// December 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // Book Reviews, Uncategorized
I have received a copy of the book Primal, by Mark Batterson, and am in the process of reading it. If it is anything like his last two, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase, I’ll have a lot to talk about. Give me a couple of more days to finish it and put my thoughts together then I’ll post the review and a link to Amazon so you can get your own copy.
royb
// September 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
I looked at the numbers for this blog today. Roybauer.com has been active for just over a year now and, if anyone is curious, I’m going to post the total number of visits, number of unique visitors, total pages that have been viewed and the number of countries that they’ve come from.
Total Times this Site has been Visited: 2,381
Total Number of Unique Visitors: 653
Total Pages that have been Viewed: 7,845
Total Number of Countries People have Visited From: 45
That’s the yearly update. We’ll do it again, September 2010.
Roy Bauer
// August 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
If you follow this blog, you’ll know that I’m not scared to share my opinion on something, but I rarely go all out. However, when I feel I have to, I will. This is one of those times.
You can call it a prediction or an observance, but what I’m about to share is happening and will only get worse with time, unless something drastic takes place.
America is becoming more and more divided by the day. I can feel it, like an undercurrent, and it is getting stronger.
Like a soft rumble, the volcano that is America, is about to explode.
For years, the conservatives have been in some sort of major leadership position in this country. Whether it was the presidency during Reagan and the Bush’s or the Legislation during Clinton, conservatives have had a voice –albeit, small at times– for the past 29 years or so. There has been some sort of accountability for the those with a liberal agenda and that’s kept this country from nose-diving into irrelevance.
America has prospered for the past 30 years and have had relative calm between the people. But, since Obama was elected, this country has become more divided than I can ever remember. And it has happened fast.
For years, liberals have attacked everything that conservatives have done and, for the most part, the conservatives have just accepted it and let it go. Political ads compared Bush to the Joker and Hitler. But, it was all coming from one side and the conservatives just shied away from the battle and retreated, for some odd reason. Maybe they were scared. Maybe the conservative leadership were pansies, who knows? The point is: for the past nearly 30 years, liberals have had free run to bully anyone who disagreed with them and no one took them to task. And out of that, has come the biased slant towards liberal thought for most major networks and news organization.
But, the conservatives are getting their collective voice back and they are starting to make some noise. They have finally had enough and have decided to take their country back. America electing the most liberal politician ever, was a wake-up call for the people of America. In poll after poll, you can see that Obama’s approval rating is dropping like a rock. In a recent Gallup poll it says:
PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama’s latest job approval rating is 51%, according to Aug. 23-25 Gallup Daily tracking. Should his rating continue its downward trend and fall below 50%, he would — like most post-World War II presidents — have less-than-majority approval at some point in his presidency. However, Obama, in his eighth month in office, could hit this mark in a shorter time than has typically been the case. If his rating falls below 50% before November, it would represent the third-fastest drop to below majority approval since World War II, behind the declines for Gerald Ford (in his third month as president) and Bill Clinton (in his fourth month).
We, as Americans, have done some weird things –like voting for Obama in the first place— but the fog is lifting and the rumble is growing louder. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) said recently in The Express-Star, “People are not buying these concepts that are completely foreign to America," Inhofe said. "We’re almost reaching a revolution in this country.”
But like any revolution, there will be opposition. And the liberals aren’t going down without a fight. Like never before, the animosity towards the American people and the country itself, is under attack. Bill Maher (a rabid-liberal) in an interview with Wolf Blitzer said:
BILL MAHER: I don’t know about a presidential candidate but I would never put anything past this stupid country.
…
BLITZER: So people are already complaining that you’re calling the United States a stupid country and I’m giving you a chance to clarify.
MAHER: I don’t need to clarify. It is.
As a conservative, I’ve know for years that liberals felt this way. That for some odd reason they hate the country they live in. I, for the life of me, can’t figure out why. But, if America is so stupid and ignorant, I’m sure Venezuela or Cuba or China would love to have you. Just be careful not to get trampled by all of the people leaving there for a chance for a real life here in America.
People, listen. It is only going to get worse. As the True, American voice starts to reverberate across the country, the liberals will fight it with all that is in them. And that, my friend, will be ugly and hate-filled.
We already have a president who has called the police “stupid” for arresting a black man. There is a liberal governor (N.Y.) who says he is being attacked because he is black (ABC News). Liberal pundits are calling America stupid. Liberal politicians are shoving, literally, health care reform down our throat, knowing good and well the people of America don’t want it. Not because we don’t want everyone to have health insurance, but because government run anything is a bad idea. Go ahead, cutoff the free market in America and see where that leads us. Stymie the American entrepreneurial spirit and see what happens.
As an American, are you ready to fight for what you believe in? Are you ready to, for once, take a stand and not let crack-pot, liberal theology bring down a once, great nation. Then please, let your voice be heard. Let your political leaders know how you feel. Learn how you can get involved and make a difference.
Roy Bauer
Concerned Citizen
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
The Zarbo brothers are seasoned outlaws with a reputation for killing. Already wanted in two states, they set their sights on Colorado and a string of bank robberies. They don’t count on running into Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman.
John arrests Lee Zarbo, but his brothers remain in hiding. Lee’s sentence to death by hanging incites them to desperate measures. They’ll do anything to get him out alive. Even kidnap the Chief U.S. Marshal’s daughter.
When John learns of his young daughter’s captivity and the conditions for her release, he must turn to the Lord for direction. It takes all the faith he can muster to wait for the answer. Without freeing a dangerous criminal, can John find Ginny before they kill her?
Al Lacy is an evangelist and author of more than one hundred historical and Western novels, including the Journeys of the Stranger, Angel of Mercy, and Mail Order Bride series, with more than three million books in print. JoAnna Lacy, Al’s wife and longtime collaborator, is a retired nurse. The Lacys have been married over forty years and live in the Colorado Rockies
You Can Buy The Book At: Amazon.com
royb
// August 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
If you love techie, adventure, military, guy movies or books, Meltdown is for you. From the very beginning, this book is full of adventure. With adrenaline pouring out of the pages, Meltdown seeks to take the reader on an adventure from one end of the world to the other.
The story follows an elite group of Special Ops guys (and girls) as they track down a serious, very deadly threat to the world. With traces back to Chernobyl in the Ukraine, this weapon has the potential to bring the U.S. to its knees.
I admired the writing style because the author, Chuck Holton, was able to bring adventure and excitement to the reader without becoming provocative or disgusting. In many books and movies, writers use every chance they get to include either a sex scene or a decapitation, in order to shock the readers or viewers. Chuck Holton keeps us on the edge of our seats with plenty of action to go around, and doesn’t stoop to that level.
The book is fairly short but you really have to pay attention to keep up with all that is going on. The only concern I had were the amount of characters and how often it jumped back and forth from scene to another. But, if you can keep up with it, it is well worth it.
I would suggest reading the first two books of this series, but this book does stand on its own and can be enjoyed anyway. Mr. Holton does elude back to things that happened in those books, but if you haven’t read them, like I haven’t, it won’t deter you from keeping up with this one.
Summary:
TASK FORCE VALOR
Explosive Ordnance Disposal — The Bomb Squad
The global war on terror has reached catastrophic proportions, leading the U.S. Special Operations EOD team—Task Force Valor—to Chernobyl, where ghosts of past disasters are nothing compared to the nuclear nightmare about to unfold.
With CIA Agent Mary “Phoenix” Walker heading her first Special Ops mission and Master Sergeant Bobby Sweeney fighting demons on and off the battlefield, Task Force Valor races to stop a terrorist threat in the Ukraine before Europe is turned into a radioactive wasteland.
But when the terror reaches American shores, the team is powerless to help until they can save themselves. And when they finally track down the source of the chaos, what they find is worse than anything they could have imagined.
Chuck Holton has traveled the world, experienced combat, served in the Elite 75th Ranger Regiment, and is the author of six books, including Allah’s Fire, Island Inferno, Bulletproof, Stories From a Soldier’s Heart, and A More Elite Soldier. His journeys have taken him from the depths of the Atlantic, to the mountains of Burma, from the dogsleds of Alaska, to skies of Iraq. Chuck lives in Appalachia with his wife, Connie, and their five children.
You can purchase the book at online at: Amazon.com
royb
// August 15th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized
When I first started riding a bike rather seriously, I was lucky enough that a local bike shop owner kind of took me under his wing. Not that I was any different than anyone else, he just knew that if he showed me some things there was a good chance I would keep riding and not stop, like many people do.
Well, 2 1/2 years later I’m still riding.
As I began doing longer rides and bigger group rides, two things became very obvious: I had to learn how to ride in a group and how to refuel as I rode. Paul, the bike shop owner, talked with me for a long time, numerous times, and I got the gist of it, but I still felt like something was off. He said I had to learn how to eat on a bike and how to pull (lead) on a bike.
His solution, which was fantastic and Biblical (but he doesn’t know that part) was for me to follow him. He told me to ride with him and when he eats I eat, when he drinks I drink, and when he points out something on the road, I need to take notice and learn to spot it as well.
Paul knew that talking was good but probably not the best way of communicating, so he took time out of his very busy day to literally teach me how to ride a bike properly.
On these rides, and there were a couple, I learned how to signal for a pedestrian, how to tell someone I’m slowing down, how to tell someone I’m passing someone else, how to slow down without out causing a sudden stop for the guy right on my wheel. But he also showed me how often to drink and eat and how to do it efficiently, without losing momentum. I also learned how to draft properly and how far away to be from the tire in front of me, and I learned where to draft (echelon) when the wind is blowing.
Everyone can learn these things in time by riding with groups and picking up little stuff here and there, but Paul wanted me to be the best rider I could be and the best way to do that was to have me follow him and do what he did.
It’s a Biblical Principle
God put Adam and Eve on earth and had a glorious, personal relationship with them, and they sinned. God has been trying to reestablish that relationship ever since. Through Noah, after the flood, then Abraham and then Moses with the commandments, He has given us every chance to be the people He created from the beginning. But we kept turning our backs on God and put how other people see us over our true identity. (i.e. Pharisees and Sadducees)
So, God sent His only son to earth to be the sacrificial lamb, the perfect sacrifice. And in doing so, Jesus lived on earth for 33 years dealing with heartache, abandonment, chastisement, loneliness and loved ones being sick. And through all of that, He taught (showed) us how to handle situations. And if that wasn’t enough, when he went back up to the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent to live inside of us to teach and guide us along the way.
Not only do we have the Bible to tell us what God has for us, we also have a guide that is with us 24/7 showing us as well.
Well, like I said, my bike friend Paul was teaching me a Biblical principle and didn’t even know it. If I will allow God to mold me and shape me into the person He created me to be, I will learn much faster and perhaps skip a lot of mistakes.
If I simply do as what I see Jesus do and act the way Jesus acted, I’ll be fine. And how do I know what Jesus does and how He acted…..read the Bible.
royb
// July 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
If you’ve never watched this video, do so now. It is about 11 minutes or so, but it will inspire you and possibly change you. This speech was given by Jimmy Valvano, coach of the N.C. State basketball team, during the ESPY awards in 1993. He talks about his bout with cancer and what each of us can do to live an enjoyable, passionate life.
// July 22nd, 2009 // 5 Comments » // Uncategorized
President Obama’s pick for Surgeon General is a Doctor from Alabama, Regina Benjamin. Sounds innocuous enough, but the controversy surrounding her recently is the fact that she is fairly overweight. By fairly I mean obviously. Critics have been slamming the would-be Surgeon General pick because of her weight, saying that she is unfit to tell Americans how to take care of themselves if she can’t take care of herself. Leaders, for years now, have been calling obesity in America a serious problem.
About 1980, the health and physical fitness of Americans began a downward spiral, as the rates of overweight and obesity began to climb. The nation now faces a growing public health epidemic, one that threatens the well-being of future generations. As the nation has become more urbanized, motorized, and screen-centered, an increasing number of people lead sedentary lives, and the rates of overweight and obesity continue to soar. The United States has the highest prevalence of obesity in the world. (The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports)
Those who are backing Dr. Benjamin for Surgeon General (I can’t find the article. I will post it when I find it) are saying that, because of her weight issue, she is in a better position to give advice. She can tell people about the dangers of being overweight because she struggles with it herself. Now, don’t get me wrong, but isn’t that like saying the Drug-Czar should be a heroin-addicted, drug-addict, because he understands drugs. Or like saying the local police chief should be a convicted serial-killer because he understands the criminal mind. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want to go to a marriage counselor who has been married three times.
Obviously there are many pressing health issues in America besides obesity and she may be a perfect choice for them all, but don’t give me this crap about her being in a better position because of her weight (I don’t know where she stands on any issues so this isn’t an endorsement). Just admit you like her as Surgeon General despite it, not because of it, and I’ll respect your opinion much more.
So What
Now, what does this have to do with expectations of political leaders?
I remember in elementary school, being given some kind of President’s Physical Fitness Award –I don’t remember the exact title. But during P.E. we had certain things we had to do –pull-ups, sit-ups, etc..— in order to get this award. And it would have been weird to me for the President to ask all of us kids to be active if he wasn’t. Now, I was young and don’t remember if President Reagan was a very active man, but at his age he must have been in order to do the job of President.
I also don’t know whether the first President Bush was very active or not. But I do remember when Clinton jogged to McDonalds, and the infamous CigarGate, so I don’t think Clinton was all that health conscious. The second President Bush was very active and took his health extremely serious. To my knowledge, he didn’t drink or smoke and was either riding a bike or running every chance he got. Now with Obama as President I don’t know what his stance or views will be towards a healthy lifestyle. I know he smokes and drinks, now how much, who knows, but that is different than our last president. He and his family look to be in good shape, so we’ll see.
I say all of that to ask this: What do we expect out of our leaders? Do we expect them to be good role models? And then, what is a good role model? What do we want or not want them to do? Do we care whether or not the president or surgeon general or governor are obese or an alcoholic? Do we want our leaders to be monogamous? Do we care if he/she has a fling on the side as long as they are good at their job?
Do we treat our political leaders differently than we do our employees or co-workers? What if the top salesman in a large company was obese, do you think he would be fired? Of course not. How about if he was cheating on his wife? Nope, the company would care less as long as he is producing great results.
So, why do we expect so much of our leaders in office? And should we? Do the moral and “life” choices leaders make, give an indication of what kind of person they are?
I’m not going to reveal my opinion just yet…I want to hear from you. I’ll post again soon and finish this conversation.
royb
// July 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
Holy Roller, by Julie Lyons, was a fantastic book. I didn’t know what to expect when I opened the book, but it was clear from the start, that this book was special. Having grown up in Pentecostal circles, this book hit right at home.
Throughout Holy Roller, I kept thinking this must be some kind of fiction. I was waiting for the punch line. But, luckily, this was a true “I call it as I see it” story from a writer sharing from her heart. The way the book is told from a personal experience, as opposed to just writing about something she’s never been through, kept me wanting to read more. She bares her soul throughout the book, even the dirty little secrets that she hoped, at the time, no one would ever find out.
The book chronicles her relationship with Christ, her job, her family, her church and her marriage. She holds nothing back, that I could tell, and gives us a bird’s-eye-view of how she dealt with each.
I highly recommend the book to everyone. This book is about Missions, loving people who most people won’t, sticking with a church even though it is hard, race relations, dealing with inner conflict, finding out where God wants you, and most of all, watching as God shows himself faithful in every situation, even though it may not be obvious at the time.
I recommend you buy this book and read it. You can buy it at Random House.
Summary:
Julie Lyons was working as a crime reporter when she followed a hunch into the South Dallas ghetto. She wasn’t hunting drug dealers, but drug addicts who had been supernaturally healed of their addictions. Was there a church in the most violent part of the city that prayed for addicts and got results?
At The Body of Christ Assembly, a rundown church on an out-of-the-way street, Lyons found the story she was looking for. The minister welcomed criminals, prostitutes, and street people–anyone who needed God. He prayed for the sick, the addicted, and the demon-possessed, and people were supernaturally healed.
Lyons’s story landed on the front page of the Dallas Times Herald. But she got much more than just a great story, she found an unlikely spiritual home. Though the parishioners at The Body of Christ Assembly are black and Pentecostal, and Lyons is white and from a traditional church background, she embraced their spirituality–that of “the Holy Ghost and fire.”
It’s all here in Holy Roller–the stories of people desperate for God’s help. And the actions of a God who doesn’t forget the people who need His power.
Biography:
Julie Lyons is an award-winning writer, editor and investigative reporter who for more than 11 years served as editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer, an alternative weekly newspaper owned by Village Voice Media. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a B.A. in English from Seattle Pacific University. She and her husband, Larry Lyons Jr., live in Dallas with their son.
// June 9th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized
There are some things that I hear that affect me deep down inside. This is one of them.
Written by Gary Lamb of Revolution Church in Georgia, this letter is from a man broken by his own sin. I’ve read it a couple of times. And each time, it tears me up. Keep this guy, his wife and kids and ALL “church” leaders in your prayers.
royb
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