Presidential Signature

The other day as we were digging through a box of papers and objects pertaining to my early childhood, we came across this baseball ticket. We all knew it existed before we found it, but its whereabouts had been unknown for a while, and I was excited to rediscover it.

My dad told me that I probably wasn't at the Rangers game (I was only a year old), but he got these two signatures while there. The one, of course, is that of our current President and former Governor, George W. Bush. The other is from someone who has since been forgotten; some TV announcer or something.

And why was Mr. Bush at a Rangers game in 1991? Why, he was part owner of the team then, back before the Ballpark was built and they played in Arlington Stadium. Apparently he had the best seat in the stadium, but even so, my dad said he was probably more excited about getting the other person's autograph than Mr. Bush's!

The rest, of course, is history. In 1994 he was elected Governor of Texas, and in 2000 he was elected President. I can't help but think he's probably gotten a few gray hairs since he had such a laid-back job as General Partner for the Rangers, since he's had a particularly tough time being President (a bit more than he bargained for, I guess you could say). I'm sure he's looking forward to retiring!

By the way, I was quite glad to find out that the Rangers won that night (amazing what you can find on the internet). Also, you may be interested in comparing this autograph to another, which he signed as President. Just think! This ticket might be valuable!

Samson and the Nazarite Vow

As we study the book of Judges, there are many different accounts concerning the men and (one) woman whom God chose to be judges. Perhaps the most intriguing and unique of these is that of Samson, a man who was under the Nazarite vow from the time of his birth, and who possessed immensely great strength. Before we examine the life of Samson, however, it is fitting that we first study to learn more about this "Nazarite vow".

The word "Nazarite" comes from the Hebrew language and means "one who abstains", or "one who is set apart". The Nazarite vow was a part of the Old Law which bound the one who took it to a certain code of rules. A Nazarite was a person who was especially holy, or set apart by God, and was to abstain from certain things.

A reading of Numbers chapter six gives the things that a Nazarite was to do, which are: abstaining from any part of the grape vine (whether grapes, wine, or anything else), not allowing their hair to be cut, and avoiding dead bodies at all costs.

Among the Israelites, being a Nazarite was not usually a permanent lifestyle. Also in Numbers, we read that when one's time as a Nazarite had been completed, they were to shave their head and throw the hair into the fire. Samson, however, was an interesting exception to this rule. When the Angel of the Lord informed his parents of his coming birth, he told them that Samson would be "a Nazarite from his mother's womb". Thus, as Samson was born and began to grow up, he was never to cut his hair.

Having seen the requirements set by God to those who were consecrated as Nazarites, it is a worthy question to ask, "How well did Samson live up to this standard?" As far as can be ascertained about his life from the scriptures, Samson did not partake of anything pertaining to the vine, and until he told his secret to Delilah, his hair had not been touched by a razor. However, we can clearly tell that Samson, at times, defiled himself with the dead, as we read of all the men he slew, and also of him retrieving a honeycomb from a lion's carcass. In spite of this, however, we must remember that God used Samson to His purposes, in beginning to deliver Israel from the Philistines.

In order to accomplish this work which Samson was to do, God endowed him with incredible physical strength, and it is for this that Samson is most known. With this God-given ability, he was able to break strong bonds, kill men and beasts, and pull up entire city gates. He was truly a strong man, but he had his weaknesses as well, which ultimately led to his downfall.

It began when he was in Timnath and saw a daughter of the Philistines who "pleased him well." What he was doing in Timnath, the scriptures do not tell, but as it turned out, he married the woman, despite his parents' protests. The marriage did not even last the duration of the week-long wedding feast, during which time he posed a riddle which ended in his new wife being given to another man.

Later on we find Samson in Gaza with a harlot, and then later with a treacherous woman named Delilah, who, with persistence, was finally able to extract from him the reason for his great strength, and how to destroy it. When Samson finally told her that he would become weak if his hair were cut, she brought in a man to do this as he slept.

When Delilah cried out "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" he leapt up with the words "I will go out as before".

Although Samson had spoken truth when he told Delilah how he could be made weak, it seems that he himself hardly believed it. Samson had forgotten the source of his great strength—God—and was handed over to the Philistines as a weak man.

Although the Lord saw fit to restore Samson's strength one last time before he died, Samson still dwelt on himself as he prayed that he might have vengeance for his eyes which the Philistines had put out.

In closing, we may note that although Samson was often selfish and certainly not perfect, he performed the function God had for him using the strength God had granted. May we always seek to be useful in the Kingdom of God as we strive to be God's humble servants.

This is my first-place essay from the Bible Search in Austin. The lack of scripture references is due to the essay being timed and close-book.

The Rightful Name Restored

I heard on the radio this morning that they have officially renamed the Texas Rangers' stadium—again. It was three years ago, so I hear, that they applied the name Ameriquest Field to the ballpark, entering in a contract with an insurance company with that name. Despite the opposition by fans and players alike, they have kept the name, until just recently. They even put a gigantic bell in the stadium that rang when a home run was hit.

Happily, the ballpark now has its old name back again, The Ballpark in Arlington. This is the name by which I have always called it, and I am glad to see them bring it back again, despite the fact that I'm a rather unfaithful fan. I don't think I've even been to a Rangers' game since they changed the name, and it's been ages since I watched one on TV (although it's tough when you don't have a TV). Nevertheless, I am still a baseball fan at heart, and I will forever root for the Rangers.

Charge!

Read article: It's now Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

Evangeline

This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,
Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic,
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.
Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean
Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest.

This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath it
Leaped like the roe, when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman
Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers,--
Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands,
Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven?
Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers forever departed!
Scattered like dust and leaves, when the mighty blasts of October
Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them far o'er the ocean
Naught but tradition remains of the beautiful village of Grand-Pré.

Ye who believe in affection that hopes, and endures, and is patient,
Ye who believe in the beauty and strength of woman's devotion,
List to the mournful tradition still sung by the pines of the forest;
List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy.

Of late I have been reading the poetry of Henry Longfellow, a renowned American poet of the nineteenth century, and for school I have also been reading Edmund Spenser's The Fairie Queene, as well as Milton's Paradise Lost. Although previously I was not much of one for poetry, after having read so much of it and having learned the mechanics of it, I have found that I've actually acquired a taste for classic poetry. This afternoon I finished reading Longfellow's poem Evangeline, and it was so good that I thought I ought to share it with the world.

First of all, I must advise you that it is written in free verse, i.e. without rhyme or meter. Although I have long contended that all respectable poetry has rhyme, I have since changed my view. Free verse is not any better or worse than other types of poetry, it's just a different style. Also, Evangeline is a lot longer than most poems you may have read, since it is narrative poetry, a poem that tells a story. Nevertheless, it is much less intimidating than the aforementioned poems by Spenser and Milton, the former of which takes up several books. Evangeline has only two parts, each part having five sections.

Rhyming and length aside, the poem itself is really outstanding. Longfellow graced it with amazing imagery and great narrative, and I must admit that I had no idea how the poem would end up until I came to the last part (I take this to be a sign that it was very well-written). Although I do not wish to tell much of the story for fear of spoiling it, I will mention that it concerns the French-speaking Acadians who once lived in what is now Nova Scotia, and who were driven from their homes in a mass exodus by the English. Many ended up in Louisiana, thus giving that part of the country its French heritage. The story begins with an Acadian girl named Evangeline becoming engaged to her lover Gabriel. Soon thereafter, however, they are separated in the exile, and although superficially the story may seem similar to Manzoni's The Betrothed, it contains a totally different series of events. I shall say no more, so that no more of the story may be given away than necessary.

In closing, I hope that my blogging may not be in vain, and that you will read Evangeline. You've already read the prologue, and the rest of it is really not that long. Plus, it's in the public domain, so you can read it for free online! I hope that you will do so, as it is an excellent tale and one which at its writing reminded many of the exile of the Acadians, which had nearly been forgotten.

The Errant Minstrel

Through the countryside I've trodden
Crossing every wood and dale,
Oft my weary feet are sodden
When a stream doth meet my trail.

Since my wand'rings brought me hither
And I sit here in your hall,
I shall now bring forth my zither,
And I pray you, hearken all.

I shall sing of times now past,
Of the puissant kings of yore.
Of their treasure great amass'd
Of their chivalry, and more.

May the tale I sing belike you,
Lords and ladies of this hall.
And if 'tis so, I pray you,
Please take notice of your thrall.

Poet's note: My sister has suggested that I lengthen this poem and add to it the minstrel's song. Do you think I ought to do this, or should I consider it finished?

Texas Independence Day

Today, March 2nd, is Texas Independence Day. It was on this day in 1836 that the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed at Washington-on-the-Brazos, while the Alamo was under siege in San Antonio. Although Texas was not actually freed from Mexico at that moment, this date marked the Texians' final decision to pursue independence instead of Mexican statehood.

Although a great number of Texans nowadays do not know about this holiday, it is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the history of our great state. Why not fly a Texas flag today, or set off fireworks?

'Twas 171 long years ago that the Texas Revolution was being fought, and although it's been more than 160 years since Texas has been an independent country, there still exists an independent spirit among Texans which sets us apart from the rest of the Union. Let's not forget our heritage. Be patriotic! Celebrate Texas Independence Day!

For more information about Texas Independence Day, visit CelebrateTexas.org. To find out more about Texas history, visit the Lone Star Junction and the Handbook of Texas Online.