Five From Abraham Lincoln

Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, born February 12th, 1809. From the most humble beginnings of nearly any president, he made his way to the White House. He changed the course of the greatest nation in the world and said some great quotes along the way. He’s also the namesake of my youngest son, Lincoln. Well he and Lincoln Burrows from Prison Break. For his birthday today, I thought’d share a few quotes in his honor.

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

Abraham Lincoln, two months before his death [via]

“Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all.”

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”

“Take all that you can of this book upon reason, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier man. (When a skeptic expressed surprise to see him reading a Bible)”

“Things may come to those who wait, but only things let by those who hustle.”

That last quote can be found in A Few Thoughts: Collection of Quotes available on Amazon. Pick up a copy and check out other quotes featured in the eBook. You can also subscribe to the blog via email and get a free PDF copy.

Shutdown

For those that know me personally know I have the privilege of working for the United States federal government. My day job is spent working for what I have always felt to be the greatest nation in the world and that opinion hasn’t changed. The government shutdown affects me directly. I did my small part and wrote a letter to my president. Here’s an excerpt:

 I have been deemed an essential employee and am required to continue my one and a half hour commute each day, and work for the public, while not knowing when I will be compensated…Despite the opinions of parties regarding the Affordable Care Act, there should be no debate that civil servants are not to blame for this current debacle. I’m asking that you reach an agreement swiftly and pass legislation that will ensure the continued compensation for government employees. That they be paid without interruption for the work we have continued to do. Unlike elected officials, we have no websites to receive the disdain many Americans have for the government shutdown. We are front line representatives. Each day we are forced to answer for the decisions others have made that directly change the lives of thousands. And now, those of us that have been told to continue coming to work without pay, are forced to give the best possible service with our hands tied behind our backs and only a cold, preformed script to read in the absence of responsive and reliable service. And yet despite this, you still have employees that continue to do their best each and every day, again without knowing when pay will arrive, while politicians banter back and forth. Please reach a resolution for the sake of the public and the workforce of civil servants that wish to do nothing more than serve.”

I don’t know what political party my readers side with but I hope you understand the perdicament of government employees. If you have questions, comments, or thoughts, feel free to leave them below. Thank you.

College Football Questions: Week One

College football is finally here. It’s been 234 days since we last saw it in New Orleans. And by “it” I’m still talking about football and not what happened at Krystal’s. Last year I got to celebrate the season as not only a fan, but a father. After October 15th, I get to double the feeling when my wife and I expect our second son to arrive. But as the season begins I’m still left with several questions that I hope are answered. Here they are:

• Is Lou Holtz a real doctor?
  

  Zipped up to the neck? Really?

• Will someone talk to Gene Chizik about those windbreakers?
• How many times will we hear about a playoff?
• Will someone explain what “spice” really is?
• How many sources does Joe Schad actually have?
• Will Twitter be able to keep up with Clay Travis bashing Tennessee?
• Will we still hear the term “Tebow-esque”?
• How many coaches will throw their headsets and forget they are still attached?
• Will Tom Rinaldi keep trying to make me cry? 
• Does anyone else think Dan Mullen looks like a used-car salesmen?
• Will Lee Corso ever pick the road team?
• How will Brady Hoke get Michigan ready for Alabama when he’s making speeches at the Republican National Convention?

Chris Christie & Brady Hoke

• Will anything mess up Derek Dooley’s hair?
• What player from LSU will Verne Lundquist mispronounce?
• Which mascots will take things a little too far?
• Will Lane Kiffin have enough time for USC while he’s filming Tosh.O?

Daniel Tosh & Lane Kiffin

• Will the University of North Alabama be the third team in four years from Alabama to win a National Championship?
• Will Nick Saban make it happen back-to-back? Why not? I did. (see October 15th)

So let’s sit back, enjoy, and be thankful that we are able to yell at these coaches and players from where none of them can hear us.

“In short, in life, as in a foot-ball game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard; don’t foul and don’t shirk, but hit the line hard!” -Theodore Roosevelt

(Here’s what I’ll be waiting to see)

Casting per Capita

I saw an article yesterday about the most charitable states in the U. S. It was a very widely spread story so there are several different opinions from several different news sources on how to take the results of the study performed by The Chronicle. Conservatives show how “red” states gave the most while liberal sources point out that it’s the middle class that gave the most, not the wealthy.

Note: Only taxpayers of household incomes of $50,000.00 or more were included. 

Despite the spin, the results were pretty clear. Southern States and Utah ranked at the top. Several news sources speculated the reason for this and most attributed it to the large religious influences on these areas- the Bible Belt and a state settled by Mormons. And I don’t doubt that was the reason. In fact, the results and rankings change drastically if those who gave for religious reasons were removed from the study as seen here.

I say all of this because when I first saw this story, I was surprised. I don’t know why exactly. Should I have expected anything different? Didn’t I just post something about Southern Hospitality?  I should have expected these portions of the country were the most generous of all. And not only that, these states gave more when they received far less than anyone else across the board. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, when tax information was gathered from 2008-2010, Mississippi was the poorest state in the nation. Tennessee ranked was third from the bottom and Alabama was ninth. And the state at the top of this list, with the highest household income,was  New Hampshire. Coincidentally this state rests at the bottom of the most charitable states in the nation, while Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee sit at the top.

I don’t point this out to vilify any one state, region, or party. I just wanted to say that after I read all of this data my mind immediately jumped to one story. One parable that showed exactly this situation. The story of Jesus and the Widow’s Offering, Mark 12:41-44.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

It was only after I remembered this story that I realized things were exactly as they should be. We were all called and this time we answered. We are all hypocrites and sinners, but sometimes we get things right. And I’m glad it was this. America is the greatest country in the world and this is why. We give. We give insanely. We give time. We give money. We give military. Our sons, uncles, daughters, sisters, moms and dads go around the world, not to shoot guns, but to help.

I could talk about this for a while so I’m going to end it there. America has been blessed and will continue to be when we measure our success not by how many medals we bring home, but by this. Casting all we have.

See the entire study at How America Gives.

 

Things I “Like”

Remember when “Like” meant also, similar, or even when you started to notice the cute girl in your Lit class. But now with Facebook it has become synonymous with sharing, following, and posting. In that nature, here’s a few things I “Like” . . .

• Stuff You Should Know – These podcasts usually run about 40 mins and cover everything from Delta Force and Crossbows to Homelessness and Schizophrenia. A few of my favorites are How to Control a Riot, How Vikings Work, Who was Jack the Ripper, and How the Mafia Works.
• Willow Haven Outdoors – This blog is by Creek Stewart (awesome name by the way) who posts on several different issues including wilderness survival, emergency preparedness, and all kinds of outdoor stuff. Did you know dandelions were edible?
• Factcheck.0rg – These guys review headlines and comments made by politicians and their staff and email you the results. Jobs created, jobs lost, earmarks, pork, campaign contributions, and the popular “back-room deals”. These guys actually check all those things out.
• Valley Home Inspections – This one is kind of random. This home inspection service is based out of Huntsville, AL. Each month they send out a newsletter that covers a range of topics. These articles are thorough and provide a ton of information.
• Trappstr – God. Capitalism. Leadership. This guy does an amazing job of writing about it all.
• Live a Little Wilder – A great, eclectic blog that covers all types of DIY projects.
• Fedsmith – This covers a lot of issues that mostly affect federal employees, but we all (or at least most) pay taxes.
• Art of Manliness – A blog dedicated to the lost art of being a man.
• Slate – analysis and commentary about politics, news, business, technology, and culture.
• Michael Hyatt – This publishing company chairman blogs about everything from leadership, productivity, writing, social media, and life in general.
• Jiff – Is there anything better than a freshly-opened jar and a spoon?
• Nick Saban – Just because.