Powerful Biography in a Campaign Song

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Rick Jackson rolled out a video the other day for his campaign.  Songs and jingles for campaigns are not unusual. Many candidates come up with something to plant the name of the candidate firmly in the listener’s mind.

This song did that and more. It told a powerful story of the struggles of a child. It told how that child overcame those overwhelming odds to make a life that impacts thousands of lives today.

The song walks you through the first time that Rick drove a car. He could barely see over the dashboard to drive his drunk and passed out mother home. He told of nights at home with literally an empty cupboard.

He was labeled and laughed at and bullied. He was told that he was white trash.

At five years old something led him to walk to a downtown church where he found refuge and a sense of peace. When the world knocked him down, he found the strength to get up and get up again and again and again to keep fighting against the labeling, name calling, bullying, and being told he would never amount to anything.

He tracked his job career from shoeshine boy, to a paper route, to vacuum cleaner salesman, to the Chief Executive of a multibillion dollar company today. He determined to learn life’s valuable lessons even in the lowliest jobs.

Through his experience, he honed the value of one-on-one relationships and a servant’s heart. Rather than accepting the label of a white trash loser, he looked to win and win big.

He was shaped along the way by loving foster parents and later in the United Methodist Children’s Home. “From the hard road to the high road,” he learned and applied what it took to win big.

He related in his song servanthood and putting America first. When Covid hit, he made Georgia the priority for finding medical personnel to fight the deadly disease. He could have easily increased his bottom line profits by turning his business toward New York – but he stuck with Georgia. (He was not running for and had no thought of running for Governor back then.)

China, had a monopoly on medicine production. When they tried to squeeze America, Rick Jackson  bought an American medicine manufacturer and turned it around to keep some medicine production on American soil.

With all of his millions, he never forgot where he came from. He built a successful organization to help foster children when they aged out of foster care.

He sees this run for Governor of Georgia as a drive that calls for strength and clarity. He demonstrates both in his support for law enforcement, families, and the working man.

He is running to win and win big. I like the way he puts it when he says he doesn’t want to be governor. He wants to be a good governor.

Listen to the song here on YouTube. It will move you as much as any patriotic song you’ve ever heard.

If you want to meet Rick in person, he will be making a couple of stops in Southwest Georgia on Friday, March 6 in Blakely and Thomasville. Click on the invites below for more information.

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A Bi-Partisan Call to Pray for the Hostages

I am watching the news this afternoon and feel an anxious rumble in the depths of my soul about the hostages being held by Hamas.

The news is filled with fast-paced stories about events around the nation. Just look at headlines.

The national guard is rolling into Chicago. The shut-down debate rages. The Jay Jones e-mail scandal grows. The revelations that the FBI spied on members of congress breaks.

While I watch the stories on these headlines develop, the clock ticks as we anxiously wait and watch for the end of the two year war and the release of the hostages.

I am compelled to pray for their freedom. I am also compelled to call on others to pray that hostages will be released and these hostilities will come to an end.

That ought to be something on which we can all agree. My heart breaks for these families that are walking on egg shells as they wait and hope. They know that Hamas does not have a history of keeping its word. They are hoping that this time they will keep it.

That’s all I have to say for right now. Get beyond all the other noise and pray that this war will come to an end and the remaining hostages will be released.

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When You Are in a Hole – Stop Digging

I recently wrote an article in which I was critical of Sanford Bishop’s Nay vote on a resolution regarding Charlie Kirk. That resolution condemned political violence, commended law enforcement and first responders, expressed condolences to the widow and family of Charlie Kirk, recommitted to respectful debate and recognized and honored the life of Charlie Kirk, the one who embodied the challenges expressed in the resolution.

Apparently calls from the people of his Southwest Georgia led Bishop to give his account for voting Nay. His explanation only makes things worse. His statement reads that the resolution:

“…..was an attempt to use this tragedy as an opportunity to lionize his beliefs. While he was entitled to have and express his beliefs freely, some of them are offensive to me and to the many people targeted by his invective and vitriol. They do not reflect the highest and noblest values of America, nor my Judeo-Christian faith, and I cannot condone them.” (CONGRESSMAN BISHOP’S STATEMENT ON HOUSE RESOLUTION 719 | Congressman Sanford Bishop)

I would like to know which beliefs of Charlie Kirk are offensive and what is the invective and vitriol that targets “many people.”

Was it Charlie’s example of following the teachings of Jesus Christ that led a grieving widow to choose to forgive the man who took her husband’s life?

Was it the challenge to young people to fall in love, get married, and have children?

Was it his invitation for all to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ?

Was it because Charlie Kirk freely shared and encouraged those with differing opinions to take the microphone and engage in a conversation to seek the truth?

Perhaps it was his pointing out the negative impact in society of fatherless families.

Perhaps it was his desire to see healing in broken families.

I believe that what Sanford Bishop found offensive were the Democrat talking points. I doubt that he ever took the time to listen to what Charlie Kirk actually had to say.

Mr. Bishop should be more specific about which beliefs were offensive. Did he find them offensive merely because he did not agree with them?

Would Mr. Bishop give examples of Charlie Kirk’s “invective and vitriol.” I’m not referring to talking points of the Democrats, but real examples.

I suspect when one disagrees with a liberal policy position, that becomes “invective and vitriol” in the mind of Mr. Bishop and the Democrats who voted against the resolution.

What we need here is some clarity on what Mr. Bishop means by “offensive” and “invective and vitriol.” As it is now, with his explanation, he has dug himself deeper into a hard left partisan hole.

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Sanford Bishop Votes Nay to Condemn Political Violence

At one time many, many moons ago, 2nd District Congressman Sanford Bishop was considered a moderate Democrat. He has long since lost that label.

In the latest of his votes, in a resolution that passed on a bi-partisan basis by 310 Yeas to only 58 Nays, Sanford Bishop voted Nay. What was he against?

He voted Nay to condemn political violence.

He voted Nay to commend the law enforcement and emergency personnel who responded to the shooting of Charlie Kirk.

He voted Nay to extend his deepest condolences to Charlie Kirk’s young widow and two young children.

He voted Nay to call upon all Americans regardless of race, party, or creed to reject political violence.

He voted Nay to recommit to respectful debate and to respect one another as fellow Americans.

He voted Nay to honor the life, leadership and legacy of Charlie Kirk.

A young political leader was assassinated, cut down in the prime of his life, while peacefully engaging in open discourse. He did not just proclaim his position, he invited and listened to anyone, especially those who held diametrically opposing views. Charlie Kirk died doing what every politician says we ought to do – listen and peacefully debate.

Sanford Bishop, who at one time considered becoming a minister, could not find it within himself to express his sincere condolences to a grieving widow and two young children. He could not bring himself to condemn all forms of political violence.

Sanford Bishop, who says that there is too much partisan politics, could not bring himself to recommit to respectful debate and respect one another as fellow Americans.

Sanford Bishop does not represent the values of the vast majority of Southwest Georgians. It appears that he was more concerned about the opinions of the woke crowd in Washington than he was the people he supposedly represents.

Below is the exact text of what the House resolved in a resolution that passed in an overwhelming bi-partisan vote of 310 Yeas and only 58 Nays. Sanford Bishop should be ashamed to admit that he was one of the Nays.

Resolved that the House of Representatives –

(1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, and all forms of political violence;

(2) commends and honors the dedicated law enforcement and emergency personnel for their tireless efforts in finding the suspect responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk and urges the administration of swift justice to the suspect;

(3) extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Charlie Kirk’s family, including his wife, Erika, and their two young children, and prays for comfort, peace, and healing in this time of unspeakable loss;

(4) honors the life, leadership, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, whose steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and Biblical truth inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty; and

(5) calls upon all Americans—regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed—to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.

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Honor Charlie – Go to Church

Across the nation thousands gather in groups of all sizes to remember Charlie Kirk and express their grief at his tragic murder. Millions comment, like, and share posts on social media. People want to do something, take some kind of affirmative action in response to the loss of Charlie Kirk.

Since his murder, I have learned things about Charlie that I did not know before. I knew of Charlie Kirk and knew that he was a conservative political leader. I knew that he went on college campuses and had a powerful influence among the young people of today.

I did not follow him or subscribe to his podcast. My knowlege of him was limited to seeing him occasionally on the news. Based on the limited knowledge I had of him, I knew that we agreed politically.

Since his murder I learned that I have even more in common with Charlie Kirk and that is our faith. In fact, I learned that at the foundation of his political philosophy, he had a strong, fundamental, Christian faith.

His faith was not just a label. His faith was a life transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

In fact, when asked how he wanted to be remembered, his response was centered in his faith. He wanted to be remembered for his faith and his courage.

Having learned this about Charlie Kirk, it opens the door to a simple act that will honor his life. Go to church this Sunday.

The prayer vigils are all excellent ways to express your desire to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. Those prayer vigils are one and done. A month from now, they will be memories in the archives of newsrooms around the nation.

But what happens when you make the decision to go to church this Sunday, the next Sunday and on-going. You continue an on-going tribute to Charlie Kirk and you will greatly benefit from personal and spiritual growth yourself.

I would be interested to see if there is an uptick in church attendance over the next few Sundays. It could be the groundswell of a spiritual awakening across America.

Romans 8:28 promises us that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love the Lord. God can take even a vicious and evil murder and turn it into good for thousands, even millions.

You may be like I was and did not know about the strong faith of Charlie Kirk. Now you do know. I encourage you to do some research and learn more about his bold and courageous proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

You might have attended a vigil, written your comments or shared someone else’s. One more thing you can do to honor Charlie Kirk. This Sunday, go to church.

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Buddy Leger – Mr. Republican

Somone once told me that he had President Ronald Reagan on speed-dial. I believe it.

Buddy Leger was a figure larger than life. He was Mr. Republican, Mr. Farmer, Mr. Watermelon man.

Buddy left this world on February 28, 2025. It will take dozens of people and years to fill the shoes of this one man.

Buddy once told me that in his early years, everyone knew how he voted in a primary because his was the only Republican ballot cast. Republicans running for statewide office had Buddy at the top of their list for support. If you did not have his support, then it was most likely that you would not get very far.

I recall one conversation about a Republican elected official. There was a bill coming up that had a provision harmful to agriculture. Buddy advised the official that he would lose the farm vote if he voted for it. He chose not to listen to Buddy’s advice and the next election, he lost.

Buddy was an unassuming man. His slow drawl and calm demeanor showed on the outside, but on the inside, Buddy was wheeling and dealing at the speed of light.

With so many connections, one might think that it would be hard to get in to see him. When I called on him, he would say, “Come on by to see me.” When I got there, he wanted to sit and talk for a while. Buddy never seemed to be in a hurry, but he got things done.

Buddy’s obituary is filled with awards and leadership roles. He was tapped to be the agriculture representative on the transition team between the Reagan and Bush presidencies. He was such an influence in the agriculture community that his photo hangs in hallowed halls of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture.

Buddy was a man of strong faith in Jesus Christ. He knew that achievements in this life, as important as they might be, paled in the light of eternity. His generosity touched numerous lives without drawing attention to himself.

Buddy was one of my strongest supporters, but more than that, he was a friend. We will all miss him.

See Rainey Funeral Home for the obituary and funeral arrangements.

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Congratulations, Sonny!

Dear Sonny,

Congratulations on being named sole finalist for Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. It is fitting that in the year that the flagship school of the University System wins the National Championship should also be the year that the Regents select a national champion to serve as Chancellor.

Since I heard the news, I knew that I wanted to write a commentary to congratulate you and I have been thinking about how I wanted to do it. FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather

Meet Bob Bright, WWII POW

January 10 is a special day to Georgia. The Georgia Bulldogs proved that Alabama can be beaten as the Dogs won the National Championship.

January 10 is also a special day for 96 year old WWII Veteran, Bob Bright of Cordele, Georgia. It was January 10, 1945 when Bob Bright climbed into the gun turret on his 23rd mission. A short time later, at 25,000 feet Bob was donning his parachute to jump from the burning plane before it exploded.

Of the 9 crew members, only 3 survived. Bob was captured and spent the next six months in a German Prisoner of War camp. General George Patton and his troops liberated the camp and Bob came home.

I had the privilege and honor to talk with Bob Bright and another World War II veteran, Jack Roche. This is Bob’s story.

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Conversation with Jack Roche – WWII Veteran

This week we recognize and remember December 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor. That attack brought the United States into World War II. I want to introduce you to a couple of men who served our nation in World War II.

Earlier this summer I video recorded a conversation with Bob Bright and Jack Roche from Cordele. These two men served our nation in the Army Air Corp in the European theater of World War II.

I got to know these two men in the daily prayer time at Christ Episcopal Church. They faithfully show up every morning to pray for the needs in our community, state, and nation. We should never underestimate the power of these prayers that go to God’s throne of grace every morning.

Every day, the number decreases of these men and women who served during this critical time in world history. It is important to hear their recollections and be always reminded of the cost of freedom.

This video conversation focuses on Jack Roche who served as a Bombardier in the 15th Air Force. You will be glad that you invested a few minutes to meet Jack Roche.

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For Such a Time – Tribute to John Wiggins

In the Bible, the book of Esther records these words, “for such a time as this.” Mordecai, the uncle and mentor of Queen Esther, encouraged her to lead in a critical time.

John Wiggins, Chair Cordele City Commission

Four years ago in the City of Cordele, a retired Deputy Sheriff, stepped up to the challenge of those words. John Wiggins entered a crowded field of candidates to run for Chair of the Cordele City Commission.

The citizens of Cordele elected John Wiggins, who also happened to be the first African-American elected to the city-wide post. Commissioner-elect Wiggins posted a statement on Facebook and summed up his commitment in one sentence: “It is my privilege to serve you and I will do everything in my power to always put the needs of the people first.”FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather