Opinion

As time runs out next week on the fourth special session, Gov. Greg Abbott said he will continue to fight for school choice, despite the Texas House once again decisively rejecting it when 21 Republicans largely from rural districts joined Democrats in stripping it from a $7.6 billion education bill. The Austin American-Statesman reported it is unclear what Abbott’s next move will be.

To my Fellow Texans in the Hill Country, West Texas and South Texas: Serving the past five terms as your Representative in the Texas House has been a high honor. During this time, I have logged more than 127,000 driving miles representing a district nearly the size of the State of West Virginia. I’ve taken more than 10,000 votes on the House floor, personally authored 75 bills that passed into law—many directly benefitting our region of Texas, small towns, agriculture, small business and our rural economy— and co-authored or sponsored more than 100 other bills that passed into law.

Christmas is a season of travel. Many of us pack up the family vehicle and drive across the country to visit relatives. Others use the holiday to find the sun and reenergize on vacation. Those of us who stay put may still have our lives disrupted by an invasion of guests or relatives.

We spent the Holidays with our family hanging out together and fishing. I had a great time! That trip reminds me of a fishing trip I went on years ago. Standing on a riverbank where the water was shallow and kinda muddy where we saw other fishermen nearby but they were not catching much. Our guide, a young man who brought us to this spot, had led us to believe that we could catch big fish here. He got out the bait (it didn’t look too attractive to me) and told us to put our lines in the shallow water. There we stood, the only ones on our lines in shallow water, using some weird bait, hoping to catch a lot of big fish. It sure did take a lot of faith. That reminds me of something in the Bible. Trusting God and His Word (The Bible) takes faith and so does living the Christian life (Luke 7:50, 2Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 2:20 and Ephesians 2:8,9 one of my favorites). Our fishing trip was a great success just as our guide promised. The Bible promises we will not be disappointed if we put our faith in God, His word (The Bible) and what Jesus Christ did on the cross for us. He shed His innocent blood that our sins could be forgiven, (John 3:16, Romans 5:1-11). Faith is mentioned 299 times in the New Testament.

GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil: I have a bed of red spider lilies that are currently full of leaves. Would it be ok to divide them now? If not, when is the best time? They are growing actively now through early spring.

GUEST COLUMNIST Yes, it’s that glorious season that so many pumpkin-spice addicts claim to be their favorite. I must admit that, I, too, succumb each year to the autumnal charms of fall, except for my seemingly neverending battle with leaves, or, as I like to call them – tree dandruff.

he Texas House on Friday defeated a proposed voucher plan, also leaving in doubt a comprehensive public school funding plan that became tied to it, The Dallas Morning News reported. A coalition of rural Republicans and Democrats joined together to take education savings accounts out of the bill by an 84-63 margin.

I like this time of year when it starts getting cooler and the leaves start changing color. When I see all the beautiful colors of the leaves I am reminded of the splendor, majesty, and goodness of God. Due to our fast-paced culture and busy schedules, many times it is difficult to think about God and be thankful. Also if we have never accepted Jesus Christ as savior and Lord we may not have an attitude of gratitude, (John 10:10, Matthew 6:33, John 1:4, 1 John 5:11). As I look back and think about how my parents provided for me when I was growing up; like a roof over my head, clothes on my back, bread on the table, shoes on my feet, care when I was sick, and a home with love, it makes me realize that I was very blessed. They have both gone on to be with the Lord but I wished I had spent more time thanking them and appreciating all they did for me. My grandmother used to sing a little song, “count your many blessings, name them one by one” This holiday season lets us enjoy and give thanks for the many blessings God has given us. There are some verses in (Psalm 75:1;107:1,2,15,22,43) that give reminders as to why we are to be thankful, (Psalms 30:4 & 35:18 & 97:12 and Colossians 3:16).

Genesis 2:8-16 8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.