Cherryholmes Coming to Maytown!

Bluegrass Music's most dynamic group Cherryholmes will be in concert Monday, August 17 at 7:30 PM at the Fellowship Hall at Maytown Baptist Church (Mapquest Location). The concert will benefit the Maytown Fire Department and tickets may be purchased online at their website.
Cherryholmes is a family group, profiled several times on Musings from Maytown. This family group was rated as Bluegrass Group of the Year in 2005 by the International Bluegrass Music Association, has received multiple Grammy nominations, and appears regularly on the Grand Ol' Opry.
Below you will hear Sumatra, which received a Grammy nomination for Country Instrumental Song of the Year.

Musings from Maytown on Birmingham Area Radio

As Editor of Musings from Maytown, this writer was interviewed today by Cheryl Ringette Ciamarra for Focus on Life Radio, a weekly broadcast each Sunday afternoon at 2:30 PM on WXJC 850 AM. Ms. Ciamarra and I discussed the current Health Care Package proposed by the Obama Administration.
Readers of Musings from Maytown would do well to check out the work of Focus on Life ministries. This effort is a public policy group, focusing on pro-life activities. The interviewees of this broadcast sound like an all-star list of pro-life activists.

Farewell, Gene Amondson... See You Again!

This past week, Gene Amondson, a dear friend and regular reader of Musings from Maytown, passed into eternity. Gene Amondson was, as Reader's Digest would say, my most unforgettable character..
Gene Amondson was raised and made his life on Vashon Island near Seattle, Washington. Born into a family filled with ministers, Gene attended Warner Pacific College and then Asbury Theological Seminary in preparation for his life as a Church of God (Anderson, IN) minister.
But Gene's primary ministry was fighting alcohol. An admirer of the well-known Evangelist Billy Sunday, Gene Amondson traveled the country reenacting the famous Billy Sunday sermon on Booze. On two occasions, I arranged for Gene to tour Alabama giving the Billy Sunday sermon on Booze.
Amondson caught the attention of the Prohibition Party, the third oldest political party in America, who asked Gene to run for President on the Prohibition ticket. Not normally interested in politics, Gene used the Prohibition candidacy as a platform to fight alcohol. As a result, Gene Amondson was interviewed on network television, nationwide radio, and even international venues-- all involving his opposition to alcohol. Television interviewers would often compare Gene's appearance to that of Vice President Dick Cheney.
Gene Amondson was also known for his water-color paintings, his unique wood carvings, his children's stories, his ministry with singles groups, and his pie making. In fact, Gene Amondson authored a book of pie recipes that may be downloaded from his website.
Gene Amondson spread a lot of love around this world. Gene could disagree with you and laugh with you about the disagreement. Gene truly cared about people who had a need and would make friends whenever he could. In June, Gene had me speak to a gathering of the Prohibition Party and we had wonderful fellowship together.
This week, with his four children at his bed side, Gene Amondson bid farewell to this world of cares. His four children include an actress daughter and a movie producing son. All four are successful in their respective fields.
This Saturday afternoon, July 25, Gene's funeral was held in Vashon Island, Washington. I regret that I could not attend, but not to worry. One day, I expect to see my friend Gene Amondson in Heaven where we will enjoy good times again.
I hope you will check out the Gene Amondson website and also the Gene Amondson Videos on YouTube.

Common Sense and Common Ground

This week, a conservative ally was verbally challenged for supporting a candidate who had support from some less-than-conservative sources. The challenger could not understand the alliance with a candidate who had support from someone other than a sound thinking conservative. In particular, the individual candidate was criticized for receiving an award from an environmental group.
Let's stop there for a moment. Former Baldwin County District Attorney David Whetstone was a solid conservative and one of the most effective prosecutors in Alabama history. When a local industry was pouring pollution into local waters, Whetstone worked to bring the industry into compliance and clean the local waters. However, when Whetstone considered a statewide run, conservatives attacked Whetstone and compared him to the globalist environmentalist movement, attempting to link Whetstone to efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency to control the rights of landowners, all because Whetstone made a local company stop pouring waste into public waters.
Kim Rafferty is a local neighborhood activist who worked to deal with neighborhood issues involving the Birmingham Airport. Rafferty, focused on neighborhood issues, received an award from the Sierra Club, the best known among environmentalist groups. Now that Rafferty is a candidate for Birmingham City Council and has received some conservative criticism, linking her efforts to the New World Order agenda of certain environmentalists. Support for global socialism is far from the thinking of Kim Rafferty, who just cared about her neighborhood's quality of life.
Musings from Maytown would plead with fellow conservatives to learn two principles:
First, let's use common sense. Local concerns are often different from national concern. Someone who supports public funding of a local fire department is not the same as one who supports national health care. As Libertarian thinker Steve Gordon pointed out, someone who volunteers to clean up a local river is not the same as someone who supports the EPA's land grab efforts.
Secondly, learn the lesson of common ground.. Sometimes, we disagree with an individual on one issue, but agree on others. Take the pro-life issue as an example. This writer is uncompromisingly pro-life. This week, a group of pro-life Democrats wrote US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging that she withdraw abortion coverage from the proposed health care legislation. While I might disagree on economic policy with these pro-life Democrats, I can stand with them on the pro-life issues.
Conservatives will never accomplish anything if we don't build coalitions on issues. If we insist on one-hundred percent agreement on every issue, we will never win on any of these issues. I will work hard with my Libertarian friends to fight higher taxes and big government, but may not stand with them on certain social issues. I can cheer on a pro-life Democrat, but oppose their support for big government.
Conservatives will be successful in the political arena when we learn the principles of common sense and common ground.

A Romantic Walk through Avondale Park

Recently, my wife and I had business in Avondale, a community just Southeast of downtown Birmingham. After our visit, we stopped at Avondale Park and enjoyed a nice walk through that historic park. Avondale Park is a long-standing Birmingham landmark.
Prior to the establishment of Birmingham, the Avondale community was known as King's Spring as residents clustered around the spring which ran from a cave in the area now known as Avondale Park. Likely the only blood shed in Jefferson County, during the War Between the States took place at the site of Kings Spring. Union soldiers were watering their horses at the spring, and Confederate troops fired upon them and drove them away. The wife of Jefferson County Sheriff Abner Killough was shot in the breast by a stray bullet as she watched the skirmish from her front porch.
The Birmingham Zoo was once located at Avondale Park. in the 1960s and 70s, Avondale Park became the closest experience Birmingham had to the hippie culture as rock concerts were held and Avondale Park became the center of the hip culture in the Birmingham area as young people would make weekend treks to hang out at Avondale Park. Ampng the concerts was a 1969 concert by the Allman Brothers.
Today, a beautiful lake remains as the center of Avondale Park. Behind the park is a large amphitheater, still a place for concerts, including the annual Birmingham Folk Festival, held each Fall. Also, the Avondale Park Arts Alliance conducts an annual Art in Avondale Park festival, to be held this year on Saturday, October 31.
But on a daily basis, you find romantically inclined couples strolling through the park, ducks alternating between the lake and the sidewalks, and laid-back citizens fishing in the lake. Adjoining ball fields are regularly used, including regular soccer games in the large field. A late afternoon walk through Avondale Park with the sun reflecting off the lake, is as peaceful and serene as any scene this writer has experienced in any urban setting.

Musings from Maytown Readers Divided on Sarah Palin's Future

Will Sarah Palin run for President in 2012? Readers of Musings from Maytown are divided on this issue. Forty-one (54%) say that Gov. Palin will run for President in 2012 while thirty-four (46%) do not believe that Palin will run for President.
Frankly, Musings from Maytown has observed constant attacks from the mainstream media on Governor Palin. In my lifetime, I have seen the mainstream media unleash unmerciful attacks on three national candidates-- Gov. George C. Wallace ('64, '68,'72, & '76), Pat Buchanan ('92, '96, and '00) and then Gov. Sarah Palin in the 2008 election and the time since that election. Gov. Palin told the truth that her administration in Alaska has been paralyzed by lawsuits and media attacks.
Frankly, this writer does not expect to see Gov. Palin run for national office. The next few years will find Sarah Palin campaigning for conservative candidates, speaking on network news, and raising her children back home in Alaska.
Sarah Palin connected with the common voter, was a true believing conservative, and was a threat to the establishment. This country and our political scene are worse off for losing Gov. Palin as a national figure.

Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin!

John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 in Noyan, France. At the age of twelve, Calvin started training for the priesthood. Eventually, Calvin finished his theological training and eventually earned a law degree as well. Calvin's legal training served him well in his application of the principles of logic to theology.
In 1533, Calvin befriended Nicholas Cop, Rector of the College Royal in Paris. Later, Cop was branded as a heretic by the Roman Church for calling for reform within the Church. Cop fled France for Basel and, after anonymous attacks appeared on the Mass, Calvin joined Cop in Basel. The result of the brewing controversy led toward Calvin writing the Institutes of Christian Religion.
Calvin's influence still stands like a tall redwood in the forest, a tower of biblical fidelity, a solid rock on the doctrine of justification by faith. Calvin's legacy remains with us in several areas:
1) Calvin's theological legacy remains with us in his emphasis on the sovereignty of God, salvation by grace alone, and reliance only upon on Scripture for our teaching. One must realize that evangelical Christians today lean much on the emphases that came from the Reformation. Even those who resist any tie to Calvin's legacy must realize that without men like Calvin, we would not be familiar with the carefully formulated theology of salvation by faith. The Reformation was a mighty move of God.
2) Calvin's legacy in government was a break from the tyrannical governments that dominated the middle ages. Men like John Knox, the Puritans, the Pilgrims, all had strong influence from Calvin's Institutes. While Calvin did not move on to a Constitutional Republic, one must see that Calvin's influence did move toward allowing a stronger voice of the people and the importance of law as the foundation of liberty.Calvin wrote on economics, politics, the relation of government to Church, and made positive contributions in the gradual adoption of the principles of constitutional government in the Western world.
3) Calvin's emphasis on missions and evangelism served to spread the message of the Reformation. Calvin had a key role in training the Moravians, one of the greatest missionary movements in history. Hundreds of men were sent forth from Calvin's Geneva as bearers of the Gospel. Literally thousands of churches were founded from the mission work and evangelism that came forth from Calvin's influence. For a survey of Calvin's missionary influence, you can read more in this article by Ray Van Neste.
Granted, as a Baptist, this writer would not agree with every detail of Calvin's theology. But only a fool would scoff at the positive influence that has come to the Church of the Lord Jesus through the influence and ministry of John Calvin. Further information may be found at: 1. Calvin 2009
2. Calvin 500 Blog
3. Calvin 500 Resources
So, Happy Birthday, John Calvin!

Report on July 4 Tea Party in Birmingham

Musings from Maytown editor John Killian had the privilege of speaking to 3,000 at the Verizon Wireless Center at Oak Mountain for the July 4 Tea Party. The Birmingham Rally was emceed by radio talk show hosts Matt Murphy and Lee Davis. While named after the Boston Tea Party in 1773, where American patriots protested an unjust tea tax, the 2009 Tea Party movement uses TEA for the acronym Taxed Enough Already.
Millions gathered in Tea Party rallies across these United States on Tax Day April 15. This writer had the grand opportunity to speak to the April 15 rally in Montgomery to a grand audience of 2,500.
The Tea Party movement has given hope to this writer that the grassroots citizens are waking up and rising against the wave of socialism .
The founders of this country began with the intent of the states governing themselves on most matters. The federal government was not established with the intention of being the dominant force in our economy. Thomas Jefferson stated that a government large enough to provide what you want is also large enough to take away what you have. Working Americans are now paying an inordinate amount of paychecks to fund an oversized and out-of-control government.
Join with the Tea Party movement and demand that government cut back to the size as prescribed and limited by the US Constitution.

Musings from Maytown Readers Say NO to Cap and Trade

By a margin of 61-6 (91%), the well-informed readers of Musings from Maytown are now on record opposing President Obama's Cap and Trade legislation which could add tremendously to energy costs here in these United States. The Tax Foundation report claims that Cap and Trade legislation will add $1,145 in costs per family per year or 6.2% of the average income of the typical working family. Consider Phyllis Schaffly's article on Cap and Trade. Also, check out the Alabama Eagle Forum information on Cap and Trade.Cap and Trade legislation deals with carbon emissions as a cause of global warming. Musings from Maytown has opined that the entire theory on global warming is the greatest fraud foisted upon this generation.
Also, check out this five minute video by Congressman Ron Paul on the issue of the current Cap and Trade legislation. This bill passed the US House. Readers of Musings from Maytown should contact their respective US Senators to urge opposition to this great leap toward socialism.

Come to the Tea Party!!

In April of this year, millions of Americans gathered in Tea Party rallies to address the issue of a growing government with increased burdens on American taxpayers. This writer was privileged to speak to 2,500 Alabamians at the Montgomery Tea Party at the State Capitol. Frankly, these rallies have encouraged me to believe that the citizens of this country, with a heritage of defending liberty, will rise up and defeat the horrendous move toward socialism.
Tomorrow, July 4, Musings from Maytown will be represented as this writer speaks to the Birmingham Tea Party rally at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Oak Mountain in Pelham. Please come to this rally and, as Governor Wallace used to say, let's shake the eyeteeth of the liberals. Here is the schedule for the Alabama Tea Parties:
Florence . Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m., Veteran's Park, Shelter #2
Huntsville . Saturday, July 4, 7 p.m., Jaycee Fairgrounds on Airport Rd.
Priceville/Decatur . Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Celebration Arena, Highway 67
Boaz . The Marshall county Tea Party will be held on July 4th between 2-4 at the Boaz fairgrounds located on Hwy 431. Stan Stinson 256 572 9868
Birmingham . Saturday, July 4, The Verizon Music Center, Pelham, Al 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Speakers begin at 7:30 PM
DeKalb Ft. Payne City Park July 4 Noon
Speakers: James, Jay Holland and Ken Busby
Patriotic Music: Payto n Sells, Jill Burt and Hunter Wright
Montgomery . Saturday, July 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.at Overlook Park on Bell Street
Priceville/Decatur . Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Celebration Arena, Highway 67
Wetumpka . Saturday, September 5, time to be announced, Gold Star Park, Shelby Street, downtown

Report on Alabama GOP Dinner

Last Friday, the Alabama Republican Party held it's semi-annual State dinner at the Sheraton Civic Center in Birmingham. My daughter and I were the guests of Jefferson County's outstanding female legislator, Pat Moore of District 15. Musings from Maytown certainly hopes to see this consistent conservative re-elected. An enthusiastic crowd greeted syndicated columnist Cal Thomas who held Republicans responsible for reneging on the Reagan agenda that made the GOP the majority party. Cal Thomas challenged the Alabama Republicans to hold to a limited-government agenda, to continue espousing pro-family values, and to be true to a strong national defense. This writer appreciated Thomas' holding of Reagan as the model for Republican success, a theme often advocated at Musings from Maytown. Several tidbits of information to report are:
* Tim James worked the crowd to a positive response. Among other gubernatorial candidates, Dr. Robert Bentley was pressing the flesh, Bradley Byrne was welcoming guests, Judge Roy Moore was absent, and Kay Ivey appeared to be ignored by the guests of the evening. However, this biased writer believes that Tim James received the warmest welcome among the party activists.
* Other statewide candidates present were: US Senator Richard Shelby, pictured here with conservative student Sarah Killian; Senator Hank Erwin, candidate for Lt. Govenor; millionaire lobbyist Luther Strange, candidate for Attorney General; Supreme Court Justices Tom Parker and Mike Bolin, both up for re-election; Judge Tommy Bryan, the outstanding member of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals; well-respected Appeals Court Judge Kelli Wise, also a candidate for Alabama Supreme Court:newly-appointed Criminal Appeals Court Judge Jim Main; John McMillian and Dorman Grace, both candidates for Commissioner of Agriculture. While others may have been present, these were observed personally by Musings from Maytown.
* The enthusiasm is high, on part of Republican activists. Party leadership has been successful in raising funds, in anticipation of taking the Alabama legislature in 2010,
* The consensus seems to be that Republicans will win as the explicitly conservative party. By trying to out-promise the Democrats, Republicans will look stupid and continue their downward slide.
This writer has been calling himself a former Republican, but a few more speeches like we heard from Cal Thomas, and I might be willing to wear the tag again.

Gov. Sarah Palin Steps Down as Alaska Governor

Today, Governor Sarah Palin stepped down as Governor of Alaska. Already, pundits are speculating on her motives for the resignation. On FOX News, Bill Kristol has described this move as a politically savvy move. However, NBC's Andrea Mitchell cites sources, close to the Palin family, that Sarah Palin and her family are weary of politics and will not run for any office, ever again!
Frankly, after listening to Gov. Palin's resignation speech, I agree with Andrea Mitchell. This fine lady has lived with her family in the spotlight, with her family ridiculed, with her honesty questioned. I would not blame Sarah Palin if she told the entire mainstream media to immediately depart to the realm of the damned. Watch this interview and vote in the accompanying poll.
The news media operates like a pack of bloodhounds, just waiting to pounce on every small move that might attract controversy. We see individuals tried and convicted in the media. We find personal matters turned over and brought out for public ridicule.
America is the worse if Sarah Palin is off the scene.
This writer believes that the McCain campaign saw Sarah Palin as a winner, then panicked when they found that she was a true Reagan Conservative. While I believe we have seen the last of this grand lady, I would seriously consider supporting Sarah Palin if she ever does run for President.

Bachus Honored for Opposition to Internet Gambling

My favorite patriots are my libertarian friends. Conservatives must remember, as Ronald Reagan stated, that libertarianism is the heart of conservatism. When asked, I often state that I am 90-95% libertarian. But occasionally, an issue comes along that accentuates my differences with some of my libertarian friends. I say some, because some would agree on this issue. The great free-marketer Adam Smith felt that a free society could not tolerate gambling. Gambling is the antithesis to free enterprise, since the entire motive behind gambling is to abuse another by taking advantage of the weakness of a gambler. The free enterprise system is built on initiative, investment, and labor. Gambling exploits one's greed in an ill-determined manner.
In recent years, college campuses have experienced an epidemic of young students who jeopardize their future to cover gambling debts acquired through internet gambling. Gambling through the internet is easily accessible and tends to capture the mind. Remember, Romans 13 defines the government's role as that of keeping a sinful heart from blossoming into sinful actions that harm others. Hence, I support efforts to cripple internet gambling. While I respect the rights of states to determine their own gambling laws, I would believe that federal legislation has a right to deal with internet gambling, since the internet cannot be regulated within a state.
Alabama Congressman Spencer Bachus has been instrumental in legislation passed, under a Republican Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, that has severely crippled internet gambling, reducing this scourge by three-fourths. Legislation to repeal the Bachus-supported legislation failed by one vote in the House Committee. Congressman Bachus is to be commended for his work on this effort.
On Monday, June 29, a group of Alabama Baptists and other concerned conservatives met at Samford University to honor Congressman Bachus for his work on legislation on internet gambling. Barrett Duke of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission spoke of Bachus' leadership on the important issue of internet gambling. Musings from Maytown was privileged to be one of two media outlets invited to cover this event. We are pleased to express support for Congressman Bachus in his efforts to end the blight of internet gambling. This writer is pictured here with Congressman Bachus.