I’d like to remind everyone who can to go to the Community Center on Wednesday to donate blood.

The Red Cross and many volunteers from the Gates County Rotary Club are there to assist you as you give the gift of life.

The Rotary Club is an amazing group of people as I learned last Tuesday at their meeting in the Gatesville Town Hall. When County Manager Mark Biberdorf began discussing their plans for sponsorship and asking for volunteers to perform certain duties, there was an overwhelming rush to signup for everything from bringing cups and napkins to giving of a couple hours of time to help out. Just imagine if the whole world had that Christian attitude of serving others…

This week, I was reminded of how important it is that you cast you votes to put into office Christian leaders – those who will stand and fight for our moral rights in this nation. I’ve heard remarks that it doesn't matter whether you vote or not, but if you don’t think your vote matters, think again….

* ONE VOTE kept Aaron Burr from becoming president; that ONE VOTE elected Thomas Jefferson in 1800.

* California, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Washington became states by ONE VOTE.

* In 1941, ONE VOTE saved Selective Service just weeks before Pearl Harbor.

* In 1948, Lyndon B. Johnson (our 36th president), became Senator by ONE VOTE.

Too many people think their vote doesn’t matter.

In the last national election, only half of eligible voters were registered, and only half of those registered actually voted! In Gates County, our Director of Voting, Virginia Moore, said only 19 percent of registered voters even came out to vote. Estimates indicate that 24 million evangelicals are NOT registered to vote.

The fact that so many Christians did not exercise their right to vote is something that has to change.

We face critical issues in our nation today, and we must all do our part in choosing our leader. The future of your children and grandchildren is at stake.

Remember the Scripture, &uot;….select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders&uot; (Exodus 18:21 NASB).

This election year, make a difference and vote on Election Day, November 2, 2004. Please, do not hesitate. If you are not registered to vote, register now!

Ok… on to other issues. I was driving the peaceful roads of Gates County last week as we all do each day. Just driving along listening to 88.3 FM. By the way, if you haven't tuned them in, you don't know what you're missing. Anyway, back to the peaceful country roads… It was a beautiful sunny evening with the sun lying low over the ubiquitous pines that dot the county. I had no thought other than to get to my interview, get my story and get home.

Well, let me tell you; I was suddenly and rudely awakened from my sweet reverie by the sound of a jet attempting to land on "my" road. Oh, come on now! You all know what I mean. It was a car, I'm not sure what kind because it was a blur on the run, but the racket emanating from it nearly blew my poor little Buick off the road. I do know, however, that it was a sports car and the little blue thing coursed by me, passing on a double yellow line, by the way, followed by the deafening roar of its muffler.

Why do people have to be so asinine? I don't care if they do have the fact that they are in a hurry as an excuse! That's no way for any driver to handle a potentially deadly &uot;weapon.&uot;

There is no reason so important, no place to get to so fast and furiously that is worth driving like your life depended on your winning the Indy 500. Now, I know there are doctors to see, lawyers to meet, court dates to keep, and social engagements that are just so exciting you have to fly. But, is it really so important that you must endanger your life and the lives of others?

Gates County is not so large that we can't get anywhere in it within a half-hour. Why not leave for your destination five minutes earlier and drive at a decent rate of speed and show a little courtesy to other drivers. Five minutes? Well, yes, that is about all that you save by blowing people off the road and passing on those double lines that are there to indicate that you are taking your life in your hands by such senseless behavior. And, if you don't care anymore for your own life that to act so foolishly, consider the lives of fools like me who are just traveling along enjoying God's gift of life and His wonderful creations along the roadways of Beautiful Gates County…