Good morning, 

Are you prepared? Are you sure?

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Friday, August 23, 2019
Update your email preferences.

• While Gov. Greg Abbott assembled his first “gun violence roundtable” inside the state Capitol yesterday in the wake of the El Paso shooting, gun-rights supporters gathered outside the north entrance of the pink dome to rally against increased gun-control measures currently being floated by Texas lawmakers. Brandon Waltens has the details.
     
• For the second year in a row, Wylie city officials are proposing a fiscally responsible budget that doesn’t raise property taxes. Erin Anderson reports the vote was unanimous.  
     
• Likewise, conservative activists in Montgomery County are celebrating a victory after the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees lowered their tax rate at a meeting Tuesday night. Reagan Reed reports the tax rate will be below the effective rate, meaning homeowners will see a real tax cut.
     
• In a guest commentary, Plano City Councilman Shelby Williams explains that the “tax ‘rate’ is a meaningless number on its own.” Taxpayers should be paying attention to what their actual tax burden will be under that rate.
     
• Gov. Greg Abbott has announced his endorsement of State Rep. Dustin Burrows(R–Lubbock), despite an ongoing investigation into the lawmaker by the Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit initiated by the Texas House General Investigating Committee. Brandon Waltens reports the investigation centers on the quid pro quo proposal House Speaker Dennis Bonnen made earlier in the summer.
     
• Speaking of Mr. Burrows... Breaking a summer of silence on that unethical scheme, he is trying to rehab his image with Nixonian denials of wrongdoing.

Friday Reflection

“Be Prepared” is the well-known motto of the Boy Scouts of America. It’s also a pretty good admonition for successful living. 

My scoutmaster used to say, “Prior proper planning prevents a pitifully poor performance.” (Trying saying that three times over.) In almost every situation, the person or group that is best prepared will overcome whatever challenges they face.

I thought of the value of “prior proper planning" while in complete darkness, walking in water nearly up to my waist. I was walking through Hezekiah’s tunnel, right behind Empower Texans’ VP of Communications Morgan Williamson and taking up the rear of our group exploring Israel 16 months ago. (We’re taking another group in 2020!)

The tunnel was built under Jerusalem by King Hezekiah, approximately 2,900 years ago. Knowing an Assyrian army was planning to attack Jerusalem, Hezekiah ordered the construction of the tunnel to ensure spring water in the area wasn’t available to his enemies when they arrived. He also built up the city’s fortifications and produced weapons for the people. The Israelites were going to be ready!

Yet for all the physical preparations, Hezekiah knew that the people needed to be ready for the coming battle emotionally and spiritually.

“Be strong and courageous,” he is recorded as saying in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8. “Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

And so it must be for us, as well. The most important preparation we can make isn’t in tools and plans, but in the depths of our heart. In the end it is not enough to simply be prepared; we must be prepared for the right reasons to do the right things.