Is Easter just another date on our calendars each Spring, or is it the powerful, spiritual foundation for our faith? What is Easter really about? Is Easter about different music, egg hunts, family gatherings, and Sunrise Services, or is it about the story of the miraculous resurrection power of God that has to be told? Why are so many people drawn to Easter Services who infrequently or never attend the months before or after? Why so many “CEOs” (meaning “Christmas and Easter Only”!)

Do those in our families or neighborhoods go to church on Easter because they got new clothes and need somewhere to show them off? Is it truly a special day on the church and community calendar? Do we decide to go because it is a tradition or because someone makes the effort to invite them? I think many come simply because they consider going to church on Easter is the “Christian Thing to do,” and still many claim to be Christians, even though they show no other evidence of it during the rest of the year.

Easter can never be ignored! Even those who would never admit they believe in miracles want to celebrate Easter. There is something so compelling about the resurrection that people’s hearts are drawn to at least give the Easter story an honest hearing. Non-church people are not sure what they believe, but deep down in their hearts they want to believe that death is not the final reality! They are listening for some Good News. Death is mysterious, uncomfortable, and commonly dreaded. Each home and family has been touched by its dreadful reality. As a result, most everyone has felt some measure of their pending mortality, and that is disconcerting and unsettling.

Then Easter Comes! Easter offers a brilliance of hope, not just a glimmer, but brilliance. Standing in that brilliance is Jesus – suffered, crucified, and gloriously risen! Death seems not to have the final word. Maybe the church that seemed less relevant to them on previous, busy Sundays but has a message of life and hope that alters their view of the future. Easter provides real, genuine hope!

Were I God, I believe I could have made Easter more spectacular! Jesus personally appeared to over 500 people in varied settings and numbers, and they were predominantly believers. That is not how I would have handled the resurrection! His death was excruciatingly public, probably personally witnessed by multiple thousands are a citywide event. Why not make Jesus resurrection as broadly witnessed as His death? Make the fact as undeniable as it should be! Why a host of angels singing at His birth and a mere trump of two angles at the Tomb? The soldiers officially guarding His tomb, the only ones who could have been eyewitnesses, passed out even before the most miraculous event of history occurred! They had no idea what happened, except that the tomb was unexplainably empty and they were bribed to give a plausible cover-up story!

But God’s ways are not our ways! Here is what I have concluded about Easter. The fact of the Resurrection is hidden until the effect of the Resurrection is seen in the everyday lives of those who have experienced the power of the Resurrection! When we read the New Testament, the Resurrection is the single most prominent and recurring theme of the Church’s lifestyle and message. They preached Jesus, crucified…buried…risen!

Those who believed staked their faith on that single truth, and many were martyred for their faith and testimony because they refused to recant their belief in Jesus Christ and His bodily resurrection. They told everyone, however unpopular and unbelievable their testimony seemed – until hundreds became thousands, and thousands became multiple thousands, until today thousands have become hundreds of millions found in every country in the world.

There are many within the circle of your daily influence that you could persuade to join in Easter celebration at the front beach and in our local churches. Plans have been made and all that is lacking is your attendance. Easter must become more than what it has ever been before – it must become the center of our everyday lives, the center of our every activity! It is a fact that Jesus was not martyred for our satisfaction or curiosity, but He died for the sins of the world! Make Easter personal by allowing the Lord of Easter to become your personal Lord this Easter season!

Thomas Edward Hardegree III, 64, of Port O’Connor, TX, lost his battle with cancer on March 23, 2019.
Tommy was born on November 7, 1954, in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Eastern Hills High School in 1973. He worked alongside his father as a carpenter, and then later as a  diamond broker. In 1978 Tommy married the love of his life, Diana Hardegree, and they raised two sons together in Arlington, Texas.

The family moved from Arlington to Port O’Connor in 1997 so they could enjoy life on the water. Tommy didn’t waste any time and became a fishing guide in 1998, setting folks on tight lines until 2005. Before leaving the guide business for insurance sales, Tommy furthered the region’s passion for fishing by helping to restart the Port O’Connor CCA Chapter, along with Ronnie Claiborne, in 2000 and was one of the founders of the Port O’Connor Guides Association. Tommy was also honored to win the first Trout Masters Guides Cup, and was a member of the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department.

His children remember him as an amazing hardworking father, and his friends and family remember him as caring and clever – always willing to lend a hand, or joke, when needed.

Tommy leaves as his legacy two sons; Sean Hardegree and Jonathan Gabriel Hardegree, and his spouse Heather, and three grandchildren Abbey, Ashlyn and Jacob.

Tommy also leaves his mother Jannece Hardegree, step-mother Joyce Hardegree, along with his siblings: Charlotte Rohr, Mitzi Gohlson, Shelly Eide, Chris Webster, Justin Webster, his brother from another mother “Big Mike” Seigler, and his numerous nieces and nephews.

Tommy was preceded in death by his father Thomas Hardegree Jr., and his mother and father in law Patricia and Robert Venard.
Tommy’s dad had a saying to live by: “A man should not be judged by his wealth, but by how many people miss him.”  Tommy will be dearly missed by many and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Arthur Lee Vossler (Art), 77, of Port O’ Connor Texas passed away Monday March 25, 2019. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he was the son of the late Cecil Vossler and Evelyn Louise Vossler. He was preceded in death by his brother Cecil Ray Vossler. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joyce Sue Vossler, his children Craig Vossler and wife Mickie, Kirk Vossler and wife Lauren, Sherri Georges and husband Tom, Arthur Vossler Junior and wife Stacy, Ursula Bryan and husband Clayton, 18 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. Art embarked on many endeavors throughout his life including a welding business, commercial fishing, and a long time owner of Art’s Barbecue. He was a jack-of-all-trades, but would always say his greatest accomplishment was his family. Memorial service were held at the Port O’Connor Community Center Sunday March 31st at 2:00 p.m.

Kenneth Dale “Peanut” Blevins, 69, of Seadrift passed away March 19, 2019. He was born January 12, 1950 in Seadrift to Will Leo and Thelma Strown Blevins. He worked as a commercial fisherman and also for Calhoun County as a mosquito sprayer.

He is survived by his daughter, Vanessa Burke (Johnny); son, Allen Dale Blevins; sisters, Elizabeth “Cissy” Sprague, Shirley Helms, Dora Ballard, Dona Standley; brothers, Marcus, Wesley, David, Roger and Walter Blevins; grandchildren, Brandy Lee, Jordan Blevins, Graysen Bernal and Kambry Bernal; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Kathy Blevins; parents; sister, Betty Jo Cunningham; and brothers, Gary Lynn, James Ray and John Blevins. Graveside Funeral Services were held Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Seadrift Cemetery Pavilion. Burial was in Seadrift Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jeremy Cady, James Cunningham, Jose Blevins, Kevin Sprague, Christopher Tanton, Dougie Williamson.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com

“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the columnist to enlighten readers on a subject as he views it, and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication. (See website for links and updates.)

Collusion Delusion CONSPIRACY to be Uncovered.

Wednesday 4/10/19, Attorney General Barr testified before the Senate and said,”“Yes, I think spying did occur, but the question is whether it was predicated — adequately predicated, and I’m not suggesting that it wasn’t adequately predicated, but I need to explore that. I think it’s my obligation. Congress is usually concerned about intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies staying in their proper lane, and I want to make sure that happened. We have a lot of rules about that.” He is soft-pedaling it for now, but there was no ‘Legal Predicate’ – “Collusion” is NOT an actual crime, and there was no evidence to support even “Probable Cause” suspicion, except the “False Dossier” that the “Investigators” knew was FALSE, and paid for by Hillary and the DNC. Obama wanted to spy on the Trump Campaign and ordered it. The Dems needed to know how much evidence Trump had on Hillary and the “Cover-ups”, and if and how he was going to use it. Since they had the HolderWaffen DoJ and willing Co-conspirators in the FBLie, their Lap-dog Media, and “Everybody knew Hillary would win!”, so what was the risk? Loretta Lynch was ‘on board’ because Slick Willie told her Hillary would keep her on as AG, if she quashed the Emails, and other investigations.

And it went down-hill from there. The FBLie lied to the FISA Court, using the Phony Dossier Hillary paid for, leaked to their Propaganda Machine and used those “stories” to ‘support’ the original lie, plus hid the fact that Hillary paid for the “evidence” from the Court. Conspiracy and felonies right there. Then they attempted to create the “appearance of Russia Collusion” with Stepfan Halper, who set up his friend, Joseph Mifsud, the Maltese professor with reputed “ties to Russia”, who told former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos that the Russians had thousands of Hillary Clinton’s emails. Then set George up to tell it to the Australian diplomat, Alexander Downer, who immediately reported it through “Five-Eyes” to the CIA and the FBI. (Hot dog, we got ‘em NOW!) Halper was a known CIA/FBI “Source” and Operative and was rumored to have been paid some $240K by the FBI for that little Entrapment Operation. George Papadopoulos was charged with “lying” to the Mueller investigators and given 2 weeks in jail, mostly for not being able to provide some tie-in to the Trump Campaign.

Trump won the election, even against the Dem Propaganda Machine! Hillary and the Media went into Break-Down, but quickly came back with the “Russia Collusion Excuse”. Carefully manipulating the compliant Media, the Conspiracy grew from Spying to trying to over-turn the election, but that failed, Trump was inaugurated, and The Conspiracy brought in “Dirty Cop” Mueller and his gang of Democrat Loyalists for a Special Investigation. (AKA Witch Hunt). Actually, since all the ‘Witch Hunters’ knew how she had the Phony Dossier created and used, it was just another “Cover-up”, not only for Hillary (Mueller, like his protege Comey, has a long and dark history with Clinton Cover-ups) but also for the Obama White House, the entire Leadership of the Dem Party, the Media, and the still surviving Co-conspirators in the DoJ/FBLie. Mueller bumped the Conspiracy up to Sedition with an ‘Attempted Coup to Remove the President’, but failed. Even after breaking normal Court Procedures, false prosecutions, giving amnesty to the guilty, suborning perjury, and charging “Russians” he knows will never appear and may not even exist! He still had to admit there was No “Russia Collusion by Trump”. There was plenty by Hillary, though.

Will AG Barr do it? I think he must, to ever shut The Conspiracy down and save the Republic. The real “Punch Line” to this ‘Horrible Joke’ that is destroying our Constitutional Republic, is Trump had decided not to prosecute Hillary, because Ivanka was friends with Chelsea, and begged him not to press it! “Lock her up!” always got cheers and howls of laughter at Trump Rallys, and evidence of criminality was mounting. If Hillary had shut up and “just gone away”, none of this would have come out. Now there is no turning back, it all must be investigated! Hopefully all the way back to the Sedition against the Constitution by Nancy Pelosi signing off on a Presidential Candidate that was not a “natural born Citizen”, and Perkins-Coie keeping any legal challenges from ever getting a fair Court Trial on the Merits of the Evidence, and the true meaning of “natural born Citizen”. Our Founders thought it was especially important, because that is the only place the phrase is found.

I have been writing, trying to explain the dangers to our Constitution, our Republic that was formed and empowered by it, our once vibrant Economy, and the American Dream of growing prosperity and independence for all Citizens, for quite a while now.. I want to thank the Readers for both their support and disagreement. All input helps to identify and understand the dire threats we face. Most of all I want to thank Joyce for having the Political and Christian COURAGE to give me this platform, and to thank the Advertisers for supporting her and this paper.

I know many have been insulted, even ‘offended’ by some of the things I write, but my goal is to make people see things through a Constitutional Lens. Instead of the distorted window of Liberal, Progressive, “Humanitarian”, Politically Correct “Mainstream Media”, that is controlled by people who seem to have more loyalty to money and their own ‘Agendas’ than to “We the People”. Neither the Document, nor the long-term benefits of the citizen-voters, seem to matter much to them. We are at a dangerous point, a cusp in our history. There are those who want a stronger more Centralized Govt, but the several States and their Citizens are far better off under the Constitution, if we can keep it! As Ben Franklin wisely foretold. I now hope that an HONEST Investigation can put an end to the lies, propaganda, and Identity Politics, and start to heal the divisions, to work for the benefit of all American Citizens, and see that the Agenda of Global Socialists is NOT good for America, or other countries, only the Internationalists and the Money Manipulators. Save the Union, secure the border, change the laws, now!