Today Good Friday I'm offering up a strong dose of Southern Style Religion.

Originally posted back in 2007....

Once Again It Is Easter.... Please be seated.

Years back, when Charlotte was a lot smaller and the pace of life a lot slower, an Easter Sunrise Service was held at Providence High School.

As the headlights of two hundred or so cars streamed into the parking lot, the crimson and purple hues of the sun's first rays began to touch the far eastern corners of the Carolina horizon, while birds sang in wonderful orchestra we call nature.

It's not hard to see the hand of God on Easter Sunday in the Carolina's. Azaleas, Dogwoods, rainbow colors of flowers all in bloom and Carolina blue skies which might explain the large number of churches in the Carolinas. I think there are 87 on the Charleston Peninsula alone, I know there are twice that many in Charlotte and the biggest of which is Calvary.

Standing at the corner of Rea Road and Highway 51, Calvary is so big that it's pipe organ is second in size only to that of the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. It is a big church, so big it has escalators to the two balconies.

The church was once painted a somewhat a dull shade of pink and, was nick named by members and non-members as "The Pink Church" or the "Mary Kay Cathedral". Calvary was founded by Dr. Ross Rhodes who at the time of this Easter sunrise service was senior pastor.

Charlotte is of course the well known home to the famous preacher Dr. Billy Graham, and a close second to Billy Graham is Dr. Rhodes. I think Ross Rhodes could make a believer out of Satan if given the chance.

My grandmother used to tell us to sit up straight in church so that God knew we were paying attention. On this Easter Sunday, the frosty cold aluminum bleachers of Providence High School Football Stadium made certain we were all sitting up straight and paying attention.

The hot coffee and warm biscuits from Bojangles that the Calvary volunteers handed out, helped ease the chill but it was so cold, that I soon began to plot an early exit back to my car.

I'm a morning person, most of the time and I love to watch the sunrise. Cold on the other hand I'm not nearly as fond of, so I thanked my sister who was kind enough to bring an extra blanket to sit on.

Before the small choir had finished the second verse of the first hymn, my biscuit was cold and my coffee gone.

In the faint half light of the early dawn Dr. Rhodes rose from his seat and walked over to the podium, for all practical purposes it was still dark.

His sermon was simple….. his first words where.....

"He Has Risen!"

And with that voices came to life through the gathered crowd as these words were repeated and rose on wisps of steam from our breath which filled the cold morning air.

Dr. Rhodes continued….

"Now if this had just happened today, on this Sunday morning, we would have proof! There would be satellite trucks, and news media everywhere. Anderson Cooper would be live with eyewitnesses to interview, and there would be full page photo spreads in USA Today, the New York Times and the Charlotte Observer. There would be a "film at eleven" on television that would show the massive stone rolled aside and for the next forty days Jesus himself would hold press conferences right up until ascension.

And he would tell the world: "Hey, I'm back for I have risen!"

"But, because this single event occurred nearly 2000 years ago we don't have a film at eleven, but we do have eyewitness accounts and interviews with the Oprah of the day whose name is Mark, and his interview is right here".

And as he spoke those words, Dr. Rhodes held up his bible the one he has carried for nearly 40 years and proclaimed.

"It says right here…" HE HAS RISEN!

With that a flock of Canada Geese flew over head no more than a dozen feet above the bleachers, winging their way no doubt to eternity and just as suddenly the sun rose above the horizon and bathed the bleachers in wonderful light and warmth that you could feel all the way through to your soul.

And I have got to tell ya ... I don't know how Ross Rhodes pulled it off but his timing was perfect. Within an instant the chill in the air was gone as a new day had begun.

Now years later Dr. Rhodes message, and that Easter sunrise service is still a very vivid memory.

Dr. Rhodes' message has always been simple… "Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved" Period!

No fancy church or nearly drowning style of baptism, pilgrimage to Mecca, or giving up a certain amount of your paycheck, no course of study, no special communion, no specific number of Sunday school sessions or bible study attendance required, just one simple thing.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved" - Just Believe!

OK I'm done preaching now go color those chickens.

Idiots Among Us - Texting While Driving

Anyone who drives as much as I do, knows some simple truths about Charlotte drivers.

First: Mini Vans are the scourge of the city, known for going 10 miles an hour below the posted speed limit, making right turns with the left blinker flashing away, sudden stops and other erratic driving.

Second: Audi A6 and A8 are pretty good cars to follow if you're in a hurry on 485.

Except when the driver is a 50 something blonde driving her Audi A6 on 485 in the left lane going only 60 miles an hour and texting.

Not only is she texting but she's put on her reading glasses to do it.

I don't care if you text and drive just don't do it on 485 in the left hand lane and force car after car to pass you on the right because you are only going 60 mph.

I am not kidding the line behind her was 20 cars.

Thankfully she took her happy little butt off 485 at Providence Road

Wednesday Musical Interlude Just Because - Robin Schultz and Walmart "Sugar"

Sort of a dreary day in the Carolina's, and another Nor'easter heading towards New England so how about some West Coast fun and sun?

Walmart has high jacked the guitar riffs from Robin Shultz and Sugar (how'd you get so fly) to promote their spring 2018 clothing lines. I'm not sure if it will help Walmart's same store sales this year but it has spurred renewed interest in the song "Sugar" which peaked at 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart after the December of 2015 release. 

The music video featuring baby face Francesco Yates never made the top 20 at VH1 or MTV but its crazy fun.

Continue the fun? Why not? Here's the music video back story. Cedar's Take: I'm totally envious that people actually get to do this shit for a living.

Lyrics

She got cherry lips

Angel eyes

She knows exactly how to tantalize

She's out to get you, danger by design

Cold blooded vixen, she don't compromise

She's optimistic of the coded lights

So far from typical, but take my advice

Before you play with fire, do think twice

And if you get burned, don't be surprised

Got me tripping higher than the ceiling

Ooh baby it's the ultimate feeling

You got me lifted feeling so gifted

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

We're talking lady L

ove how you in tight

Sugar we're just a rider, man spies

Sean Penn a little bit ethic, one's desire

She's out to get you, you can't burn, you can't hide

She's optimistic of the coded lights

So far from typical, but take my advice

Before you play with fire, do think twice

And if you get burned, don't be surprised

Got me tripping higher than the ceiling

Ooh baby it's the ultimate feeling

You got me lifted feeling so gifted

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

But you won't get me tonight

Got me tripping higher than the ceiling

Ooh baby it's the ultimate feeling

You got me lifted feeling so gifted

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so fly

Sugar how you get so flygar how you get so fly

WBTV's 78 Second Sound Bite On CMPD Officer Pay

It didn't have a lot of substance, ran less than 90 seconds and didn't get a lot of traction after it aired. But WBTV's sound bite on Officer pay was at least a start.

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) Raleigh Police are on their way to Charlotte for a recruiting event Friday, as CMPD officers demand better pay and benefits from Charlotte city officials Some local officers tell WBTV many are leaving for better opportunities.

I never thought I would be one to leave,” said one former CMPD officer who asked we not reveal his identity. He left his badge behind two months ago. “Good people are leaving,” he said. “I can assure you that former colleagues of mine that were excellent police officers, were an absolute asset to CMPD, left for better opportunities.

And so did he, taking his nine years’ experience to the private sector. Like many officers in Charlotte, he says the tough choice was all about pay, benefits, and ultimately - family.

“When you go to work every day and kiss your kids goodbye, not knowing full-well if you’re going to come home or not, and doing it while living paycheck to paycheck and not having the benefits that a profession that puts you in harm’s way should provide, it’s incredibly difficult,” he said. Right now, a new CMPD recruit will make just more than $43,000 to start, with the chance to eventually rise to nearly $66,000 as an officer.

But officers recently told city council – it is coming up short. “We’re leaving for places like Raleigh that’ll pay their officers more than $70,000, compared to just $60,000 here,” Daniel Redford, a current 12-year veteran of CMPD, told the Charlotte City Council.

As Raleigh prepares for a recruiting event in Charlotte on Friday, opportunities like this are causing some to have concern for the retention rate in Charlotte. “You don’t want a situation where you’re filling police academies with bodies instead of cops because that’ll have a detrimental effect for anyone who lives and works in and around Charlotte,” the former officer said.

CMPD officers are asking the council to consider a 15 percent pay increase for them in the next budget. Council members have told WBTV that they hear the officers’ message “loud and clear".

Pfc. Donald H. Dufault USMC Killed In Action March 5, 1945

73 Years ago this week Donald H. Dufault, the son of my great aunt Alice (Duty) Dufault, the divorced mother's only child was killed in action on the island of Iwo Jima.

 

You might recall the massive uproar over President Trump's conversation with the widow of Sergeant La David Johnson in what would be later called the Tongo Tongo Ambush. During the seven days between the death of Sergeant Johnson and his burial many in the liberal press as well as liberal members of congress used the Marine's death to unfortunately attack the President.

 

In 1945 your notification wasn't a visit from an Officer and Navy Chaplin and later a consolatory phone call from the president, rather a straight forward telegram, just slightly more personal than today's email, that was hand delivered by a courier or left on your door should you not be at home.

 

The Western Union Telegram Delivered On March 27, 1945

Let us also note that it wasn't right away or the next day, in fact as the above telegram shows notification was nearly a month after my Great Aunt's son was killed in action.

 

The local paper learned of the news and published this report.

 

 

 

Two weeks later she received this letter from her son:

 

 

Oddly enough the letter is dated 3 days after Pfc. Dufault was killed on Iwo Jima. Perhaps in the "fog of war" the days ran together or the date he was killed was simply recorded in error.

 

The following letter was written by a fellow Marine 3 months later and it took nearly a month to reach Don's mother. Notice the "Naval Censor" stamp in the lower left corner of the envelope below. The letter details how Pfc. Dufault was killed by a Japanese sniper.

 

 

October 14, 1948, more than three years after his death the letter below was received along with a Presidential Unit Citation bar with two stars and the Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal. This was added to her collection of two Purple Hearts and other service medals.

 

The citation (below) maybe the most concise account of the five week battle (19 February – 26 March 1945) to take the volcanic island of Iwo Jima at a cost of 26,040 total casualties, in all 6,821 US Sailors and Marines were killed and 19,217 wounded.



The above description of the events is epic!
 

 

On January 31, 1949 Pfc. Donald Dufault's remains where returned to his home town of Marion Illinois, nearly 4 years after his death.

 

 

 

 

Two years later Post 980 was dedicated in his honor.

 

Dedication of American Legion Post #980 Chicago

Pfc. Donald H Dufault became a Marine on October 3, 1940 and served in Alaska, Aleutian Islands, before participating in two invasions of the Marshall Islands, being wounded during the taking the island of Saipan (Now part of the Mariana Islands a US Territory) in June of 1944 and finally the successful capture by US Marines of Iwo Jima.  

 

Cedar's take: There are times when I tire of hearing "thank you for your service" you see, saluting the national ensign and enjoying a 3 day leave nearly every weekend for 8 years ain't shit. Spending the final four years of your life chasing an enemy across the Pacific from island to island because you are a Marine that's service, that's a hero who deserves your thank you!

 

 

 



Hope Hicks

No big secret, my fascination with Hope Hicks. 

 

In the world of what is sexy, most see Kim Kardashin and Kate Upton of sex tape and Sports Illustrated fame.

 

Still that sort of over exposed over rated sexy is not real world sexy.

 

Power, influence and the ability to gracefully navigate the perils of "inside the beltway" while gently seductively presenting pure womanhood without the Jennifer Lawrence plunging neck line and slit up to the far reaches of  her thigh dress look is just so ultra sexy.

 

Where life takes Ms Hicks only she knows for sure, but I can't help but notice the ever so faint grin, as if she had just left behind a bomb that was about to go off.

 

Cedar Back Story: As you might expect there is a back story to this photo and this one time freelance shooter thinks its worth a read right here.

Throw Back Thursday "Freedoms Being Lost" 1979

The more things change the more they stay the same. Back in 1979 a speech was given to a large gathering of Charlotte business leaders during the Charlotte Rotary Club’s annual public business luncheon held “Uptown” at the then new Radisson Hotel. The subject government over reach and ”Freedoms Being Lost”. What follows are a few highlights of that speech:

American’s are losing their freedom in the name of “public interest,” do not give in.

Don’t be a part of a group that gives up its long-term freedom for a short term gain.

Freedom is a free-market, and free enterprise; free to produce, discover, invent, experiment, to succeed, to fail, to profit, and to consume all on a voluntary basis without interference by the policing powers of the state.

It is a fact, that government control does not work, and it has been bad and getting worse for all who have tried it.

Let me illustrate how we are moving in the direction of more and more government control: In 1960 the federal government had 100 programs, while today it has grown to more than 1,200.

In 1930 government spending accounted for 12 percent of the gross national product whereas today it is nearly 40 percent. By the year 2000 at the current rate of growth it will be 60 percent.

With the free enterprise system we produce 28 percent of the world's production with five percent of the world’s population. After we feed ourselves, we export 60 percent of our wheat and rice, 50 percent of our soybeans, 20 percent of our corn, despite the fact that since 1940 the number of framers and farm workers has decreased by 66 and 2/3rds percent, because during the last 40 years, our output has increased 75 percent.

Contrast this to the Soviet Union, who after 63 years of Bolshevik Achievement is still dependent of western technology for food. The obvious flaw, a lack of creative thought, no incentive to achieve more by the masses.

Contrast our free enterprise system with the so-called “best of each" Democratic - Socialism, Sweden’s “cradle-to-grave” protection that now dictates the color of a man’s house. For this guidance, the average Swedish worker pays $4,125 annually in taxes from his $11,000 per year income. The British man pays taxes of nearly 60 percent of the national income.

Today 130 million man-hours are spent each year filling out government forms at a cost of $25 billion. Government then spends another $15 billion processing its own paperwork.

Regulations that have become detrimental to the free enterprise system, include those requiring truckers operating between Cleveland Ohio and Jacksonville Florida to make return trips empty; Greyhound bus cannot have age qualifications for drivers and the company was recently ordered to pay $19 million to unknown short people because of its rule that drivers must be at least five foot, seven inches tall.

Recently the Continental Can Company paid $100,000 for ear plugs, but OSHA demanded $33 million be spent to build sound shields because some workers were too ignorant or obstinate to wear the ear plugs.

The washroom scene is so sad it’s funny. Two federal agencies are currently fighting over jurisdiction of the nation’s toilets. OSHA says women’s restrooms must have special lounge facilities, but the EEOC says; if that is so, then men must have equal couches and chairs.

Americans can combat this trend toward more and more government control by sending money to free enterprise groups such as the “Council for a Competitive Economy” and stop sending money to those colleges and universities whose faculties are hostile to capitalism, and support news media which are either pro-business or at least professionally capable of being fair and accurate in the treatment of pro-capitalist ideas.

The speaker was my father and his well-received remarks were reported in the Charlotte Observer.

Surprising that so many of the issues that concern us today were just as much a concern nearly 40 years ago.

In 1979 Charlotte’s population was just over 300,000, I-77 had recently been extended to the south of Charlotte, all the way to just past Rockhill. The Charlotte Knights were called the Orioles playing nightly during the summer in Dilworth.

Note Fred Smith’s Council for a Competitive Economy is now called the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Dad’s projection of 60 percent government spending by the year 2000 was off by a few years. Spending did in fact triple from just under $1 trillion in 1979 to $3 trillion in 1999, but it wasn’t until 2009 that spending pushed past the 40 percent level. It remains today at around 38 percent, much of it lost to bloated budgets, fraud and waste.