Valentine’s Day is over. It is my hope that yours was a good one. Especially that it was better than the one Saint Valentine got for encouraging young lovers. He was executed for his efforts. The best thing about that was he signed his good bye note “from your Valentine”, of course it was in Latin.

Now, that was quite a bit less terrible than the Valentine message that Al Capone sent to Bugs Moran’s gang in the famous Valentine’s Day Massacre. That was in 1929 and the best thing to come out of that was it started the Federal folks going after Al Capone. So a little of the gangsterism of those days was cleaned up. Personally, I like the way we celebrate today.

That day is probably the best part of our most unusual month of the year. In a normal year like this one, that has 365 days February has an even four weeks or 28 days. This of course means that in the first 28 days of March the date and the day are the same. This year the first is a Sunday for both months and so on. After the 28th day, March has three more days.

After that, the first day of the month jumps around. So it goes year after year and it is jumbled a little more because in leap year March and February don’t share the same coordination of day and date. That got me to thinking, how often does a year have exactly the same day and date all year.

Of course there are seven days that can be New Year’s Day. Leap year causes that day to jump every four years, so it is not just a one through seven repetition kind of succession. The trick is to figure out how many times in a century will there be a calendar that is the same as the calendar for 2015 for each day.

So I checked the 20th century. It turns out there were eleven years that had exactly the same calendar as 2015. Then just for grabs, I checked the 21st century also and it turned out that it will have eleven also. You can check on other centuries if you want but that convinced me.

Now is that important? I sincerely doubt it is. I don’t even think it was urgent. However, I did have a little fun looking it up. Important of course means what is important to you.

We are told that Mozart thought writing music was important. He did it all the time. Music lovers are grateful for his music. Even though he died at quite an early age he wrote a prodigious amount of music. It has been calculated that if you played all of his published music back to back without interruption it would take eight days to play it all. I am told I could probably talk that long without saying anything important, but then, that depends on what is important doesn’t it?

It is official – we have been in Port O’Connor for 20 years! We arrived here the second Sunday of February, 1995, and preached at a “Morgan Building” located at 211 Adams. There were ten of us present that first Sunday! The church put a mobile home behind the building that served as our first parsonage. While in that location, I had a knock on my door and a man told me he needed me to buy some property in Port O’Connor – two lots located immediately east of the Intercoastal Lumber Company. The price was right, so we bought them. Later, we found a huge rattlesnake right beside our church building on Adams, so I found out that Billy Graham and Franklin Graham owned 1/2 interest in the two lots that joined our church to the east. Again, the price was right, and we purchased those lots as well.

On November 15, 1995, we entered into an agreement with Joe Bright to purchase the Intercoastal Lumber building, had our first service there on December 17, 1995, and on January 24, 1996, we moved our “mobile parsonage” next to the lumber company. In the fall of 2001, we realized we needed more space, so we built the Youth Room onto the existing building, which contained two rest rooms. We tried but failed to fix the leaks in the church building, so we put a metal roof over the existing roof. We dedicated the Youth Room on March 10, 2002, and on March 12, 2002, the bank told us the money was clear – we could start building our present parsonage on the west side of the Chapel. With that complete and dedicated on November 27, 2002, we searched for new ways to advance the Lord’s Kingdom.

We had a large “dry storage” building at the back of the property and were encouraged to “tear it down”! I felt that there was too much good left in it, so we began building two efficiency apartments at one end of the building and a Retreat Center in the other end. We redid the roof, fixed the floor, placed a porch on both ends, built five rest rooms in it, have a laundry room available, and our center that will accommodate 24 people. We have already had several groups use the Center and have at least four groups coming by Spring Break.
We are not finished with what the Lord has entrusted us with, for we are already gathering things to remodel the Chapel and are hoping to erect a large cross next to the Chapel as a focal point for our community. The Lord has been good to us and we are attempting to follow His pathway!

We have seen the progress on these grounds because a lot of different people have partnered with the Lord to see things happen. We have visiting ministers who inspire us to move forward and accomplish the Lord’s plan for us. We have a Sunday Morning Bible Study (beginning at 10:00 a.m.), which is taught by Hermano Jesse to help us learn God’s Word. We also have children’s classes taught by John, David and Kelly. We have our Morning Service at 11:00 a.m. which attempts to move us upwards toward God’s ideal for us as individuals. We offer the Fisherman’s Bible Institute (taught by Pastor Joane) each Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., as a way for us to increase our knowledge of God’s plan for us as revealed through His Holy Word. We encourage everyone to be a part of the Midweek Service on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., which helps us mature in the Lord. Our Friday Night Youth program continues to help meet the needs of our local youth and is lead by Julian and Alissa, plus their helpers.

On February 21, we are hosting area men’s groups to join us for a Men’s Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. Ladies will be joining Pastor Joane at the parsonage at the same time. Following breakfast, we will have a planning meeting to finalize the activities planned for the Retreat Center on March 13 and 14. We are calling it “Camp Victorious!” and area kids will be joining us for a fun-filled activity schedule.

On February 22, we will gather for our Annual Meeting of the Members. We will give our reports of God’s blessings, and talk of new ideas for the near future. Also, we will be selecting our Board of Directors for the Chapel. This is not just another “business meeting”, but is meant to report and express thanksgiving for God’s goodness to us. Everyone is invited.

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdonominational congregation with an official Partner Congregation in Hallettsville. Our goal is simple – exalt our Lord in everything we do. One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel, and you are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

Seadrift Volunteer Fire Department cooks at the barbecue fund raiser held January 31st, Left to Right: Junior Firefighter Terry Gilliland Jr., Seadrift Firefighters Jonathan Davenport, James Salazar, Frank Gerking Jr (Scooter), Peter DeForest, Steven O’Briant, & Paramedic Lee Jordan.

The Seadrift Volunteer Fire Department wishes to thank the following for helping with the food preparation and serving at the fundraiser; Tabatha Salazar, Tonya Davenport, Madison Carter, Caitlynn Davenport, Rebecca Johnson, Matt Treumer, and Glen Davenport.
They also wish to thank the following for support, supplies and monetary donations; Dennis Zimmerman (Bayside Express), Bubba’s Seafood, George Salazar, Dick’s Food Store, Marty Strakos (Coastline Trailers), Edward Roeden, Kenneth Finster, Rhonda Braun, Gary Kacer, Bill Reichert (D&J), Calhoun County Pct 4, and the City of Seadrift.

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

Obama and Islam

If there was any doubt left in any one’s mind of why the Founders insisted on a “natural born Citizen” as a guarantee of singular loyalty for a requirement for President, Barack Hussein Obama removed it by his speech at The National Prayer Breakfast. After many months of barbaric mass executions of Syrian and Iraqi soldiers, mujaheddin of competing militias and simple villagers, genocide against any non-Sunni civilians, murder, rape, and enslavement of non-Muslims, and video taped beheadings of western newsmen; the Islamofascist State of Iraq and Syria did something so horrible that it shocked even the Muslim world. They burned to death a Jordanian pilot. Not only was he a Muslim, captured in battle, but burning to death is an atrocity that even Muhammed spoke against. Death by fire was a punishment reserved for Allah to punish the sinners and Kafirs in Hell.

Obama wishes to excuse even this barbarism by saying Christians did things just as bad in the name of religion. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake as a witch by the English, a traditional punishment for witches that existed into the 1600s. The Spanish Inquisition tortured and executed, even by burning, suspected Muslims, Jews because they feared they were in cahoots with the Muslims, and also suspected Christians, but Spain had just finally thrown off over 800 years of Muslim conquest, occupation and enslavement. There had been numerous atrocities committed by both sides during the Crusades, but that was a defensive war, trying to force the Muslims to allow pilgrimages to Jerusalem. How Obama blames Jim Crow Laws on Christians is a mystery, because that was the fault of Southern DEMOCRATS.

We are used to Obama “stretching the truth” to blame Republicans, especially Tea Party and other Constitutional activists, and white people in general, but this is his first open public attack on Christians in general. Not only are white Christians responsible for everything bad that happened to Black People because of slavery that ended 150 years ago, but are somehow now responsible for Muslims and Islam still practicing barbarism today like what happened 400 to 900 years ago. Christianity has matured into a civilized religion, but Islam obviously has not, and we should not expect them to, ‘The Obama’ says so. The Awful Truth is it had matured considerably until the resurgence of “Muslim Fundamentalism” in the form of Wahhabism and others that say True Muslims must worship Allah according to the Quran but also in the manner of his Messenger Muhammad according to the Hadith, and Sira – The Life of Muhammad. But our idiot “leadership” refuses to believe this or study what Muslim Imams are really saying. Islam, as Muhammad taught it, is based on Ethical Duality – one set of ‘laws’ for Them and another set of ‘laws’ on how they can deal with Others. Kind of like Democrat politicians today.

This double standard is obvious in Taqiyya: A Muslim must be truthful and honest with other Muslims, but is allowed to lie and cheat others, especially when dealing with Kafirs (“unbelievers”, but worse – those that refuse the message of Muhammad), they must lie to protect and advance Islam. It is literally “against their religion” to tell a Kafir the truth about Islam if they think the Kafir will disapprove. Muslims are allowed to do things that are normally forbidden, and can deny being a Muslim, if that helps the spread of Islam. This is why some students of Islam refer to Obama as the “Taqiyya President”. He said in his book The Audacity of Hope that he would “stand with the Muslims if opinion turned against them”, and he repeated it after his first election. Other than he would “fundamentally CHANGE America”, this the only thing he told the truth about, and consistently stood with. Taqiyya is also demonstrated in the Quran. Muhammad was illiterate. Reading and writing were rare in Arabia in his time. Scribes wrote down what he said and many of his followers memorized his teaching and repeated them to others. After Muhammad died, Muslim scribes wrote the Quran from these notes and verbal stories. Instead of arranging it in a historical context, they wrote it longest chapter first to the shortest. This is confusing to the uninitiated and many believe it was done intentionally. Muslims are taught the correct historical order, and the principle of “abrogation”- later Sura (verses) take precedence over earlier ones. A Muslim can quote a “nice” Sura about “The People of the Book” – Christians and Jews – say it is from ‘The Holy Quran’ knowing that it is abrogated by later Sura. Also Hadith – sayings and doings by Muhammad – have a large part in Islamic Theology, as does the Sira – Life of Muhammad, but that is not discussed with Kafirs. Wahhabism, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda, the Iranian Ayatollahs, and Isis are the TRUE FACE of historical Islam. Not the taqiyya of CAIR and other Islamic pressure groups, or the dhimmi politicians that follow their “teachings”.

Because of the deep-seated Ethical Duality, it is necessary to understand how Muslims define the words and terms they use. “Peace” means the absence of strife and confrontation, but since Muslims are commanded to “strive” for the expansion of Islam and Sharia law, “peace” is only possible when Islam and Shariah are dominant. Sharia insists that it is Allah’s Law and all other laws are man-made law and incompatible. Democracy, equality before the law, our Constitution and Bill of Rights, Oaths to the Constitution, and freedom are all against Sharia, and therefor ‘null and void’. To devout Muslims the world is divided into two areas: Dar al Islam (land of submission) and Dar al harb (land of war). The idea of treaties or ‘peaceful coexistence’ is an impossible concept for serious Muslims, against their religion. Peace treaties are only good when Islam is weak, but are to be broken when Islam is strong. In the early Meccan times of Muhammad’s Revelation, The People of the Book – Christians and Jews – were fellow monotheists and treated as friends and allies. Muhammad preached their scripture, though somewhat changed. Later he turned on them and claimed he was the latest and final ‘prophet’, Allah was the true name of God, Yahweh/Jehova were incorrect names for Allah, Jesus was a prophet but not divine, and only the Quran was true Scripture, the Old and New Testaments were corrupt and in error. Only those Christians and Jews that accepted Muhammad, Islam, and Sharia, including dhimmitude (a low form of ‘citizenship’), were considered People of the Book. Those that held to their beliefs were Kafir, and treated as such.

In the last year of Muhammad’s life he ruled Arabia and Islam was spreading into Syria, the Byzantine, and east Africa, areas that were predominantly Christian at that time. A short explanation of his religion is probably best described in Quran Sura 9:29:

Make war on those who have received the Scripture [Jews and Christians] but do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day. They do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. The Christians and Jews do not follow the religion of truth until they submit and pay the poll tax [jizya], and they are humiliated.

Note: The author will gladly try to answer any questions, explain more fully, and give references to questions asked at the web-site. These are my opinions only. Based on experience and individual study. I have no formal education in Islam and claim no “expertise”, only passing on what I see, read, and what I think is another terrible threat to America.

John Adams, and other Founders, believed that a Constitutional Democracy was only suitable for a moral and Christian people. I believe they were right, and that those who are not moral or Christian are trying to destroy it for their own ends.

Former Port O’Connor resident J.B. Nelson was recently inducted into the Texas Domino Hall of Fame during the Texas State Championship tournament in Hallettsville.

Born and raised in Dallas, Nelson said he began playing dominoes around the same time he learned to talk. His daddy was an avid player, and Nelson said he’d go to just about every game with him and was allowed to keep score. Before moving to Hallettsville in 2003, Nelson played in many tournaments in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama. He took home the World Championship in 2001. Nelson is the oldest person to be inducted into the Texas Domino Hall of Fame at age 86. He also proudly claims to have played billions of games in his lifetime.

-from the Victoria Advocate