“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from           their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land!

II Chronicles 7:14

The way things are going today, maybe the country should take some time to think about that verse! As a nation we have a tendency to turn to God whenever we have a crisis! Look at 911.  Nearly everyone in the U.S. began to pray to a higher power! Throughout our history this country has consistently turned away from God as things became too comfortable. That is until we are humbled to the point of hopelessness, realizing there is no other viable avenue than to fall on our knees to pray. As the stark reality of life’s challenge hits, it is usually only then that we begin crying out for deliverance from the clutches of tragic circumstance! 

Have you ever had the opportunity to visit a national cemetery? I’ve visited numerous ones, including the National Cemetery in Normandy, France and of course, Arlington in Virginia. Personally, there is a sacred awareness that accompanies a visit to a national burial site. It really is like walking on holy ground. I believe part of the sanctity of visiting such a place involves the realization that so many of the remains buried there gave their lives for freedom’s call. At the very least, they devoted years of their lives to the advancement of this cause. Being buried with honors in a national cemetery is a tribute to the sacrifice and price required for Liberty.

I have been deeply honored to officiate numerous burials at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. I must say I have been deeply humbled each time I was allowed to stand by the casket of a beloved veteran and provide words of comfort and hope to the family. As the fallen is honored with a 21 Gun Salute and the lone bugler plays a somber rendition of Taps, I can’t help but experience waves of tears welling up in my eyes and trickling down my cheeks.

There are over 160 national cemeteries throughout the U.S. and its territories. Every national cemetery is a tribute to the sacrifice of blood, sweat and tears from a grateful nation. Arlington National Cemetery is probably one of the most famous sites. The solemn reality of Arlington is that it entombs veterans from every major war that America has ever fought. Eleven veterans from the Revolutionary War are buried there as they were reinterred at the site after Arlington was established in 1876. There are even 14 veterans from the Spanish American War who were reinterred at Arlington. Making it the earthly resting place to veterans from nearly every war this country has ever engaged.

To read the entire article, In God We Still Trust,

download the file by clicking on the pdf link below .

C’mon Man!

• The battle cry of desperation
• The go-to phrase when you’re caught in a lie
• The Hallmark moment when you have no intelligent response
• The smoke screen you throw out when you can’t admit you’re wrong
• The distraction provided when you’re totally clueless
• The deflection of blame when you won’t accept responsibility for your own incompetence or lack of effort
• The cry of injustice when you’ve been caught with your hand in the cookie jar
• The catalyst of corruption when you’re called-out for devious behaviors
• The incoherent mumbling when your mind goes blank
• The explanation point that’s added to your desperate attempt to plead a losing cause
• The political slogan used when you have no platform to stand on
• The evidence that you have nothing constructive to offer in a conversation
• The last ditch effort to find compassion from a superior opponent
• The cry for "uncle" when you realize the battle is surely lost
• The hail Mary that’s thrown up when hope is nearly gone
• The white flag crying out “cut me some slack…”
• The liberal platitude of surrender calling out for mercy from the victor
• The diversionary tactic engaged to delay the inevitable hammer that’s about to be slammed on your ego
• The professional politician’s idiom that shows more sophistication than “duh!”

C’mon Man! Time to put on your big boy panties and man up! Just Sayin'! ~ Lanny Cook 10/2020

I Don’t Need…

    ...I’m an Adult!                   Just Sayin'!

I don’t need momma to take care of me anymore. I’m an adult. 

• I don’t need any political despot unveiling a diabolical agenda to diminish the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for me or my family. I’m an adult.

• I don’t need big brother looking over my shoulder to see if I’ve broken a politically contrived mandate. If I break a constitutionally aligned, legislated law, then lock me up. Otherwise, get out of my face and quit meddling in my life.      I’m an adult!

• I don’t need an elected official deciding if my job or livelihood is essential, I’m an adult.
• I don’t need any civil servant pompously, pontificating, public policy over my life, packaged in political propaganda, purpose and pageantry, I can see through your façade, I’m an adult!

• I don’t need a self-appointed guardian to keep me safe from myself, I’m an adult.

• I don’t need a political puppet dictating when I can leave my home, where I can go, or how long to stay confined in isolation, I’m an adult.

• I don’t need a government agency requiring me to wash my hands or wear a mask, I’m an adult.

• I don’t need the local socialist regime encouraging my neighbor to spy on me, I’m an adult!

• I don’t need local authorities threatening to arrest me for not maintaining a prescribed social distance or for taking a walk in the park or playing ball with a child in an otherwise empty ballfield, I’m an adult.

• I don’t need the media relentlessly promoting fear-based propaganda, I’m an adult!

• I don’t need a celebrity expert accusing me of being selfish for taking care of my family, I’m an adult.

• I don’t need a socialist scheme shutting down business establishments or churches under the auspice of my personal health and welfare, I’m an adult!

• I don’t need an atheistic dictator telling me how, when and where I can practice my faith or if I can go to church to worship my Creator, I’m an adult!

• I don’t need elected bureaucrats deciding what is or isn’t in my personal, self-interest - I’m an adult!

• I don’t need healthcare pirates deciding what medical care is essential for my personal health and welfare, I’m an adult!

• I don’t need a heartless heathen to condemn my terminally-ill family member to an isolated death in a locked-down facility. I’ll be the one to choose between my loved one dying alone and the risk to my personal well-being. I’ll decide to take appropriate precautions because I’m an adult.

• I don’t need a merciless decree limiting the mourners at a graveside farewell for a loved one to groups of 10 people or less, after all it’s an outside graveside service and I’m an adult!   
• I don’t need an elected, tyrant taking away my constitutional rights and civil liberties under the guise of knowing what’s best for humanity, I’m an adult.
• I can think for myself, look after myself, take care of myself, make the best decision for myself, and be responsible for myself, after all, I’m an adult.
• I don’t need a modern day Snidely Whiplash, demanding world vaccinations and the physical implanting of an apocalyptic tracking device under my skin using the premise of world health concerns - I am an adult.
• I’m a responsible, healthy, educated, considerate, financially stable, tax paying, law abiding citizen. Don’t forget it! You’re not my momma, so stop acting like you are! Besides, I’m an adult!
• Abraham Lincoln declared a “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” It’s time for the people to hold elected officials and government agencies accountable. It’s not momma’s responsibility to look after us. It’s not the government’s role to pick up where momma left off!

This is the land of the free and the home of the brave!

                                            Let Freedom Ring!                                                                                                                 Just Sayin’© Lanny Cook

I Ponder as I Wander…

Within the confines of our finite life on this earth, there are defining moments that present themselves on occasion. Now I’m not talking about the routine, mundane moments of life that happen on a fairly regular basis. But rather, I’m referring to those monumental, earth shattering moments. The kind that drastically change the heart, touch the soul, or forever change the essence of who we are or how we pursue life. These moments of human definition may only happen but a few times within our existence. Yet, when they occur, their impact on the human spirit often has an eternal significance. As I look back over the past sixty years of my life, I can honestly say I have only had a handful of such experiences. These few defining moments not only shaped my faith in God Almighty, but also significantly altered my earthly destiny. A revelation of faith, the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a relationship all possess the potential to serve as events defining the very essence of our human spirit...

To read the entire article, click on the pdf file below: 

Here's my political rant of the week - America's Latest Challenge, Politiphobes! - Just Sayin'!

It amazes me how the mindset of the political world has shifted over the past several decades. Even those who don't claim to be closely aligned with any political affiliation have become quite offended by certain government officials. It's like the sight of certain individuals from either side of the aisle makes your hair stand straight up with an electrical charge and you're ready to put up the dukes for battle. As a society we've lost the ability to think for ourselves, standup for our beliefs and debate others with differing views without going on the offensive and taking everything personal. It's sad because the loss of civility is a precursor to the loss of human respect and the ability to coexist with one another.  This trend is perpetuated by not only the modern day media, but it's  also contained within the very tenents of each political party.

I think it's time to start describing folks who are constantly pushing their own political agenda and will never admit someone from the opposing party has done something good as "POLITIPHOBES!" POLITIPHOBIA is a fear of recognizing the positive accomplishments an individual from the opposing party has made because it makes their party of choice look weak or inept. (Sorry folks but that describes all of Congress!) These folks include bigots from both sides of the political aisle who won't acknowledge the strides others are making for the GOOD of AMERICA.

Politiphobes are the ones that if they saw Jesus Christ walk on water, they would accuse Him of not being able to swim! Sadly, all of these anti-American bigots are nothing more than a pile of whiny, self-absorbed, narcissistic POLITIPHOBES. They're hell-bent on having it their way. They're also incapable of having an original thought in their tiny little brain. They can only entertain thoughts if they get political party approval. You know what we used to call that type of group think? Puppetry! Do you know what puppetry leads to? Dictators and socialism! It's time to drain the swamp! Not only in Washington D.C. but in every state across the country. Of course it wouldn't hurt to start on social media too, since that's where most of the political brainwashing occurs which leads to POLITIPHOBIA! I pray it's not contagious because it's a special kind of stupid! Just Sayin'!

God save the USA! God bless America!

I just saw an article where the baseball legend Bryce Harper’s expected salary offer will be somewhere in the $300,000,000 range for an extended contract. Wow! Now being a retired public school teacher, I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around the reality of that kind of money. After all, when I first started teaching I was given a salary of $10,500 per year. When I retired after 28 years of service, with a double Master’s Degree and over 300 semester hours of additional graduate-level coursework and in-service training I had worked my salary up to top of the pay scale, around the $70,000 per year range.

Toward the end of my career there was a push for teachers to be paid according to merit. Not on their merit, but on the contrived evaluation of their student’s performance. Merit Pay could never begin to fairly compensate an educator for the unique intricacies involved in teaching a child. A Merit System can’t address the myriad of mitigating factors associated with a student’s academic performance. But yet, there are those politically motivated proponents trying to force a Merit Pay System onto all teachers based on the performance of someone else. Seriously? These people are nuts!

So, when I see a legendary athlete being offered hundreds of millions of dollars to play a game, I find it just a bit over the top. In fact, I find it audaciously perverse. In my mind it only goes to prove that it’s time to enact a Merit Pay System for every professional athlete. After all, they’re the ones getting paid for their legendary performance. If they are a superstar, then the skies the limit as to what they can make. If they have a stellar year, their pocketbook gets stuffed to the max. If they have an off year, well, they just better hope they put some of that extra stuffing in their bank account from the previous year.  Here’s my Professional Athlete Merit Pay Proposal. I’m using baseball as an example, but this would work for any sport.

Just Sayin' Professional Athlete Merit Pay Proposal

Every player gets a guaranteed base salary of $75,000 a year. When he performs he gets bonus pay. When he fails there is a mandatory deduction. At the end of the season, if he’s performed well enough there will be a bonus check. Here’s the breakdown:

Bonus breakdown for Fielding

• For every play resulting in an “Out” +$1,000

• For every double play he is a part of +$2,000

• For every triple play he is a part of +$3,000

• For every error committed -$1,000

• For every error that leads to an opposing run -$2,000

Bonus Breakdown for Hitting/Base Running

• Batter earning a Walk +$1,000

• Batter hit by a Pitch +$1,500

• Getting on base by an Error +$1,000

• A Sacrifice Fly Out +$500

• A Sacrifice Fly Out that Scores a Run +$1,000

• A Base Hit Single +$1,000

• A Double +$1,500

• A Triple +$2,500

• A Home Run +$3,000

• A Game Winning Hit of any type +$3,500

• Striking out swinging -$1,000

• Striking out on a Called Third Strike -$1,500

• Hitting into any Out -$1,000

• Hitting into a Double Play -$1,500

• Hitting into a Triple Play -$5,000

• Hitting into a Fielder’s Choice -$750

• Stealing a Base +$750

• Scoring a Run +$1,000

• Sacrifice Bunt +$500

• Suicide Squeeze Bunt +$1,500

• Walk Off Game Winning Hit +$3,000

• End of Year Batting Average per Point (.001) +$1,000

Bonus Breakdown for Pitching

• Every Strike Thrown +$150

• Every Ball Thrown outside of the Strike Zone -$125

• Hitting a Batter -$300

• Every Out Recorded +$200

• Every Inning Pitched +$300

• Every Run Allowed -$1,000

• Every Baulk -$1,500

• A Baulk that Allows a Run -$3,500

• Maintaining an ERA under 1.0 per Game +$2,000

• Maintaining an ERA under 2.0 per Game +$1,500

• Maintaining an ERA over 2.0 per Game -$1,500

• Every Win +$3,500

• Every Loss -$3,500

• Every Lead Surrendered -$1,500

• Every Single Allowed -$500

• Every Double Allowed -$750

• Every Triple Allowed -$1,000

• Every Home Run Allowed -$1,500

• Every Run Allowed -$1,500

So, with all of that being considered, if you take the likes of a Bryce Harper and apply the merit pay system to the statistics he accumulated in 2018, he would have earned somewhere around the $750,000 range (10 times more than a highly paid teacher). Merit Pay for professional athletes; it all makes sense! Much more feasible than placing teachers on a Merit Pay system based on all the mitigating factors they have no control over! Just think about how much more affordable going to the ballpark would be for us middle class fans! You might even be able to afford a coke and a hotdog! Just Sayin’!

One of the gifts I was blessed to nurture throughout my life is the gift of humor. I've always had an ability to look at the humorous side of many situations. Often times, that has gotten me in a bit of trouble, especially during those formative years when teachers didn't enjoy having a class clown to contend with in a class filled with  adolescents. However, my humorous ramblings were never intended to be disruptive, at least most of the time. There were times things just popped out of my mouth that were a play on words or casting a bit of laughter into a situation.

My humor was always subtle. I love sharing puns. Through the years I relished the role of being the token punologist of nearly every group or gathering. Puns actually require deep thinking and spring forth from the deepest recesses of the brain. That part of the brain, immediately above the "Brain Stem" is the part that I refer to as the "Pun-ebelem!"

Punology is truly an artform - almost a long-lost artform. Most teachers hate it; most leaders despise it; and the majority of the world just doesn't "get it." But for those of us that do "get it," the practice of punology turns into a constant challenge. It's a way of life, a way of viewing the world from a lighter side. It's the way our brains operate. It inspires creative thinking, while engaging our competitive nature. After all, there's not a punologist out there that doesn't want to have the final word in a pun-contest. With that thought, I will leave you with this one. Did you hear about the optometrist who fell into his lense-grinding machine? He made a "spectacle" of himself! Just Sayin'!