We have experienced a very busy summer with the retreats we have hosted, the fishing tournaments from which we have gleaned, and the special guests who have ministered in our services.

We sincerely appreciate the organizers of the Poco Bueno, Lone Star Shootout, and Shark Tooth fishing tournaments who allowed us to glean the fish which were taken in the contests. Most of you are aware that we only got five blue marlin this year, as compared to eleven last year, but the other catches were generously shared with us. The walk-in freezer made our work much easier because we did not have to ferry fish from here to Houston in the middle of the night, but had a place we could hold it here on site.

One of the most asked questions is, “What do you do with all that fish?” First, those who work cleaning, bagging, and putting the fish “on ice” are treated to a fish fry. Those who work the weigh-in station have a batch of fried fish delivered to them. We work closely with a church in the Pasadena area who provide workers for us and have a huge feeding program. They have several campuses and each had a monthly “health fair,” where medical teams screen for many ailments and children can receive their shots for school. They also, at those “health fairs” give away food, some of which is our fish. They also have several rehabilitation programs which require they provide three meals daily to the residents. These programs are thirteen month in-house treatment centers and house over 100 needy people. Some of the fish help there. AND, the Chapel has a food pantry where we pass out food items to needy families all year long. We truly average about a family each week coming with a need. We are honored that they would allow us to help them and they get some of the fish – also some of the deer and hogs that are provided to us as well. It is easy to send fish out and we are honored to be a part of this process.

We hosted Captain Robert and the Sea Academy and they had a very successful class as usual. Please allow me to remind you that we only have three more classes scheduled for here in Port O’Connor. Those dates are November 11 thru 18, 2016; February 24 thru March 3, 2017; and the last class is scheduled for May 19 thru May 26, 2017. We have enjoyed having all the students here at the Chapel and we meet them around town frequently. We have been having these classes at the Chapel since 2000 and have many stories of great success in helping people find their way in a career. It has been a great time and sincerely we will miss Captain Robert being here to teach these classes.

We have a group from El Campo coming before the end of August and a group from Spring in the middle of September. We are appreciative to our Lord Who has helped us provide such a great place for people to come and relax and renew their walk with the Lord!

Be sure to pray for our children who will be returning to school on August 29. With our involvement with students, Pastor Joane and I are acutely aware of the need for Godly people to cover our kids with prayer. The enemy of all of us is truly targeting our children and we must be diligent to provide a protective covering through prayer so they can escape the “fiery darts!” Bad influences are readily available to our students, so let’s pray that Godly influences will prevail!

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to attempt to help people along their journey here on earth as they travel toward eternity. One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel, and you are invited to, “Come, grow with us!”

The past two weeks have been exciting, adventurous, tiring and very enjoyable. I have just returned from my “RIVERBOAT CRUISE” with my younger sister, Janelle, who is 80 years old, and a jewel of a sister! Janelle’s husband passed away 11 years ago and I lost my darling wife, Bernice, 7 years ago.

The Cruise began with an overnight flight from Houston to Marsille, France and then boarding our River Boat, DISCOVER II to sail the Rhone River. The plane trip was extremely extremely tiring, but we were ready to go on the exciting trip of a life time. Our accommodations were fantastic and the food was great.

Our first visit was to the Avignon Popes Castle in Avignon, France. Words cannot describe this beautiful Home, built in 1522.

Each day in France, along the River, we viewed hundreds of beautiful grape fields of various types of grapes. At this time of year they are preparing to harvest the grapes and this is all done by hand. We visited several grape farms and several Wineries. The majestic Castles, Homes, Cathedrals and Churches were breath taking. I took over 200 photos and will share with anyone interested.

The Church is in the final stages of producing a Photo Directory.The Directory will contain photos of each family, members and friends of the Church who attend. Pictures will be taken August 23 & 24 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each day.

Reservations are now being taken for those Senior Citizens who wish to attend the Senior Retreat at CAMP ZEPHYR. The Camp will be October 24 – 27 and the cost is $100.00 per person and includes lodging, and the cost of food and refreshments. For more information please callDonnie Martin at 361-983-2727 or Doyle Adams 361-983-4866. This Camp is outstanding and you will have an enjoyable Christian Time!

See You In Church Sunday!

Not long ago, while studying the Acts of the Apostles, I received some ideas about the Church. I preached a message from those thoughts recently, so these ideas come from that Sunday morning service. I am not talking just about the Chapel, or about just St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, or just about the First Baptist Church. I am talking about every church worldwide.

What is The Church? The Greek word we get “church” from is ekklesia and it simply means “called out of or called out from ones.” the Church is made up of people everywhere who have allowed Jesus to become their Lord and Savior. We are “called out of” darkness, “out from” the grasp of the Evil One and be “born” into the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ!  In the 117 times the word ekklesia is used in the New Testament, it describes a local congregation – a specific group of Believers in a specific location. So when we talk of “our Church”, we are on target with the Biblical definition.

The local Church should have three characteristics, at least in my mind. It should be radically different, evidently supernatural, and intimately relational. The Book of Acts described the Church as “ a radically biblical, caring fellowship of Believers, who are coordinated as one under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and who are committed to one another in love and loyalty, and who are called to declare and display the Truth and power of the Good News of the Kingdom to all who do not yet know Jesus Christ,” according to one of my Professors.

But, what is the Church to look like in Port O’Connor?
First, I believe the Church has been called to be radically different in lifestyle and fellowship than the surrounding culture. There should be something very distinctive about the character of our daily lives in marriage, family, values, priorities, friendships, etc. Our lives should radiate hope and confidence because of Jesus’ love and care that lives in us. One should be able to look at the lifestyle of people and easily pick out the Christians from those who have rejected Jesus from their lives. Simply living positively in an increasingly negative world is an excellent way for Christians to let their lights shine!

Second, I believe the Church has been called to be evidently supernatural. We should display an inner power that God has given to us as we respond to His directives. Please do not think that I believe Christians live perfect lives, because we do not – we live lives that have been forgiven! As a result, we do not carry around the paranoia of having to face our past. We are not trying to get people signed up to follow us, but to follow Jesus. We want to live such lives that others can believe that God is working in us and that He loves them!

But, in addition to the natural differences, we as Christians must allow God to work  in us in supernatural ways. I have seen a lot of miracles happen in Chruch. When I was only 14 years old, I saw a young girl in our Church who was suffering from polio, remove her leg braces, get out of her wheelchair, and walk. Since that time, I have seen many more unbelievable events. But, the greatest miracle I have ever witnessed is when I see someone who is not living for Christ come to repentance and is “born from above!” A transformed life is the greatest thing I could ever hope to see repeatedly happen in Church.

When people come into a Church, the very presence of Jesus should be evident. We should allow God opportunity to work in His supernatural methods among us so the world will see a Real God, and not the phonies that many people are following!

Lastly, I believe the Church should demonstrate reconciliation to God and right relationships with one another. We as Christians are called to be counter-culture, divinely empowered, and living within the bonds of covenant.

In a world of broken promises, divided families, divorced couples, and estranged friendships, people are looking to see before they are willing to experience love that is real and closeness that lasts. We as Christians are family, and all that means in its highest and best application. Our reconciliation to the Father through Jesus Christ is but the first step in the Holy Spirit’s restoring us to wholeness and a loving closeness to others.

Everyone should be a part of The Church. God has given us talents that are needed to be shared with others. In such an atmosphere as The Church, we can submit to the building processes of Lord, Leadership, and Fellowship – exactly the way the Holy Spirit will shape us into the likeness of Jesus Christ!

“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.

Media Polling, Bias, and Lies

As we head into the last 3 months of the most viciously contentious Presidential election in memory, a few things have become glaringly apparent. Trump is amazingly popular with the people, his appearances are mobbed, always filled with overflow crowds outside. Hillary, not so much. Smaller venues and often only a few hundred dedicated followers. But the National Polls consistently show her to be a big winner, how can that be?

By examining the “Respondents” of Reuters poll, it is well known and easy to follow, it becomes clear that they are skewing the numbers. Go to http://polling.reuters.com/#!poll/TM651Y15_DS_13/filters/LIKELY:1/type/smallest/dates/20160710-20160808/collapsed/true/spotlight/1 , see 42.1 – 34.8% Clinton over Trump by the ‘Likely General Election Voters’, a 7.9% lead. I used this because it is the latest. At the bottom click ‘Clear All Filters’ & click ‘Political’ & ‘Democrats’- read ‘Filtered to 43% of Respondents’. Click off Dems and add ‘Republicans’ – see 35% of Respondents. There is an 8% “lead” for Clinton. Click ‘Clear’ then ‘Personal’ and ‘Female’ (you may have to scroll up), and get 56%. Then ‘Clear’, ‘Personal’ & ‘Male’ to read 43%. That is a 13% load to favor Women, that statistically support Hillary at about a third higher rate than Men. That would give another 4% “load” for Hillary, for a total 12% “load” for the Democrat. Therefor, a 7.9% “lead” to Hillary really translates into a 4.1% lead for Trump. The Pollsters try to claim that their choice of “Respondents” is based on demographics and voters in the 2008 election when Obama was popular and McCain was not, but the spread is way too far, and conditions are different. Polling is a business and they compete for customers and readers and especially ADVERTISERS for News orgs. Reuters is easy to check, most others are harder, but you must understand how they load the poll to get any reasonable result. The Media and the Pollsters are trying to convince America that Hillary is popular and inevitable. They must have their own reasons.

As my Grandmother used to say, “There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics.” If they don’t explain the comparison, any conclusion is probably false. The ‘News’ bemoans “the slow growth of the economy”, but what does it mean?

They claim a 1.2% “growth” in the GDP, but it is measured in dollars, so if there is a 3.5% inflation (a very low estimate, in real “goods” could be closer to 6%), the “Economy” actually shrunk by 2.3%. Think about it, you may have 1.2% more dollars, but if they buy 3.5% less ‘stuff’, you actually are losing “purchasing power”. What is even worse is the Gross Domestic Product is based on the “total value” of “goods and services”, not actual production. If the “value of services” goes up 10% and the actual production of usable “wealth” goes down 8.8% you still have a “net gain” of 1.2% (?). “Inflation” is hard to measure honestly, it varies by different items, supply and demand, as well as the relative value of the currency. Pick a common item you use regularly – in 2008 Tuna Fish was 3 cans for $2, now is almost a dollar a can, so the ‘Dollar vs Tuna’ rate is almost 1/3. Rib steaks have practically doubled, so it is all relative to what you are buying and need. In a real “Recession” with reasonably honest money, the “economy” slows, jobs are harder to find, wages are lower, but prices usually go down or at least stabilize. At least for basic stuff. What we have is a “Recession” in business, manufacturing, and production, but real growth in Govt and immigration all propped up by an artificial increase in the “Money Supply” of debt-money created by the Federal Reserve System. Often only by computer entry, with the FED “buying” the Treasury notes they create with . The Welfare State furnishes “money” to people that don’t work, so you have more dollars chasing less production and fewer goods. A sure recipe for inflation and even hyper-inflation. This destroys the value of actual earned income of workers, and the savings of the retired.

Few people seem to really understand, or care that another Democrat Administration under Hillary Clinton will only accelerate the past failures of the Obamunist Admin, plus the increasing violence by radical socialists, Race Baiters, Illegal Alien Invaders, Islamofascist Jihadists, and common criminals, even against the police, is being encouraged with their Marxist/Alinskyite rhetoric. This is the Leninist recipe for riot, chaos, revolution, death of democracy and Constitutional Law, and CHANGE to One Party Govt and Dictatorship of the Proletariat. I’m not saying that most Democrats want that, but the hard-core Marxists do. Many Republicans want the “Status Quo” because they have good govt jobs or political power, and don’t care about “The Big Picture”, or even their children’s future. The politicians, bureaucrats, and Media Wonks are so divorced from reality that they think it can’t affect them, and they see Trump as a threat to their “Status Quo”.
It is all about self-interest by the “Leadership” of both Parties now. Both sides fear and despise Trump for their own reasons, but mostly because Trump might just restore a somewhat limited, Constitutional govt, responsible to the Citizens. I have studied Hillary Clinton for 24 years, and Donald J. Trump for 2. I can say with confidence that Donald J. Trump loves America, because it has been very good to him. Hillary Clinton loves Hillary Clinton, maybe Saul Alinsky, and their vision of a “Socialist America”, with Hillary Clinton in charge, of course. And money, Hillary does love money.

If Trump is elected and can do half of what he envisions in 4 years, he will be one of the greatest Presidents ever elected. If he fails, he will be easy to defeat for re-election. What Hillary is promising is more of the ObamaNation failures, only throw more money at it; more Globalism, more unassimilated immigrants demanding more ‘Change’ to suit them, and even more Federal usurpation of powers from the States and the People. After 4 more years of appointing activist judges, divisive radical groups, and vote fraud, it will be impossible to get her out of office except replaced with a worse Democrat Socialist. It is not pretty, but those are the only two choices. All the Third Party and Independent Candidate hoop-la is just going to give the election and America to Hillary and her Globalist-Elitist friends. That is why the Big Money People are backing her, “to buy a place at the table”.

Thank You

Thank all of you who contributed to the funeral gathering for Esther Apostalo at the First Baptist Church hall, Monday July 25, 2016. Your kindness and caring you showed in providing such a delicious dinner, your love for Esther Apostalo was so sincere in every dish and the work you all put in the kitchen, your thoughtfulness is so appreciated. Mary Jo Walker, thank you for putting this all together. Pastor Donnie, thank you so much for the hall and your presence. God bless each of you.

Sincerely,
Sara Apostalo and the Apostalo Family

“Killer Bees”

“Killer Bees” can be a big problem.

I could not mow my yard for some time because bees ran me in the house.

I called a “bee man” from Port Lavaca, but they ran him off! These killer bees were extra mean, but thanks to Jim Schultz, he did the killer in by burning them up.

Thanks to the “bee man” from Port Lavaca, he did try. Thanks to Augustine Rivera for his help and thanks goes out to Becky Shultz and Aubrey Shultz for their help.

To old widow women like me, my advice to you is, “Leave Killer Bees Alone!”

Geraldine Wilson
Seadrift

Letter to the Editor:

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Chairman Michael Cloud and the Victoria County GOP Executive Board for hosting the convention to nominate a Republican District Judge candidate for the 267th Judicial District. We had five candidates that spoke and they all represented our beliefs, our morals and our Party well. Any of the five would have served the District well. Each of the six counties that make up the 267th Judicial District had delegation in attendance and Bobby Bell of Edna was the chosen candidate.

The upcoming general election is vitally important and people need to think about the ramifications if they choose not to participate. As a nation, we need to stand by our Constitution and the values upon which our great country was founded. All of us need to support our law enforcement and our military. We need to show our appreciation for their steadfast service to our cities, counties, state and country. We must not take our freedoms for granted.

Once again, I want to thank the Victoria GOP for their hospitality. I look forward to supporting Bobby Bell and the other Republican candidates on the ballot in November and hope that others will join me in the democratic process.

Russell Cain
Calhoun County Republican Chairman

We Applaud Committee’s Efforts and Growth

Dear Editor:

The growth of smaller towns is directly related to the work of committees like the Calhoun County Historical Commission. We are blessed for their hard work with the Commissioners’ Court and County Judge Mike Pheiffer.

It takes hours, months, years to complete a single marker. This Commission has placed markers all over Calhoun County…Seadrift, Port O’Connor, Olivia, Indianola, Port Lavaca.

Tourism is the Number 1 business in Texas. The work this Commission promotes growth and education for everyone, including future generations of leaders for this County and State.

Do not forget that Indianola is the Mother of Texas with immigrants pouring through our county from Europe to become the citizens of Texas.

Thank you, Mary Belle Meitzen and your Commission members.

Russell Cain
Port Lavaca

Greetings, Fellow Port O’Connor and Literary Lovers!

Just a reminder that our “Dinner with Texas Authors” event is just around the corner! If you enjoy interesting conversation over dinner – well, The Friends of Port O’Connor Library have a delightful evening planned for you.

On Saturday evening, September 17, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., you are invited to chat with Texas Authors beside the shimmering pool and dine by moonlight on the grounds of The Sanctuary at Costa Grande.

We can celebrate Texas talent together with the 15 guest authors who will sign your copies of their stories and novels. Our theme, “Buy New Books; Build New Library; Befriend New Authors,” will allow you to become a new fan of the authors and their books and make a donation to the building of our new library.

Hurricane Junction will cater the delicious meal for us. Our Silent Auction features items that can be found nowhere else! Only available this one evening is a trip for four to the Matagorda Island Lighthouse, Handmade Lampworked Glass Jewelry by Lyn Foley and the framed, numbered and signed print, “The Badlands”, by John Dearman.

Tickets are $40; table for eight, $320. What a bargain for an evening of great food, inspiring minds and gorgeous surroundings!

If you have to miss out on this year’s event, don’t miss out on the opportunity to contribute to the New Port O’Connor Library. We are over halfway to meeting our fund raising goal of $750,000. Please help us create this much needed community center. Make your contribution today www.FriendsofPortOConnorLibrary.org or send your check to: P.O. Box 497, Port O’Connor, TX 77982. Any amount will be GREATLY appreciated.

Check out and like our Facebook Page where you can read over the list of outstanding authors that will be there. You will find cookbooks, biographies, Civil War mysteries, football, SCI FI, short stories, history, romance, travels, and more! The Gate Code will be listed on your ticket as well Call 983-2696 or 979-249-7223 or go online to purchase your ticket or make your donation – www.friendsofportoconnorlibrary.org

We can’t wait to see you!!
Friends of the Port O’Connor Library

The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.
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