Doubtless there remains some confusion about the objectives or this writer. The objective is to express the views or thoughts or a lay Christian, i.e., not a church leader, on subject matter which may be or interest to others and which could be but not necessarily are scripturally founded or related. Scripture serves as a guide-on for this writer and is his all time favorite obsession. By faith I believe God called me to live His Scriptures (an assignment I've fumbled more times than the combined total or Texas freshman quarterbacks in this year's openers), certainly not to preach them.

In spite or this fact, tens have suggested to me, "You should be a preacher." For example, on one occasion in 1974,as a candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives, I stood before the faculty and student body of San Angelo State University espousing my views and thoughts about the government's unreasonableness, intemperance and getting out-of-controlness, which drew an inordinate and tumultuous round or applause from most there present. It even rated a very weak smile from my friend and opponent, Bob Krueger, who went on to win that election as well as the next two elections that followed. After this session ended, as I visited briefly with Bob, I overheard four members of thc faculty (PhD's all) discussing the merits of the sermon they had just heard and wondering why a good guy like me would give up my preacher calling and get mixed up in something as dirty as national politics - Scout's honor!

All this to say it's real easy to misread one's bad neighbor's objectives and sometimes, one's good neighbor's, too. In spite of the risk, next week I'll write the first of a very short series on what I have styled, "Endangered Species - Will God Save Them?", which will be written from an historical viewpoint and not a scriptural viewpoint.

My wife "Stormy", who's given name is Spring, is such a "clean freak" that she has her liquid detergent dry cleaned before she will use it.

Have a good week!