Reunion

The 2019 Leckband reunion is history. ["Reunion" is not capitalized, because my brother & sister & their families were not part of this reunion.] We all arrived in Omaha on FRI 6/28 & departed on MON 7/1:  Nathan, Laura, & Calvin; Craig, Sarah, Brianna, Hadley; Derek, Rachel, Bentley.

We spent 8 hours at the Henry Doorly Zoo on SAT. You read that right--8 hours . . . & we didn't even see half of the exhibits. We did ride the train & the Skyfari. The kids' highlight was probably the Glacier Bay splash pad; also probably the Lied Jungle. (Although Bentley was rightly intimidated by the bats)

On SUN we enjoyed brunch:  bacon + Lois' overnight French toast. Then we went our separate ways. Lois, Laura, Sarah, Rachel, & Brianna went shopping. The men--plus Hadley--took in the dinosaur exhibit at the Durham Museum. Later in the day Lois' brother John & his wife Lori joined us. Nathan & Craig grilled hamburgers.

The house we rented was amazing. Rachel's desserts were amazing. Watching the 3 youngest grandkids play was amazing. How would I describe this family reunion? Amazing.

Resolution Update

• Avoid partisan diatribes re:  the 2020 election. This is becoming increasingly difficult.
• Add to our list of National Parks & cross something off our bucket list. Wait until September.
• Lose 10 lbs. Only 12 lbs to go.
• Treat Sammy, our dog, with more patience. So far, so good. *
• Help Lois put out all of our Christmas decorations. Wait until November.
• Work out at least 3X per week. I'm having trouble with this one.
• Continue spending an hour or so in "quiet time" each morning. So far, so good.
• Write a devotion book for the 2019 Orphan Grain Train Convention. I finished four potential books. It's up to our leadership to decide which one to use.
• Obtain a DNA report from Ancestry.com. Failed.

* Poor Sammy. Already last week it was legal to set off fireworks in Norfolk, & Sammy has been a basket case. Despite doggie anti-anxiety meds, Sammy is reluctant to go outside or even leave his kennel.

What Constitutes the Highest Good

Defenders of our classically liberal order such as I contend that its purpose is not to deliver endless victories to one group or another within society, but to create a framework within which people who hold markedly different conceptions of what constitutes the Highest Good can coexist without going to war. In America, this end is achieved in part by our constitutional structure, which is designed to protect the individual and to foster the pluralism that is necessary for peace, and it is achieved in part by the inclusion of democratic elements that ensure that the losing side in any dispute has a chance to win in the future. Ultimately, the classically liberal order places only one condition on participants, and that is they agree not to try to abolish it or to permanently take it over. Beyond that, it doesn’t much care how it is used. The result is a country in which the Amish and Silicon Valley can coexist, and in which the Mississippi Baptist and the Brooklyn hipster can thrill to the same flag. It is a country in which Texas can thrive, and so can Massachusetts. It is a country that can host both Franklin Graham and Marilyn Manson (but not Charles Manson).
--Charles C.W. Cooke, National Review Online 7/3

Western Civilization

Western civilization was founded on a set of philosophies that focuses strongly on the sanctity of individuals and their power of logic and reason. This belief led to a desire to trust things that could be proven to be true or legitimate, from government to science. Judeo-Christian morality has formed the basis of most Western notions of ethics and behavioral standards. Thus, the attack on Western civilization must begin with the attack on the church and Christian values, and, just as important, the family unit. The reason why the church, Christian values, and family are targets of the left is they want people's loyalty and allegiance to be to the state. The church, Christianity, and the family stand in the way.
--Walter E. Williams, Townhall 7/3

Celebrate the 4th

Happy Fourth of July!We have reason to celebrate.The Fourth honors the founding of America. It's the anniversary of the day in 1776 that the Declaration of Independence was approved. The Declaration was important. It didn't say that America would be the best country because it would have the biggest military, toughest leaders, most government giveaways, or tightest borders. The great innovation that day in Philadelphia was the declaration that the United States would have a limited government, rooted in the idea that every individual has inalienable rights. In other words, we do not get our rights from the government. They already exist. The government's job is to protect our rights.
--John Stossel, Townhall 7/3

The Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God is not in the future only, nor is it only at hand in a history we cannot reach; it is here even now, reaching out with branches that bid all to come and dwell.
--Jill Carattini, Slice of Infinity 7/3