No, this is not a reposting of Thursday morning's post. This photo is from this morning, Saturday! The same house - the second one from Thursday that was burned but not demolished - was hit again. Around the same time in the morning. More damage, but still not enough to require demolition.
This is nuts!
photos
NS article (posted two hours after my breaking story, ;-) )
Court Says Texas Illegally Seized Sect’s Children
Sorry to say, and we might be wrong, but anytime CPS gets rebuked, Hallie and I rejoice.
Relatedly (also worthy of rebuke):
Far-Flung Placement of Children in Texas Raid Is Criticized
Since her eight children were taken in the raid at a polygamist compound last month, Ms. Jeffs has been transformed into more or less an itinerant traveler, trying to visit her children, who are 18 months old to 14 years old, according to a state case worker.
Ms. Jeffs has two children in foster care in Amarillo, up in the Panhandle; one in Gonzales in south-central Texas; two in San Antonio, in Central Texas; and three in Waco, halfway between Dallas and Austin, a lawyer for Ms. Jeffs said. The closest are about 150 miles from her home in Eldorado, and the farthest are more than nine hours apart by car.
An 18-year-old who gave birth in state custody after she was incorrectly seized in a raid on a polygamist sect ranch says the state kept her in foster care in an effort to seize her baby.
She said foster care workers were in the delivery room with her. Shortly after his birth, the baby joined her in foster care.
My friend Darin posted this and I agree completely with his comments. Like many, I have been moved by Obama's charisma and conviction, his campaign style and his calls for change. It's truly been refreshing. But I've stopped short of signing on, believing that once the rather tepid Democratic infighting stopped, and his positions and policies come out during the general election campaign, I'd probably find things that were extremely tough to swallow. Well, here one is... Believe me, I'm no right-winger, but some of these statements make me cringe.
And don't read this as a negative attack. I'm not slamming the man's character or integrity, which seem to be higher than most in politics. Simply disagreeing strongly with some of his beliefs, arguments, and positions.
A little update on this story: not one, but two houses heavily destroyed on the 1300 block of Jackson Street in West Central, and a third was apparently next to go. In other words, nobody doubts arson was the cause. (Photos here, and video here.)
The first house started about 5:00AM, and by the time I got out there at 6:45AM, it was completely destroyed, and only one of many firetrucks remained. Problem was, the firemen looked across the street and noticed smoke coming from a second, non-adjacent house and promptly called in another fire, to which many more trucks and ancillary vehicles returned. A few minutes after that, somebody noticed a broken picture window in yet another house back across the street from the second burning house, inside of which the police found a full gas can. Police investigators removed the window and other contents, I assume, for investigative purposes.
Both the damaged houses were vacant. And of course, therein lies much of the problem. Those inclined toward this type of activity know the easiest targets, and in this case made easy work of them. Empty houses are a train wreck waiting to happen. The southern portion of West Central has far too many vacant houses. We've got to get them occupied again, and fast, before more are lost forever.
Being the father of four who constantly sees his children try to downplay their sin and avoid responsibility, I have come to have a heightened expectation of confession. "I'm sorry if you were hurt" doesn't really cut it. Rather, "I'm sorry what I said hurt you. I shouldn't have said it" is what we're striving for.
So Sue Simmons came close, but still missed it by a little bit.
Sue said:
We need to acknowledge an unfortunate mistake that I made in one of the teases we bring to you before this program.Sue should have said:
While we were live just after 10 p.m., I said a word that many people find offensive.
I am truly sorry. It was a mistake on my part and I sincerely apologize.
We need to acknowledge an unfortunate mistake that I made in one of the teases we bring to you before this program.Let's be bold in our apologies. For if Christ died for our sins, we are forgiven, and need not try to justify ourselves any longer. (1 John 1:9)
While we were live just after 10 p.m., I said a word that is offensive.
I am truly sorry. It was a mistake on my part and I sincerely apologize.
The reason God created money and enabled us to earn it is so that we could show by the way we use it that money is not our treasure, Christ is. That’s why the checks are coming. So we can make Christ look great.Economic Stimulus Payment & Christ
flickr link
This is an old shot of me riding Emmett to work in NYC. It wasn't Ride to Work Day, just a day with Dad and his standard mode of transportation. Being a one-car family in FW, you'll still find me tooling around town quite often on my bike.
May is National Bike Month
Mitch on riding to work
Frank Gray on Mitch riding to work
Pastor Sam Andreades performing a parody of John Lennon a few years ago during a Redeemer Presbyterian Church Retreat Talent Show.
Incredible!
We miss you, Sam!
I haven't watched them all yet, but I certainly plan to! Five hours (nine parts) on the Doctrines of Grace. Wow!
A little late in posting this, but... Hallie and her sister are helping to organize the whole thing, so I'd love it if you could attend.
