % of their

income. Everyone can afford to give something. How about one less Starbucks a

week? Where you put your money tells where your heart is! I’m still a firm

believer in individuals being able to designate their giving rather than the

government designating it. Charitable giving required by the government through

higher taxes is less efficient, gives credit to the party in power, and reduces the

amount of giving that the needy actually receive. Instead of government money, I

would rather give a hundred dollars and know that it all went to help someone in the

Land of Opportunity get that Opportunity. Now that’s Good News.

2/25/22

I was thrilled to be able to participate in wrestling in High School. We had 13 weight classes from the little 95 pounders to unlimited. My senior year I wrestled the 120 pound weight class. I am 5 foot 10 inches tall so I was your typical bean pole of a kid. Having had polio complicated my participation in most sports but not wrestling. Most sports required two normal legs and good size. Wrestling on the other hand just required meeting a certain weight limit so the little guys, and a guy with polio, could be heroes, too. You didn’t have to be big to participate. I remember thinking: “If I win, I will be seen as a champion and it doesn’t matter that I don’t weigh 240 pounds.” Wrestling is one of the true equal opportunity sports that allows you to advance based on merit, not based on size. I am looking forward to the day when I once again get to cheer for wrestling at Fresno State and see the little guy be the “big man on campus.” Now that’s Good News.