Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 246, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 31, 2011 Page: 4 of 12
twelve pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Viewpoints
Page 4 ■ Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sweetwater Reporter
DEDICATED TO PROUDLYDEUVERIN® LOCAL NEWS SI NTH 1881
T—\ Sweetwatei A
Reporter
1EMBER
| * 1 2010
P.O. Box 750/112 W. Third
I
TEXAS PRESS
Sweetwater, Texas 79556
ASSOCIATION
325/236-6677
Fax: 325/235-4967
Website:
www.sweetwaterreporter.com
E-mail addresses:
publisher@sweetwaterreporter.com
business@sweetwaterreporter.com
advertising@sweetwaterreporter.com
editor@sweetyvaterreporter.com
composing@sweetwaterreporter.com
EDITORIAL POLICY
The editorial section of the newspaper is a forum for
expression of a variety of viewpoints. All articles except
those labeled "Editorials" reflect the opinions of the writ-
ers and not those of the Sweetwater Reporter.
Bill
Tinsley
REFLECTIONS
When He Comes
Beyond confessions of faith, hymns and sermons, the
Second Coming of Christ remains virtually irrelevant to
daily life. We pursue our educations, work at our careers,
raise our families, worry about retirement and prepare for
the inevitable: death and taxes. The lives of believers and
non-believers show little marked differ-
ence beyond church attendance.
But what if He comes today? What if
He conies tomorrow? What if He came
yesterday? No, I am not suggesting you
missed the "rapture." But, He did, in fact,
come yesterday and He will, in fact, come
today. Before you dismiss this as crazy, let
me explain.
This is exactly what Jesus taught His dis-
ciples before His ascension into Heaven.
Jesus said when He returns, "the King
will say to those on his right, 'Come, you
who are blessed by my Father; take your
inheritance, the kingdom prepared for
you since the creation of the world. For I
was hungry and you gave me something
to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I
was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and
you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will
answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed
you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did
we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes
and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison
and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine, you did for me.'... 'Truly I tell you, whatever
you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do
for me.' (Matthew 25:31-46)
Jesus conies to us everyday if we are looking for Him. He
conies in small, imperceptible and unexpected ways. He
conies in the interruptions that beg for our attention and
threaten to derail our pre-planned agendas.
Yesterday He came to me in the person of a young
Hispanic employee at Wal-Mart who needed words of
encouragement. A couple of weeks ago He came in the form
of two brothers in their sixties who stopped to help me work
on my 1977 VW bug when it quit running. A month ago He
came in the form a Chinese woman named Chiu who was
fishing on a pier with her mentally handicapped daughter.
Last year He came in the form of a teenage unwed mother
who had given birth to a son who died a few days later. How
many times I have missed Him and did not recognize Him?
I don't know. He conies every day in many ways and forms
that we are likely to miss if we are too focused on our own
agendas. We might even miss Him by being too focused on
our opinions about eschatology.
If we live our lives alert am ready to receive Him each
and every day in the small encounters with the "least of
these" we will be ready to receive Him in that day, when
He appears like lightning from east to west. We might even
hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant.'*
Bill Tinsley reflects on life experience and current events
from a faith perspective. For more information and books
by Dr. Tinsley, visit www.tinsleycenter.com. Email bill@
tinsleycenter.com.
letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Okay, enough is enough. I just noticed on a news scroll
:hat California was looking to cut costs. Therefore, they
have decided to eliminate funding to all adult daycare
programs. Now, I do not have any family member in
this type of service, but can only imagine how those who
do must feel. Also, our federal government is wanting to
adjust Social Security. Again, I am not drawing social
security yet, but can only imagine how they people liv-
ing on fixed incomes wil manage. By the way, when I
am old enough to draw social security, I will not be able
to draw my full amount because I was stupid enough
to teach in the Texas school system for 26 years. I am
retired now and working full time, so even though I
am paying in my full share, I will not get to draw it all
thanks to Texas lawmakers. (Make no mistake, I loved
ny years teaching, but not the way Texas teachers are
handled with the Windfall Tax provision.) Maybe these
lawmakers should consider a reduction in their salary
and benefits instead of depriving their constituents the
needed services and the services they paid into through
years of hard work. Just imagine if every lawmaker
was to reduce their salary even by 10%; what programs
could be saved? We really need to consider these things
as we approach another election year. Let's look at e
candidate's salaries and their income. Do they deprive
themselves, before they deprive "we the people?" I fear
for mine and my childrer ; future if we do not start
demanding our lawmakers to grow up. We need to
demand, as citizens, they do what they are overpaid
to do!!! They are elected to represent us, not merely
themselves.
Debi Wehba
Sweetwater, Texas
C- FORCE
Mind Over Matter
Q: Chuck, I'm usually not
a negative person, but lately
I have been because of some
tough times I'm facing. Any
word of advice? — Susanna
C., Montana
A: Sometimes life throws
obstacles at us so
big that we feel like
retreating and sigh-
ing, "I can't go on."
At times, it seems
so easy to be dis-
couraged and so
difficult to pick
ourselves up and
keep going.
I remember
a time or two in
my own life when
someone would
say, "If life gives
you lemons, make
lemonade," but all
I felt like doing was throw-
ing the lemons! (Beenthere,
done that?)
Jothy Rosenberg under-
stands. At age 16, he lost
one of his legs to bone can-
cer. At 19, when the cancer
metastasized and spread to
his lungs, he had to have
one of lis lungs removed,
as well. He wasn't expected
to live. In fact, his doctor
warned, "When this cancer
metastasizes, no one has
survived."
But 35 years later, Jothy
is not only alive but also
living his dreams.
Who could argue that
Rosenberg had both big
physical and psychological
obstacles to overcome? He
actually testified in a recent
interview on Fox News'
"Health Talk" that the men-
tal obstacles were much
more difficult to overcome
than the physical ones.
Many people in
Rosenberg's shoes (or,
should I say, shoe) have
given up. Millions upon
millions spiral downward
and sedate their minds in
the face of such misfortune,
blaming their woes upon
the catastrophic cards dealt
to them in this life. But not
Jothy.
Rosenberg chose sports
as the vehicle to help him
GUEST C01IIMN
Chuck
Norris
overcome what physically
and psychologically inhib-
ited him. He started with
skiing and went on to bik-
ing and swimming. He then
took the principles of over-
coming that he had learned
and applied them to
the business world,
and he became a
successful entre-
preneur and CEO.
Jothy earned a
doctorate in com-
puter science, was
on the faculty of
Duke University
for five years and
started eight high-
tech companies —
two of which sold
for more than $100
million. He is also
the author of four
books.
Rosenberg says it took
25 to 30 years to prepare
him to write his most recent
book. He didn't just want
to pen another cancer or
amputee survivor book;
he wanted it to aid others
in overcoming their own
obstacles. He appropriately
titled his book "Who Says I
Can't?"
The title reminds me
of the main theme of my
friend's brand-new mar-
tial arts studio. Ed Saenz,
a ninth-degree black belt
in Chun Kuk Do — my own
particular method and
technique of martial arts
— is opening his school in
Tomball, Texas (the grand
opening of which my wife,
Gena, and I will attend
Sept. 24), and embedded
the words "I can do all
things" in his logo and on
his studio walls. It is a criti-
cal truth abbreviated from
this biblical verse: "I can do
all things through God, who
strengthens me."
The point is that God
has empowered every
human with the resourc-
es and autonomy to live,
excel, overcome and even
heal. We were created to
use our faith and cranial
powers to enhance the will
to fight and win. As Jothy
Rosenberg's life shows,
when the world says you
can't, courage and determi-
nation can s ow otherwise.
That is also why my first
principle for life is this: "I
will develop myself to the
maximum of my potential
in all ways."
The University of
Maryland Medical Center's
website states: "While
phrases such as 'mind over
matter' have been around
for years, only recently have
scientists found solid evi-
dence that mind-body tech-
niques actually do fight dis-
ease and promote health. In
1989, for example, a clini-
cal study by David Spiegel,
M.D. at Stanford University
School of Medicine dem-
onstrated the power of the
mind to heal. Of 86 women
with late-stage breast can-
cer, half received standard
medical care while the other
half received standard care
plus weekly support ses-
sions. ... The women who
participated in the social
support group lived twice
as long as the women who
did not."
The University of
Maryland Medical Center
reports that mind-body
techniques can help treat
many different diseases,
including high blood pres-
sure; asthma; coronary
heart disease; obesity;
pain and nausea/vomiting
related to chemotherapy;
insomnia; anxiety; diabe-
tes; stomach and intesti-
nal problems, including
indigestion, irritable bowel
syndrome, constipation,
diarrhea, ulcerative coli-
tis, heartburn and Crohn's
disease; fibromyalgia; and
menopausal symptoms,
such as hot flashes, depres-
sion and irritability.
In 2010, Science Daily
reported that the mind may
play a more critical role in
overcoming addictions, such
as smoking, than formerly
believed. A study from Tel
Aviv University's psychol-
ogy department found that
cravings for cigarettes were
more the result of psycho-
social elements of smoking
than they were the physi-
ological effects of nicotine
as an addictive chemical.
And a May study by Yale
University even suggested
that people's state of mind
influences "how physically
satisfied they feel after a
meal and how likely they
are to still feel hungry and
consume additional food."
The research team focused
on levels of ghrelin, which
is known as the "hunger
hormone" because it stim-
ulates feelings of hunger.
Levels of ghrelin were var-
ied not by what was or what
was not consumed, but by
what the brain believed
was being consumed. "This
study shows that mindset
can affect feelings of physi-
cal satiety," concluded lead
author Alia Crum.
Hippocrates, the father
of medicine, was absolutely
correct: "The natural heal-
ing force within each one
of us is the greatest force in
getting well."
Whether overcoming
physical limitations, low
self-worth, addictions,
unemployment blues or
relational trenches, we
definitely can experience a
better day by fighting to
eliminate what I call our
"stinking thinking."
As Mark Twain once
said, even "age is an issue
of mind over matter. If you
don't mind, it doesn't mat-
ter."
Write to Chuck Norris
(info@creators.com) with
your questions about health
and fitness. Follow Chuck
Norris through his offi-
cial social media sites, on
Twitter @chucknorris and
Facebook's "Official Chuck
Norris Page." He blogs at
http://chucknorrisnews.
blogspot.com. To find out
more about Chuck Norris
and read features by other
Creators Syndicate writers
and cartoonists, visit the
Creators Syndicate Web
page at www.creators.
com.
How to fix the housing depression
As the president contem-
plates his options for cre-
ating jobs and stimulating
the economy, here's one
idea he should consider:
Create a new immigration
lottery that would let in
up to a million newcomers
— on the condition that
they immediately
purchase a home
with cash.
I know this idea
is bound to infu-
riate some peo-
ple, but it could
do more to stimu-
late the economy
than anything the
Obama adminis-
tration — or the
Republicans
have come up with
so far. There's no
question that the
depressed hous-
ing market is a
major factor stalling the
economic recovery. Most
Americans' wealth is tied
up in their homes; hous-
ing prices have continued
to fall precipitously, and
largely because of the huge
inventory of unsold hous-
es. Many of those houses
are foreclosures.
The Obama administra-
tion has tried a number of
solutions to the problem,
all of which have failed.
Now they have a new
idea that might help indi-
viduals who already own
homes from losing them,
but it won't do much
to deal with the exist-
ing inventory of unsold
homes. According to news
reports, the administra-
tion is considering a plan
that would allow all hom-
eowners whose mortgages
are guaranteed by Fannie
Mae or Freddie Mac to
refinance at current inter-
est rates.
Currently, more than
$1.5 trillion in govern-
ment-backed mortgag-
es involve interest rates
above 5 percent, when the
current rate is about 4 per-
cent. These higher inter-
est rates cost homeown-
ers hundreds of dollars
in higher payments each
Linda
Chavez
month. But even if the
plan were to be approved,
it's only a partial solu-
tion — and one with some
unintended consequences:
possibly depressing the
value of mortgage-backed
securities, for example.
Increasing the country's
population with
affluent new-
comers, however,
would have few
drawbacks and
many benefits.
First, it would
stabilize home
prices by dry-
ng up ivento-
ry, which would
benefit every
American who
owns a home.
Second, it would
infuse the popu-
lation with up to
a million addi-
tional taxpayers, increas-
ing government revenues.
Third, it would help cre-
ate new jobs, especially in
construction, home reno-
vation and ancillary sec-
tors.
Since the mid-1980s,
Canada has had a similar
program in effect. It lets in
various categories of immi-
grants with high net worth
who would either invest
in existing businesses or
start new ones that would
employ Canadian work-
ers. As a result, Canada
has welcomed many job-
creating entrepreneurs,
mostly from Hong Kong
and Taiwan, who have
contributed enormously
to Canada's relative eco-
nomic health.
But what about the
effect of such a program
on the job prospects of
unemployed Americans?
One of the biggest anti-
immigrant canards is that
immigrants steal American
jobs. In fact, immigrants
create jobs. Studies con-
sistently demonstrate that
for every job an immigrant
"takes" from someone who
is native-born, more than
one additional new job is
created — to the benefit of
everyone. The only down-
side is when immigrants
also receive government
transfers through partici-
pation in various welfare
programs or through using
government-provided ser-
vices such as schools and
health care.
But a program limited
to affluent immigrants
would not carry with it
this disadvantage. In fact,
depending on how it was
structured, an immigrant
lottery could alleviate
these pressures by limit-
ing the social services in
which such entrepreneur-
ial or investment-immi-
grants would be eligible to
participate as they age.
There is no question that
this approach to dealing
with our current economic
mess would be controver-
sial. But the fact is that
what we need now is real
stimulus in the form of
economic growth. And the
one way to guarantee eco-
nomic growth is to grow
the population with afflu-
ent newcomers.
Millions of people world-
wide want to come to the
United States to experi-
ence our promise of politi-
cal freedom and economic
opportunity. Immigrants
are a self-selected group of
ambitious individuals who
prosper because of their
willingness to take risks
and work hard. If we were
to welcome not just the
huddled masses yearning
to breathe free but also
the well-to-do individu-
als yearning to own an
American home, we could
help both the newcomers
and ourselves.
It's an idea at least worth
debating. It sure beats
raising taxes or borrowing
more money. The admin-
istration has exhausted its
current options.
The housing depres-
sion is a drag on the
entire economy. Until it's
resolved, we won't see a
full recovery. And I can't
think of a better way to
shed the current inven-
tory of unsold homes than
to let in people who can
buy them with their own
cash.
Linda Chavez is the
author of "An Unlikely
Conservative: The
Transformation of an
Ex-Liberal." To find
out more about Linda
Chavez, visit the Creators
Syndicate Web page at
www.creators.com.
NOTICE
If you miss your
Sweetwater Reporter you
should call evenings from
5:30-6:00 p.m.
Monday thru Friday.
If you miss your Sunday
paper please call from 8-
9:30 a.m., and we will con-
tact your carrier.
236-6677
The swi rrwMt r reporter
rpWS 5300-8SGS is published daily
except Saturdays and holidays by HPC
of Texas Inc. (Periodical Postage Paid)
112 W. 3rd, Sweetwater, Texas 79556
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
SWEETWATER REPORTER
P.O. BOX 750.
SWEETWATER, TX 79556
City Delivery $9.00 per month, $90.00
per year, 6-months $50.00, 3-months
$26.00. By mail In-County Rates
3-months $36.00, 6-months $65.00,
12-months $115.00. Out-Of-County
Rates 3-months $50.00, 6-months
$88.00, 12-months $140.00.
Correction Policy
Editorial:
As a matter of policy, the
Sweetwater Reporter will
publish corrections of errors
in fact that have been print-
ed in the newspaper.
The corrections will be
made as soon as possible
after the error has been
brought to the attention of
the newspaper's editor at
236-6677.
Advertising:
Publisher reserves the right
to reject, edit or cancel any
advertising at any time with-
out liability. Publisher's liabil-
ity for error is limited to the
amount paid for advertising.
DEDICATED TO PROUDLY DELIVERING LOCAL NEWS SINCE 1881
V
__ Sweetwater
Reporter
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 246, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 31, 2011, newspaper, August 31, 2011; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229552/m1/4/: accessed July 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.