Columns

We will soon say goodbye to May and “Hello June.” Father’s Day is just around the corner. When driving around you can also tell it is summer for everyone is out barbecuing. You can smell the wonderful fragrance of their work. I love to barbecue, but just don’t like to do that much work for just one person...

No one loves you more, or drives you crazier, than family. A family reunion is a celebration of that love and connection. It’s a time to visit with elders, hear stories about your parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It’s a time to meet new spouses and new babies. These gatherings give everyone a chance to spend some quality time together and remember what’s uniquely wonderful about being part of the same family...

Periodically I reflect on items and concepts vanishing from twenty-first century life. A somewhat startling consequence for me is the revelation that my baby boomer brain has adjusted. After all, consider how quickly and efficiently tasks get accomplished these days...

George Riggins and I went to Salem, Mo. to attend the funeral of Betty (Riggins) Brooks. Betty had siblings that attended her service and I gave them an invitation to the Riggins reunion held the second Sunday of August. It’s been a busy week and I have been out and about but as a friend used to tell me, nothing for the paper. Bill worked this week in Mountain Grove and will work next week as well and didn’t come on Sunday to visit or do those chores he and Andrea usually do...

What a beautiful day this past Sunday as we gathered together to worship God. Even though I (Bonny Davis) was unable to attend services at Handy Church the turnout was good and it was reported to have been a good service. We missed a few of our regulars, which included Cole and Audrey Watson, Billy Sisco, and the Leggetts, Joy and Bill. Clara and Arlin Ray were also unable to be there. We pray that each one will be back with us next week...

Norma Horrocks will be filling in for Ethel Mays who will be off while her husband, Charles, is in the hospital in Memphis. They also lost a great-grandson to an accident. He was 12 and lived in Florida. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family...

Wed-nesday, May 24, is an auspicious day for the Wesleyan movement. In 1738, John Wesley, the cofounder of the Methodist movement, had an experience in which he said, “I felt my heart strangely warmed”. It was on this day that he received, shall we say, confirmation of his New Birth...

Each morning on his way to work, Glen went through the drive-through of a local coffee shop to order a coffee for himself and pay for the order of the person behind him in line. According to Kirsten Holmberg in the June 1, 2022, Our Daily Bread, Glen would ask the cashier to wish the fortunate customer a good day. He never knew who was behind him in line nor how they would respond to his generosity. That did not keep him from repeating his random act of kindness...

The preaching in the park hosted by Patterson Church of Christ had no visitors. Seems folks are more interested in the pleasures of this world than their own soul. The second Sunday fundraiser was held at the Carter County Nutrition Center. Melissa met me at the door, took my order, filled my plate and got my drink and silverware. ...

I hope all moms out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day. I had a good one even though I spent it by myself. I went to church, and we had a wonderful Sunday School and morning services at Faith Life Christian Church on Highway 160E. It’s wonderful to see our numbers are growing. ...

There are certain sounds, sights, and scents that take me straight back to the summers of my childhood. Summer’s promise began with the chirping tree frogs assuring us that cool weather was nearly over. The calling of the whippoorwill signaled that it was time to kick our shoes off and run barefoot for the next few months. ...

It’s not technically summer, but I couldn’t wait until the solstice in June to cut my grass, much as I would like to see the other wildflowers that might spring up - for pollinating purposes you understand. They take turns appearing on the summer stage, and I’ve noticed butterflies, bees and a hummingbird or two flitting around their blossoms as well as around the potted flowers I have here and there...

What a wonderful day we had this past Sunday at Handy Church. We enjoyed the fellowship of a large crowd, much of whom were there for the sake of Bonny Davis for Mother’s Day. All of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were present, with the exception of just a few.   Of course, we also celebrated all of the mothers, some special gifts were given along with a small gift for all mothers present. ...

This coming Thursday will be exactly 40 days after Easter. For many of our churches, this will be celebrated as Ascension of the Lord Day. This is the day we remember as the day Christ went back up to heaven and made a promise that His comforter would soon come. You can read all about it in Acts 1:1-11...

Lee Strobel’s journey to faith was long and difficult. The former atheist was an award-winning legal editor of the Chicago Tribune when he set out to discredit the Christian faith. Strobel was shocked when his research instead led him to faith in Christ...

The Lost Art Of Porch Sitting

It was good to have Troy Hale home and Polly Harper back after surgery. Still sickness among others. I had nearly finished carrying in groceries when Becky Tindell came by. She sent me to my chair and finished the task, put stuff away brought me tea, and later another drink. Her help means a lot...

Well, hello everyone, hope all is well. My honey bun, not so much. His health issues are kicking his butt. One of these days I am going to kick its’ butt. On Sunday Norma Horrocks had a long visit with her brother, David, from the east coast and her sister, Karen and Jim from Wichita, Kan. They met at the home of Pam (her sister) and Weldon Cox, which is the meeting place. Thanks Pam and Weldon...

This has been a really busy week it seems. My grandson Hunter Hudson graduated from Lone Star School and will be a freshman next school year. Then my grandson Aden Hudson graduated from kindergarten. It just doesn’t seem possible how much they have grown and so fast. My granddaughter Skylar Mandry will be a senior this year in Mayfield, Ky. It is times like these that make you feel like you are getting old really fast...

We are thankful that, even though some were absent, we are climbing in numbers for our worship services at Handy Church. Friday evening for our singing we were privileged to have the Pickens family of West Plains along with other family members as well. We appreciate their being there and enjoyed our fellowship with everyone...

With the first warm breezes of the season, I realized that the time to start walking in the cool air of spring is gone. Baby steps are better than nothing, right? With the inspiration of a friend, we now are walking. Yesterday, I detected a mild northern breeze and so hastened to Lawrence’s Garden at Supply. ...

Have you ever met a pack rat? I’m talking about the actual four-footed, sorta scary critters that create confusion and concern about ghosts and poltergeists in the households they adopt. Disappearing objects and unexplained noises make human imaginations work overtime...