Texas lawmakers send strong message for course change on chaotic fishery

In a resounding display of frustration with the federal government’s handling of the red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico, the Texas Legislature recently passed and Governor Abbott signed House Concurrent Resolution 105 (HCR 105), encouraging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation or adopt policies allowing the State of Texas to manage the fishery out to 200 nautical miles. Led by Reps. Dennis Bonnen (R-District 25) and Dade Phelan (R-District 21), the resolution breezed through the legislative process this session.

“HCR 105 is a glimmer of hope in what has otherwise been an endless sea of frustration and discouragement for recreational red snapper fishermen,” said John Carlson, President of CCA Texas. “It is clearer than ever that the federal management system is at a dead end and a dramatic course change is needed. We are proud that our state legislators recognize the absurdity of the federal fisheries management system and are standing up for Texas anglers.”

The offshore recreational fishing community in Texas has not had much in the way of good news in recent years. Constrained by a commercially biased federal management system, questionable recreational harvest data, and under-representation at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, private boat recreational anglers have seen their federal red snapper season shrink by 98 percent over the past 10 years.

“After decades of intense federal regulation, a private recreational angler will be able to keep a paltry six fish from federal waters during this year’s three-day red snapper season,” said CCA Texas Executive Director, Robby Byers. “Any fair-minded individual that has been following the dramatic decrease in opportunities for anglers in federal waters would agree that a three-day season is simply absurd.”

Recently Mark Ray, Chairman of CCA Texas, testified before a Untied States Congressional hearing on federal management of the fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. Ray told the House Subcommittee on Interior, Energy and the Environment, chaired by Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), that red snapper is a man-made fishery management disaster.

“By any measure, the red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico should be held up as a shining example of proper management and good conservation. But as this hearing demonstrates, that is not the case,” he said. “We aren’t here today to highlight a conservation success story. Unfortunately, we are here because red snapper is known throughout the nation as a man-made fishery management disaster. After decades under intense federal management, this is the best that anglers can hope for – a three-day season in federal waters in 2017. I don’t think anyone would declare the current situation a success. All we ask is for is a system that allows all stakeholders the best opportunity to enjoy and use those resources. I am here today to ask you to give us that chance.”

Announcement of the shortest recreational season in history has sparked widespread outrage on the Gulf Coast and a flurry of activity in state capitals and Congress.

“It is an absolute shame that it has to come to this because a lot of coastal businesses that depend on anglers are going to be negatively impacted by a three-day season. Enough is enough,” said Chairman Ray. “It is time to let the states have the opportunity to reset this fishery in a way that makes sense for all stakeholders.”

Egg Cracking Party

We have been enjoying the series of messages concerning The Holy Spirit – From the Cradle to Eternity. We have been studying this approach to Scripture since the first of the year and are not nearly finished with it. We find many people know about the Father, and about the Son, but few understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit. You are welcome to come and enjoy and learn about God the Holy Spirit at any and most of our services.

Pastor Joane preached a marvelous message on Mother’s Day which was truly inspirational to all women, especially the moms who were present. Each mother received a special hand-made gift.

Carol did an excellent job of holding our annual Egg Cracking Party in preparation for the Warrior’s Weekend. We had a lot of hands on deck and over 400 dozen eggs to prepare for our Saturday morning breakfast. We fixed in excess of 2,200 breakfast tacos for the troops and sincerely appreciate all the wonderful volunteers we had helping us. We had close to 25 ladies from the Friendswood community come to help, plus all our locals who truly work hard to make our soldiers feel appreciated. Thank you for your support in helping us accomplish this important service – you gave and helped and that made it happen! Thanks!

We enjoyed the ministry of the Rusty Nixon family on June 4. The Reverend Nixon recently began his ministry, but we have known his family for at least 30 years. His daughter has recently won a contest at the District level and is advancing to the National competition in Anaheim, CA in August. She did a short sermon for children and our kids truly enjoyed her.

On Father’s Day we will be hosting the Teen Challenge Band. They are a group of men from the San Antonio Teen Challenge Center. This is an in-house rehabilitation campus where men and women come from all across the nation to help them overcome addictions of various kinds. They will be sharing what the Lord has done and is doing in their lives. It will be a special Father’s Day celebration and all are welcomed to come. Additionally, every dad present will receive a special gift, thanks to Marty’s Landing.

On June 25, Pastor Jesse will be filling the pulpit at the Chapel as Pastor Erny and Joane will be visiting two of our other church locations. We have Campus Pastors there, but will be going to visit the congregation and hopefully strengthen the leadership.

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation, whose goal is to help prepare just common folks find peace with God in the here to prepare us for peace with God in eternity. Everyone will find a warm welcome here and you are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

Cooking breakfast tacos for the warriors

Our children who completed School from the 3rd. grade thru the 6th. grade departed for Summer Camp on Monday June 12 and returned on Thursday, June 15. Eleven of our Boys and Girls enjoyed the Camp at Palacios Baptist Camp.

The Youth Camp begins on Monday, July 10 and the Youth will depart the Church on Monday at 8:00 AM, in the Church Van. They will travel to Baptist Camp Alto Frio for a fantastic 5 days of Camp. This Camp is for Youth in grade 7 thru grade 12. Youth wishing to attend this Camp must see Bro. Raymond Grant quickly to register.

The Church Vacation Bible School begins Monday, July 31 thru Friday, August 4. This years Vacation Bible School will be “Galactic Starveyors” and is all about Discovering The God Of The Universe. This will be an exciting VBS and we looking forward to a huge Group of boys and girls attending. The Church Van will be picking up Children around 7;30 AM.

The Church will observe the ordinance of The Lord’s Supper on Sunday June 25 during the Morning Service at 11 AM.

The Quarterly “Birthday Bash” will be Sunday evening, June 25, at 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. We will celebrate with those having Birthdays in April, May and June. Everyone is invited to attend this Food and Fellowship time.

The Ladies “Book and Bible Study” continues each Tuesday in Fellowship Hall at 4:00 PM. All Ladies are invited to attend this Education and Fellowship time
Our Pastor and his wife, Donnie and Shirley Martin are on Vacation and will return to the Pulpit on Sunday June 25. We Welcome to our Pulpit Samuel Crosby, Pastor of San Saba First Baptist, on Sunday June 11 and George Yarbrough on June 18.

This is the month for rites of Passage.  At least that is my take on the month of June.  Most of us recognize that June and Brides go together like peanut butter and jelly.  Marriage is one of the traditional rites.

It has always seemed to me that graduation, traditionally High School ones, are a logical precursor for the June weddings. Unfortunately weddings and June are not the slam dunk they used to be. Weddings in general do not seem to be so popular among the younger set.

Everyone knows that June is the home of the Summer Solstice. That means the longest sunlit day of the year is in June. I must admit that this year has seemed pretty cloudy most of the time but I would bet that sunrise to sunset time is still occurs above the clouds this June.

That is surely a passage. It changes from the daylight getting longer to the daylight getting shorter. It’s a little like, for us older folks; everything is getting shorter. A year doesn’t take near as much time as it used to.

Speaking of older folks, those of us who were around in 1944 June remember that was when D-Day occurred.  For those of you who weren’t around, that was when the allies in WWII invaded Normandy. It was the rite of passage from a bombing war to a land action war and the beginning of the end of WWII.  Unfortunately it was not the end of war itself.

Speaking of wars, June is the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill occurred on June 17 1775.  Now that was prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. So it might be called the beginning of our passage from Colonies to Country.

There are a couple of other June days that have the same date. That is June 19th. They are about different aspects of our Civil War  The first is known as Juneteenth. That is the day in 1865 that it was announced in Texas that the slaves had made the passage from slavery to freedom. Actually it was two and a half years after Lincoln signed the Executive Order. There was no TV or social media in those days.  Some folks still argue that the freedom is not yet, 152 years later, completely  enacted.

The second was started a year later, in 1866. It is less well known and has a couple of names. It is only celebrated in Southern (Confederate) states.  In Texas it is called Confederate Heroes day.  It is a memorial day for the quarter of a million confederate soldiers that fell in the Civil was.
Both of those Holidays are reflections on keeping the union that was formed by the Revolutionary War a Union.  They also reflect that the debate, and quite eloquently,  isn’t yet completely over.

That the issues of wars are not yet resolved point out that June has more rites of passages to effect as the future unfolds.