James R. Lightfoot, Lightfoot Strategies served in Congress six terms, starting in 1985 and retiring in 1997. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal and General Government (TPS) of Appropriations, he had jurisdiction over 40% of Federal Law Enforcement (Customs, Secret Service, ATF, FLETC, and IRS enforcement).
It's time to share another excerpt from my book, Climbing Mountains with God. Sorry about nothing being shared last week. It is a long story. This week, we will share the wrap-up of Chapter Nine. I hope you enjoy it and learn a little regarding the importance of good people on staff and that all votes are not easy.
You might find the following contradictory; however, good lobbyists take a bad rap. Lobbyists are very helpful when used correctly. Whatever the issue, the lobbyist representing a particular issue must know the subject in and out. That’s what they get paid to do.
Happy Sunday! It's time to share another excerpt from my book, Climbing Mountains with God. This week, we will have a small part of Chapter Nine. As I missed sending a story last week, this one is a bit longer than usual. I hope you enjoy and come away with an understanding of my strong feelings about an issue that comes up in every session of Congress.
Here is a part of that story.
Sitting here in God’s Waiting Room, the word “scared” keeps bouncing off the walls. The source is the words of a young woman who wants to start a family but is afraid to do so. No, not for medical or financial reasons; she is scared for the future of our country and what kind of a world she and her husband would be bringing a child into.
Sitting here in God’s Waiting Room, the word RESPECT keeps flying around the room and bouncing off the walls. Perhaps it is the result of the outrageous noise emitting from news channels on the TV. Or it may be something printed in a newspaper or magazine. Whatever the cause, it requires investigation.
Over the next several weeks, I will be offering you a look behind the curtains into a fascinating project. I wrote a book!
I want to thank Leigh Michaels and Jacki Haley for the support and help they gave me in getting my first book, "Climbing Mountains with God," into print and on the market. This was an entirely new adventure for me, and boy, did I need some serious help.
All the best for a fantastic 2024! I thought you might enjoy a good story to start off your year.
Here is a short personal story about Congress I would like to share with you.
When Nancy and I first arrived in Washington, DC, Bob Michel, our Minority Leader, put together a reception for all of the new freshman members of the Republican class of 1984. Mr. Michael chose the Statuary Hall in our beautiful Nation’s Capitol Building for the event. The dinner is an event I will never forget!
Sitting here in God’s Waiting Room this morning, it is quiet and peaceful as the TV is turned off, and it does not fill the room with news about hatred upon hatred.
Such a troubled time we live in.
Sitting here in God’s Waiting Room today, the results from elections across the country keep bouncing off the walls. It breaks my heart to see what is happening in our country. As a product of the Florence Crittenton Home for Unwed Mothers, I have powerful, pro-life beliefs.
Sitting here in God’s waiting room, many numbers are bouncing off the walls. These are big numbers, in the millions. They beg the question, what do they all mean?
Get out your Big Chief tablet and a lead pencil as we are going to go to school.
Sitting here in God’s Waiting Room, the word RESPECT keeps flying around and bouncing off the walls. It might result from the sometimes outrageous noise in the background emitting from news channels on the TV.
The Oxford Dictionary defines RESPECT when used as a noun, “a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements:”
Sitting here in God’s waiting room, a meme appears in the inbox. It is a simple photo of two hands palms up. In the left hand is a rock. In the right hand is a pistol. The caption accompanying the picture says, ”When Cain killed Abel, God did not get rid of all the rocks.”
This simple picture and its caption explain a very complex issue in our political system. Gun control is pushed very hard by those who believe outlawing all firearms will stop murders and crime on the street.
Sitting here in “God’s waiting room,” a sobering thought has struck me: my generation has fallen short. As a member of the Silent Generation, born between 1925 and 1945 and nestled between the Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers, it seems we have been too reticent for too long.
Growing up on a farm taught me to always care for the soil and leave it in better condition than I find it. This is the secret to a prosperous future.
It appears we share something with our Canadian neighbors beyond a common border. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has decided to push “drag queen” shows into the elementary schools in his country. Other news items attest to the same situation in our country.
Sitting here in God’s Waiting Room and observing the failures in our government, a thought came floating in the window, “Where have all the good guys gone?” in our US Congress.
Where have those of us who worked together gone? Perhaps, we are all in God’s Waiting Room just watching the clock tick, and worrying about the world our kids and grandkids will have to live and work in.
What follows is an email in answer to that same question that I exchanged with my good friend, Senator Dennis DeConcini, a Democrat from Arizona.
Howdy, from White Oak population of 6,225 friendly folks, 2,067 households, and 1,823 families located in East Texas.
There has been much Hullabaloo over Jason Aldean’s new country song “Try That in a Small Town.” The glamour has reached the point were even the CMT association has taken opposition to the song.
Today I opened Judi McLeod’s column in Canada Free Press, “Christ Church In Idaho An Answer To The Prayers of Persecuted Christians in ’Small Town North America.’
The two are complimentary of each. Aldean’s song tells the story and Judi’s story offers some of the truth.
Do you ever have thoughts that keep rolling around in your head and will not stop?
I’ve been bothered with a series of thoughts now for several weeks. Today, as I was hobbling down the hallway to the kitchen on this beautiful, sturdy cane my neighbor made for me from the root of a strong, tough old grapevine, the swirling thoughts screeched to a stop.
Most Americans celebrated Memorial Day by attending celebrations in many town squares paying tribute to those that gave it all so you and I can live free. On beaches and hell-hole battlefields around the World, the blood of American soldiers has been shed in the name of freedom.
Our military members, including all that served in Vietnam, deserve our highest respect. That existed from the beginning of our Republic.
Until today.
LiesLies, and more lies flowed from the mouth of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas at a press conference on Wednesday. It does not matter if you are a Republican or Democrat; if American blood and Texas pride are part of your makeup, you must be appalled.
The other day, my wife and I were discussing our budget. With the cost of everything going up and being on a limited income, Social Security, and a small annuity, making ends meet has become very difficult. How will we pay the upkeep on our house, which we should have sold a couple of years ago and downsized, and have money left over for groceries? We all make dumb mistakes.