It was Easter break 2013 when we had to say goodbye to our little Sadie. The obvious pain she was experiencing coupled with the drastic weight loss was difficult to watch. We still had our schnauzer, Baxter, but it took some time to get over our grief over our little Sadie. However, once we walked through the pain we noticed Baxter was still missing his sister. It was February of 2014; it was time to find a new puppy... if only for Baxter's sake.

Malia and I had already made a few trips to the Humane Society of the Black Hills. Sending pictures and spending time with a few dogs up for adoption we started to put the idea in Tammy's head. Although Malia and I just wanted to go ahead and take all the dogs home, we decided to wait and take our time. We don't have the type of home that would allow herds of animals, nor is it permitted where we live. And so tears were shed as we left each day praying each and every one of them would find a loving home. 

Finally, the time had come. We found "the one." Tammy and I sat at the Humane Society with a little puppy that was named Pren. He had long, golden hair and reminded us of Lassie. Our new pup had come from the Pine Ridge Reservation and was just over four months old. He was beautiful, but there was one problem... he needed a new name.

After rifling through a number of names... even Martha, after our first first lady... we all came to an agreement on Dusty. Our little (not really) Dust Buster has brought joy to our lives. Of course, in the beginning there were a few casualties, clothing, my stuffed animals... I mean, no, Malia's stuffed animals, treatment for his bone a day habit, a few electric cords and more, but he would just look up with those eyes and all was forgiven. There is something special about adopting an animal from the shelter, and when I look at Dusty sometimes I feel like he knows what it means to now have a home. And he knows how blessed we feel for finding him. 

So all this leads to what I have decided to do for the month of September. I will be donating 20% of all proceeds to our local shelter, the Humane Society of the Black Hills. "Eyes of Payne," available exclusively on Amazon for 99 cents, and Lazarus Rising, my debut novel, available in both print and digital format... will both be a part of this promotion. Please, spread the word; get a copy and help this wonderful organization continue to help animals from all over our area. The Humane Society never turns an animal away, a dog's day is never numbered, and each year they care for over 4600 strays and unwanted animals.    

Okay, it may not be changing the world, but it certainly is changing the world for that pet. So adopt a dog or cat, send money, or just simply buy one of my published works. Either way you will be supporting the Humane Society of the Black Hills; helping dogs like Dusty find a permanent home. I can't even begin to explain what a blessing Dusty has been in our lives, but I can give back. Finally, in the words of Dusty, "Arf, arf... arf, arf, arf... arf." Loosely translated it means: "If you love animals; you will buy my daddy's book." Or... something like that. 

Until next time... God Bless! 

It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog. When I first watched the videos from Center for Medical Progress my first thought was, I can't believe there are people defending Planned Parenthood. And then it went further than that... I started to wonder how doctors and companies actually can be sitting around, drinking wine, discussing the price on body parts from an abortion. For over a decade we discussed the morality and ethics behind stem cell research... but somehow this is a conversation were not supposed to have as many wave the banner of women's reproductive rights? I won't even attempt to get into what 'reproductive rights' means.

Those who are defending Planned Parenthood from the angle of 'it's legal,' or based on the scientific research should probably do some brushing up on history and read about how Hitler and his so-called doctors used all their experiments for medical research.

Their defense reminds me of how democrats defended slavery back before the Civil War. "Well," one slaveholder would say, "our rights are being stripped away from us." It didn't matter that those rights were the right to literally own another human being. It's the same thing here, "You are taking away our right to decide whether or not a human being can come into this world." Isn't that really what it is? In both situations, it is the right to selfishly do what is the best interest of ME! Perhaps that is the type of country we have become. They were on the wrong side of the issue then, and they are on the wrong side of the issue now.

Maybe the morality question is no longer one we should ask ourselves. I mean, even the slaveholders tried to use the moral argument, however twisted, to make it okay to own a person based on their skin color. Where is the moral argument from those on the side of Planned Parenthood? I don't really care if it's legal or not... the real question is should we be doing it? Slavery was legal at one point in our history. Interracial marriage was illegal. Is receiving any monetary compensation for body parts or tissue from an abortion, no matter whos "okay" we have, something any of us want to answer for regardless of whether you believe in karma or a Creator?

I know I'm a man and supposedly 'not allowed' to voice my opinion on the issue of abortion. Well, to those Secular Progressive that make such a claim I will tell you one thing from personal experience: the father can be affected too. I know we live in a time where father's are depicted on television as Homer Simpson. Sometimes the father is completely absent which is true in too many cases around the country as well. That's a major issue Americans need to address as well... and soon. But I digress... I was telling my own story. I'm not coming from the self-righteous 'boy I can't believe you did that' stand. At one time in my life I was not only pro-choice, but played a major role in exercising those rights. There is not a day that goes by I don't think about it; especially when I hug my daughter or see her do something magical... it can be as simple as an act of kindness. And she does that often.

For a long time I couldn't be as close to my daughter as I longed to be. There was something that held me back from loving her completely. After spending some time in prayer and talking with others it dawned on me that my past actions were blocking the true Sunlight of the Spirit. I had to do something about it, and I did. It was a difficult walk, but I found God's grace and forgiveness on the other side... I have a relationship with my daughter today closer and stronger than I could have ever hoped for. I realize she's about to become a teenager and there are bumpy roads ahead; however, I won't be carrying baggage that prevents me from being the father she needs.

One thing I realized as my own view changed to Pro-Life: I could no longer defend the idea that it wasn't at the very least potential life. As Americans our own founding document demands that we defend life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We have always done our best to protect and fight for those who are helpless, unable to defend themselves, and treated as unequal. And yet we have those today attacking the unborn. From a man who is broken at best, guilty as charged, it is time to stand up for those who are being treated as unequal; they are helpless; unable to defend themselves. And now that I have seen the horrific videos from Center for Medical Progress, we know they are babies... with all the organs and limbs and parts that make up a human being.

It's time to stop kidding ourselves.

One final warning... if you plan to watch the videos they are disturbing. I did become physically ill. But I also feel it's important to see reality for those who can stomach it. Here is a another link to the website... Click Here 

Until next time... God Bless!