PE Connections with Virginia Chatham

My interview with Virginia Chatham, international editor for the Church of God of Prophecy and editor of the White Wing Messenger.

PE Connections with Steve Donaldson

My latest interview, with Steve Donaldson, president and founder of Rural Compassion.

Your Union in Action

In the era of entitlement, reason seldom rules.

Today, in a story titled, "Pennsylvania Union Leader Criticized for Threatening Legal Action Over Boy Scout's Volunteerism," the AP and FoxNews.com reported this astounding story:

A Pennsylvania union leader has come under fire after threatening legal action against the city of Allentown for allowing a Boy Scout to voluntarily clear a walking path in a local park.

Nick Balzano, president of the Service Employees International Union's Allentown chapter, said last week that the union might file a grievance against the city for allowing 17-year-old Kevin Anderson to clear the hiking trail, instead of paying some of the 39 recently laid-off SEIU members to do the work.

... the Morning Call quoted him as telling the city council that the union would be "looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails … There's to be no volunteers."

Ah, that's the spirit. We don't want any of that nasty do-gooder mentality in this country.

To be fair, the story includes this:

SEIU spokesman Matt Nerzig called Balzano's comments "completely unauthorized and insensitive" and said the union was "not at all" considering a grievance in this case.

... "Not sure where he got the idea but he certainly doesn't have the authority to do so."

Anderson, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 301 of Center Valley, spent more than 200 hours creating the 1000-foot path in Kimmets Lock Park along with fellow scouts, friends and parents.

...

"The volunteers and I removed trash, many old tires and recyclables from this former illegal dump-site," Anderson told FoxNews.com.

Now that is offensive.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski countered the union official's threat:

"We would hope that the well-intentioned efforts of an Eagle Scout candidate would not be challenged by the union," he told the Morning Call.

In a letter written Tuesday to Balzano, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania said the union official owes the teen an apology.

"I am astounded, that you would threaten to file a grievance against the City of Allentown because the administration wisely chooses to make volunteer opportunities available," Dent said. "Especially when this type of frivolous grievance could add to the tax burden of the citizens."

"An apology both to the scout involved and to the public would be appropriate," he added.

I look forward to reading it.

One More Fort Hood Victim

Received this message on Facebook tonight from my friend Gaylan Grant, who pastors in Killeen, Texas.

Ken in the Killeen/Fort Hood shooting, one of the victims who was killed was about three months pregnant. The baby was unaccounted for in the statistics and no one is talking about it. They are truly treating this unborn baby as a "nobody". I think it is truly indicative of this administration to continue to justify abortion by failure to acknowledge unborn babies as viable lives.

Dr. Clyde Hughes on PE Connections

My latest PE Connections interview, with Dr. Clyde Hughes, general overseer of the International Pentecostal Church of Christ, London, Ohio.

Veterans, We Salute You

20-year Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

On Nov. 9, 1989, the communist East German government announced that all citizens would be permitted to visit West Berlin and West Germany, officially ending half a century of militarily enforced division. As the news spread, crowds of Eastern and Western Germans rushed to the Berlin Wall, where they met on top in peaceful celebration.

The fall of the Berlin Wall -- the ultimate symbol of Cold War tensions and division -- began the process of German reunification and precipitated the downfall of other communist regimes across Eastern Europe. Germany was officially reunited on Oct. 3, 1990. (AP)

If you have the History Channel, be sure to view "Rise & Fall of the Berlin Wall." I remember when the wall went up and when it went down. It is truly one of the great stories of the 20th century. What the Communist government did to keep people in and what people risked to gain their freedom is amazing. The triumph recognized today is one of freedom's great victories.

Slideshow here.

My Interview With James Cossey

James is a good friend and also the editor in chief of Pathway Press and the Church of God Evangel in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Oregon Dominates USC, 47-20

Still reveling over the dominating victory the #10 Oregon Ducks put on the #5 USC Trojans. The Trojans, now with 2 losses in the Pac 10 will see their 7-year streak as conference champs come to an end. USC will not go to the national title game or to the Rose Bowl this year.

AP report excerpt:

No. 10 Oregon runs past No. 4 USC 47-20
By ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer
Nov 1, 1:28 am EDT

EUGENE, Ore. (AP)—As the T-shirts worn in Oregon’s student section proclaimed, it was Fright Night at Autzen Stadium.

It certainly was for USC.

Jeremiah Masoli threw for 222 yards and a touchdown and ran for 164 more yards with another score and the 10th-ranked Ducks trampled No. 4 Southern California 47-20 Saturday night, the Trojans’ worst loss since 1997.

“I don’t know if we made a statement, this is just what we planned on doing,” Masoli said. “If it makes a statement it makes a statement. That’s just Oregon football and how we roll.”

Redshirt freshman LaMichael James ran for 183 yards and a score as the Ducks (7-1, 5-0 Pac-10) racked up 391 yards on the ground against the Trojans, who came into the game with the fifth-best rush defense in the nation (79.9 yards a game).

USC’s defense yielded a total of 613 yards to Oregon.

“It was a real mess for us tonight,” said Pete Carroll, who was handed his worst loss as coach of the Trojans. “Oregon did everything that they wanted to do.”

Southern California (6-2, 3-2) had not lost a game by more than a touchdown since a 27-16 loss to Notre Dame in 2001, Carroll’s first season with USC. The last time the Trojans were so soundly beaten was 1997, when they lost 35-7 to Arizona State and 27-0 to Washington.

Oregon remained alone in first and undefeated in the Pac-10. USC has won or shared the last seven Pac-10 titles. That streak is in serious jeopardy. The Trojans’ run of seven straight BCS games is also in danger.

The Ducks are now poised to take the crown after stomping the longtime Kings of the West Coast.

Sweet.