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By Tony Farkas

I’ve tried at least four times to read “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens.

Originally, I wanted to become a bit snobbish by being able to spout lines from the classics.

I soon found, though, that the classics weren’t my cup of tea, and I felt, somewhere in my tiny lizard brain, that I didn’t fit in with a certain crowd.

What I found was that a couple of pages of comparisons wasn’t worth slogging through, but it does aptly describe what I was thinking then, and what our country is going through now.

Anyone paying attention to the social structure of our country will see that there are two camps, and neither want to be part of the other. What we’re also seeing, though, is that there also are two tiers of people — those in favor and those not.

Take, for instance, the different ways that the criminal investigations are being handled between the son of the current president and former president Donald Trump.

In the case of the former, there has been mounting evidence that has been available for years of — we’ll be careful and say alleged — drug use, security issues and influence peddling. There’s even a laptop, and access to a witness who offers credible evidence.

For the latter, Democratic operatives, at the behest of Hilary Clinton, created a document that accused Trump of everything including inventing cancer of the puppy, none of which was true, but nevertheless used to harass the man.

Trump has been impeached twice for the thinnest of implied malfeasance, but in the case of President Biden, there exists and institutional blindness and apathy toward any type of investigation.

Consider this: Trump has been indicted by special counsel for mishandling government documents following a raid on his home in Florida. However, documents from Biden have been found in three different locations, with not even a blink from the FBI or Secret Service.

Further, now that a judge tossed a plea deal for Hunter Biden, the attorney who had negotiated the deal, which would have granted immunity on any other charge that could crop up, has been named as a special counsel that will investigate the alleged business dealings that may or may not have included the president.

While these are egregious, they are not the only examples: people are being investigated for not paying their taxes, but tax cheats like Al Sharpton are still given a pass — there’s nothing I’ve seen or heard saying he’s paid back the $10 million in back taxes he owes, much less been prosecuted for the lapse.

So, this is the best of times for the liberal elite, but the worst of times for anyone not considered part of that clique. Those with the wisdom to embrace the dichotomy win, while the rest of us descend into foolishness for believing that the system isn’t rigged.

I look on with incredulity that half the country believes that the country is even remotely fair.

There’s even more incredulity to go around, since even in the smallest way, light is being shined on the disparity, yet so many want to remain in darkness because it seems better to go along to get along.

To be fair, all laws and programs must be available to all, and all breaches of law must be treated equally as fair, without any special dispensation for any race, class or creed, or all of it is meaningless.

We can weather the winter of despair and enger the spring of hope.

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By Jim Powers
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In a recent interview on NPR’s "All Things Considered", Christianity Today’s editor Russell Moore voiced concerns over the direction in which American evangelicalism seems to be headed.

Moore resigned as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in May 2021 over the Convention’s mishandling of an increasing number of scandals within the Convention.

His words and the stories he shared with NPR are a distressing harbinger for a faith tradition rooted deeply in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians must now confront an uncomfortable question: Is there a growing disconnect between foundational Christian teachings and the beliefs of contemporary evangelical Christians?

Moore reports a worrying trend, where pastors, citing teachings directly from the Sermon on the Mount, are met with skepticism from their own congregations. This skepticism isn't merely based on theological differences or scriptural interpretations, though. Rather, they are confronted with accusations of spouting "liberal talking points," which raises an uncomfortable possibility. Have the teachings of Jesus, teachings central to Christian identity, become politicized to the point where they are dismissed based on partisanship?

The really scary part, though, is the response that follows when these pastors remind their accusers that they are quoting Jesus directly. Instead of introspection or acknowledgment, the teachings are labeled as "weak" or "outdated." These reactions are not merely disagreements on scriptural interpretation; they illustrate a complete misunderstanding of the essence of Christianity.

The Sermon on the Mount, with admonitions by Jesus such as "turn the other cheek," are the core of Christian compassion, humility, and love. These teachings serve as a moral compass, intended to guide Christians in their interpersonal relationships and dealings with the wider world. When Evangelical congregations dismiss such fundamental teachings of Jesus, we must question whether contemporary evangelicalism has completely lost its way.

The current cultural and political landscape of the U.S. is badly polarized. Faith, unfortunately, has not been immune to this division. When biblical teachings and political ideologies become intwined, there's a real danger that Jesus’ message gets overshadowed by worldly concerns. Moore's observations are a reminder that this disturbing confluence is not theoretical. It is occurring in evangelical congregations today.

Moore believes that what is crucial now is dialogue. If there's a perceived chasm between traditional Christian teachings and contemporary beliefs, it's vital for the evangelical community to engage in open, constructive conversations about the direction in which they're headed. This is not merely a theological debate but a profound exploration of identity and purpose.

If there’s a silver lining to Moore's revelations, it’s that they’ve brought a critical issue into the open. Now, theologians, pastors, and believers at large must address it. A return to the basics, a re-examination of what it means to be a follower of Christ in today's world, is overdue.

For those outside the evangelical church, Moore's concerns provide an opportunity for broader societal discussion. In a time when political and ideological lines seem intractably drawn, maybe we can all take some time to think about our own beliefs, values, and biases. If foundational teachings from one of the world's major religions can be so easily dismissed due to contemporary biases, it begs the question about what other timeless truths and values we, as a society, are overlooking or discarding?

Moore's cautionary tales from the pulpit should concern all of us, whether we are evangelical Christians or not. They are a stark reminder that in an age of rapid change and polarization, it's more important than ever to anchor ourselves in values that promote unity, understanding, and compassion.

For the evangelical community and society at large, the only path forward must be to bridge divides and seek common ground, especially in matters of faith.

If Jesus’ “liberal bias” is surprising to you, I suggest that you actually read that book you profess to follow.

Jim Powers writes opinion articles. The views expressed are those of his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

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By Tony Farkas

I’ve tried at least four times to read “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens.

Originally, I wanted to become a bit snobbish by being able to spout lines from the classics.

I soon found, though, that the classics weren’t my cup of tea, and I felt, somewhere in my tiny lizard brain, that I didn’t fit in with a certain crowd.

What I found was that a couple of pages of comparisons wasn’t worth slogging through, but it does aptly describe what I was thinking then, and what our country is going through now.

Anyone paying attention to the social structure of our country will see that there are two camps, and neither want to be part of the other. What we’re also seeing, though, is that there also are two tiers of people — those in favor and those not.

Take, for instance, the different ways that the criminal investigations are being handled between the son of the current president and former president Donald Trump.

In the case of the former, there has been mounting evidence that has been available for years of — we’ll be careful and say alleged — drug use, security issues and influence peddling. There’s even a laptop, and access to a witness who offers credible evidence.

For the latter, Democratic operatives, at the behest of Hilary Clinton, created a document that accused Trump of everything including inventing cancer of the puppy, none of which was true, but nevertheless used to harass the man.

Trump has been impeached twice for the thinnest of implied malfeasance, but in the case of President Biden, there exists and institutional blindness and apathy toward any type of investigation.

Consider this: Trump has been indicted by special counsel for mishandling government documents following a raid on his home in Florida. However, documents from Biden have been found in three different locations, with not even a blink from the FBI or Secret Service.

Further, now that a judge tossed a plea deal for Hunter Biden, the attorney who had negotiated the deal, which would have granted immunity on any other charge that could crop up, has been named as a special counsel that will investigate the alleged business dealings that may or may not have included the president.

While these are egregious, they are not the only examples: people are being investigated for not paying their taxes, but tax cheats like Al Sharpton are still given a pass — there’s nothing I’ve seen or heard saying he’s paid back the $10 million in back taxes he owes, much less been prosecuted for the lapse.

So, this is the best of times for the liberal elite, but the worst of times for anyone not considered part of that clique. Those with the wisdom to embrace the dichotomy win, while the rest of us descend into foolishness for believing that the system isn’t rigged.

I look on with incredulity that half the country believes that the country is even remotely fair.

There’s even more incredulity to go around, since even in the smallest way, light is being shined on the disparity, yet so many want to remain in darkness because it seems better to go along to get along.

To be fair, all laws and programs must be available to all, and all breaches of law must be treated equally as fair, without any special dispensation for any race, class or creed, or all of it is meaningless.

We can weather the winter of despair and enger the spring of hope.

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By Rep. Trent Ashby
Representing District 9

The wheels on the bus go round and round! With another school year upon us, please be on the lookout for schoolchildren boarding or exiting our buses or in school crosswalks. The safety of our children should always be a top priority and we all have a role in helping keep them safe from harm. Also, I want to recognize the hard work, dedication and passion of our dedicated teachers and support staff that work tirelessly to enrich, educate and inspire our next generation. I hope you’ll join me in supporting and encouraging our school employees, as well as praying for a safe and successful school year.

With that, here’s this week’s Capitol update …

The Secretary of State’s Office recently drew the ballot order for the 14 proposed constitutional amendments that were passed by the legislature during the 88th Legislative Session. Texans will have an opportunity to vote on these amendments in the upcoming November 7 election. After getting several questions already, I felt it would be informative to provide a synopsis of each constitutional amendment in the columns leading up to the November election. With that, we’ll take them in order and start with Proposition 1 and Proposition 2.

Proposition 1 offers a constitutional amendment to establish the protection of an individual’s right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture and wildlife management on property they own or lease. As our Texas population continues to grow and the demand for food increases, it’s important to prevent the overregulation of agriculture production by political subdivisions. The urbanization of our state has led to several cities enacting onerous and nonsensible restrictions that jeopardize the livelihoods of those who are engaged in farming, ranching and timber production within their boundaries or extraterritorial jurisdiction. I was proud to joint-author the legislation that created this amendment and I look forward to supporting it on the November ballot.

Proposition 2 would allow the governing body of a county or municipality to exempt child-care facilities from all or part of their annual property taxes. Recent studies indicate that the State of Texas lost nearly a quarter of its child-care providers between March 2020 and September 2021, making child-care increasingly hard to find across the state. With laws in place to accurately define a “child-care facility,” this amendment would alleviate the burden of property taxes, allowing additional resources to be directed to hire and retain the critical staff who play a transformative role in our children’s early education and well-being.

The mobile office is on the road again and our district director will look forward to seeing you on the following dates in the following locations: August 16 at Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9-11 a.m. or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at 936-634-2762. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my official Facebook page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.