I Love the New Wal-Mart

A new Wal-Mart opened near our house a few weeks ago. It has quickly become my favorite store. It's not crowded like other Wal-Marts, it's clean, and the service is spectacular. Anyway, I think I have told Jessica how much I love this Wal-Mart a thousand times, and apparently, Grant has overheard me too. A couple of days ago, Grant and I were looking for a replacement cord for a DVD player, so we went to Wal-Mart. But they didn't have the right cord. As we were leaving, Grant said, "But Daddy, I thought Wal-Mart had everything!" I did too, Grant, but don't worry, this particular Wal-Mart remains my favorite store.

2nd Annual Father's Day Camp Out

One of my favorite traditions in our family is our Father's Day Campout. This was the second year to do this, and this year, Claire joined us over night in the tent. I didn't realize it until the next day, but the night of the campout was the hottest day of the year - 101 recorded at DFW that day. And while it was a bit warm in the tent, it didn't matter. After cooking hot dogs and roasting marshmallows, Grant, Claire, and I climbed into the tent with about 10 books and 2 flashlights. We read books, sang songs, laughed, got in and out of the tent a billion times, and then finally went to sleep. The next morning, I asked them what their favorite part of the campout was. Their answer: "Hot dogs and acting silly in the tent." I love these moments with my family - all the sweat in a tent on the evening of the hottest day of the year is worth it to see how happy they were to spend the evening camping with Daddy. Can't wait until next year.

Heroism and Faith of John McCain

"I was finding that prayer helped. It wasn't a question of asking for superhuman strength or for God to strike the North Vietnamese dead. It was asking for moral and physical courage, for guidance and wisdom to do the right thing. I asked for comfort when I was in pain, and sometimes I received relief. I was sustained in many times of trial." - John McCain on his experience as a POW in Vietnam. After reading his first-person account of his time as a POW, I have even more respect and admiration for what he went through serving our country. I wonder how I would have responded in similar circumstances. McCain doesn't flaunt his faith in the public square, which is why I highlighted the above quote from the account. I think it reveals a little as to who God is to him.

Happy Juneteenth

"I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free." -Emancipation Proclamation

I know there are many days of observance that receive much more attention, but my favorite Texas holiday is Juneteenth. In September of 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation which went into effect January 1, 1863. In our fast paced information age, I know it is hard to fathom, but the news of the Emancipation Proclamation did not reach Texas until June 19, 1865 - almost 2 ½ years later. General Granger landed in Galveston and shared the news that the "slaves are free." With the victory in the Civil War and the leadership of Lincoln, along with the religious voices of the day, America 's Original Sin, this injustice embedded into our Constitution, began to be overcome. Granted, the newly found freedom wasn't fully protected by law for another 100 years, and obviously, there is still racism and prejudice in our country and state today; however, today, June 19th, is a day to celebrate the news that all are free. I thank God for the freedom I have in Christ and for the freedom I have here in this country, and I pray for the courage to speak up against injustice around me. Happy Juneteenth!

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."