Good morning,

Do we crave the approval of men or of God? That question, honestly asked and answered, strikes at the heart of how politicians wield the power of government.

This is the Texas Minute for Friday, June 14, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Today Is...

• 🇺🇸 Flag Day 🇺🇸
  On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted a resolution creating the first flag of the United States. It was described as "thirteen stripes," alternating red and white, with "thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
    
• U.S. Army Birthday
  On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the creation of "the American continental army."

Texas Universities Pushing ‘Pride’ Month

• Numerous universities and sports teams are taking part in supporting homosexuality and gender confusion during the month of June, known among LGBT advocates as "pride" month. Will Biagini has the details.
    
• The University of Texas at Austin, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and the University of Texas at Arlington are among those using their official social media pages to participate in the gay political advocacy campaigns.
      
• "Why are we funding institutions that promote degeneracy, evil, and outright untruth?" asked Brady Gray, the president of the Texas Family Project. “These ideologies work their way further into our society every day that we allow it to continue. Drag shows for kids, pornography in school and public libraries, and children being preyed on with evil gender ideology is all a downstream effect of our universities.”

MS-13 Gang Leader Arrested in Texas

• A leader in the transnational criminal gang MS-13 has been arrested in Texas after being on the run for more than three years. Emily Medeiros reports the man was arrested at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. 
    
• Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios has been charged with numerous terrorism-related crimes.
      
• MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization that conducts criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere.

Gamblers Wiped Out in GOP Primary

• In an analysis of the results, Daniel Greer finds the Texas runoff elections were not kind to out-of-state gambling interests.
    
• Before the 2023 legislative session, the Las Vegas Sands casino group set up a lobbying blitz to advance the establishment of a handful of casinos with government-enforced geographic monopolies around the state.
      
• Sands spent a half-million dollars on average per race in the 2024 runoff to protect pro-gambling incumbents. That spending was largely in vain, with three of their four incumbents falling to challengers.
       
• The most striking defeat was dealt to State Rep. John Keumpel (R-Sequin), a lawmaker correctly viewed as a critical figure in the House’s efforts to expand gambling. The only high-profile incumbent protection race Sands won in the runoff was House Speaker Dade Phelan’s. That win was a pyrrhic victory in every sense of the term, as a 400-vote victory margin is not confidence-inspiring.

Houston City Council Passes $7.3 Billion Budget

• The Houston City Council approved a $7.3 billion fiscal year 2025 budget this week by a vote of 15-2, marking the completion of Mayor John Whitmire’s first budget cycle. Charles Blain explains that the budget originally presented by the mayor was $6.7 billion, but council amendments pushed the total higher.
     
• The two votes against the budget came from councilmembers Edward Pollard and Tiffany Thomas. They said it is not being structurally balanced and adds to the city’s growing deficit.
    
• The budget doesn’t levy new fees or increase the tax rate, but the mayor said an audit is currently being conducted to identify areas of savings. Whitmire has said his office may look at levying a trash fee or lifting Houston’s local property tax cap to generate more revenue.

Edinburg Councilman to Appeal Election Contest That Flipped Results

• An Edinburg City Councilman who was re-elected by just 10 votes is appealing the outcome of an election contest that reversed the race results. Erin Anderson reports the case centers on allegations that campaign workers known as politiqueras illegally assisted voters in casting ballots for the incumbent, David White.

        
• In Texas, only voters who cannot read the ballot or who have a physical disability may legally receive assistance or vote curbside.
      
• What makes this situation unusual is that successful election contests generally result in a new election being ordered. Instead, during the trial, a judge tossed out 15 votes for White after questioning voters brought in to testify, giving the election to the challenger, Gerardo “Gerry” Lozano. 

Friday Reflection
Tempting us with our Ego

I think we can be honest with each other… There is no feeling quite like being on the receiving end of an audience’s praise. It can be intoxicating. All of us want the approval of others. The only real question is whose approval we are ultimately seeking.

The temptation to get another person clapping, one more standing ovation, a few more chuckles… a couple of clicks and likes and shares and follows… It can drive even strong men to do silly, debasing things. Just consider the stunts local TV and radio personalities will perform during ratings week!

None of this new. It is why, after spending 40 days alone in the wilderness, Jesus was offered the chance to receive the admiration and acclaim of thousands through a flashy performance. The temptation to be “loved” by the world is a sin common to all men.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find that the tempter took Jesus to the top of the pinnacle and urged him to jump off. Satan then cited a couple of passages from Psalm 91: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

That alone is a pretty cool thought, but we have to understand the deeper cut. In the popular culture of the time, there was a belief that the conquering warrior-messiah would make himself known by floating to the ground at the temple with angels. Jesus would have been aware of that messianic caricature.

He, therefore, had to have known how the crowds in Jerusalem would have reacted if they saw him floating to the ground, aided by angels. In succumbing to the temptation, Jesus would have used His divine power for His exaltation. He knew that exultation was coming, but not now and not like this.

Jesus would have none of it. He quoted a line from Deuteronomy: “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.”

Yet, consider just how often we allow our soul to be tested as we seek the applause of men.

In the world of political engagement, there is no shortage of opportunities to receive ego-stroking praise. Most politicians go bad not because they are bribed or bullied, as many want to believe, but because they get addicted to the adoration.

I have seen time and again, the cheerleading squad of lobbyists and advisors turn an otherwise right-thinking legislator inside out. First, they tell them how smart they are. Then, they suggest that only a smart man would be able to see the principled wisdom of doing that which they know to be wrong. This is followed by loud cheers when the politician does it. Selling out starts not with money, but praise. The cash comes after the fact to reaffirm the deal.

The Apostle Paul understood this temptation. In his letter to the Galatians, he wrote, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

We should look to Jesus. He sought the approval of the Father, not the masses who might cheer a raucous display of divinity.

As the citizen-leaders of our self-governing republic, we need to set aside the temptation to be applauded in the here-and-now. Our desire should not be for the faint praise of men but the loving embrace of God.

Quote-Unquote

"A good thing to remember, especially those in politics: 'Whom the gods wish to destroy they first call promising.'"

– Cyril Connolly