Columns

The question of the day is, “When are things getting back to normal?” I got news for you, there is no normal. The world has been and always will be in flux. What was, is no longer. That is what life is. Even the good old days weren’t as good as we remember. My grandmother used to tell me how great things were when she was a kid. It sounded great until I realized that she grew up with no plumbing or modern medicine or TV...

Future president Ronald Reagan starred in the 1939 Warner Brother’s film, Code of the Secret Service. He played the role of tough secret service agent Brass Bancroft. I am being kind when I say the film was not particularly good. It was so bad producer Bryan Foy attempted to shelve the movie before it was even released. One disillusioned fan told Reagan, “You should be ashamed.” Reagan agreed and later described it as, “the worst picture I ever made.”...

Sisterhood is so important in this day and age. As we draw closer to the end, having a body of believers is vital. Ladies, God is counting on us too! As women we know how to hold stuff together and get things done. Having a sister you can count on is worth so much...

Hello everyone. You know I was born in Kansas and I lived right in this little town that was covered all around with wheat fields. I can tell you my honeybun and me are as happy as two love bugs chewing on a stalk of wheat. Now that’s living. Sad to say another Naylor lady has passed away. She still has several children here in the area. Pam Thomas, Diane Merifrige, Jeff Thomas, Jody Thomas and stepson Buddy Thomas and several grandchildren. May God bless them all...

Greetings from Dixie Ridge! I traveled to Jonesboro this past weekend to attend two of my grandsons’ - Cole and Dylan - birthday celebration. I always enjoy time with my grandsons and family. We had a nice meal at J-Town’s Grill and I did a bit of needed shopping. Hard to believe they are 17 and 12 years old, respectively. Also, if you know me you know I hate shopping but sometimes you have to pick up necessities...

When you know a secret, what do you do? (Not those secrets….nobody shares those secrets…right)? I’m referring to baffling situations that have solutions not everyone can find easily. Like algebra problems. I had classmates who could whiz through those assignments like eating cotton candy with no trace of sticky fingers when they finished. ...

If you take the time to look around you, you will see so many are fighting so many things right now in their life. People seem not to want to work, let’s face it. There are so many jobs available right now. People could go out and get a good job and still stay safe where they work and go...

We felt especially blessed at Handy Church last Sunday morning to welcome some of our regular attendees who had been absent at various lengths of time, and others who had been absent for months. It was tremendously pleasing that Johnny Davis and Vicky Elliott were back in their usual seats, and Caleb and Brittanni Gant and daughter Gwendolyn, also Richie and Sarah Reynolds. It surprised most of us because we hadn’t seen them there for several months...

Have you been noticing an influx of folks coming to our corner of the world? I see the trends of people relocating and fleeing from areas where, I’ll just say it bluntly, living their daily lives and enjoying their freedoms has become difficult. They yearn for better lives for themselves and their families. ...

I’m looking out my window from home. I didn’t go into the office because we have all of this little white stuff laying all over the ground. It’s wet, slick and cold. I did attempt to leave for the office, but the conditions encouraged me to rethink my decision-making paradigms for this morning. The funny thing about this snow is that by tomorrow, much of it will be gone and it will all be washed away by the coming rains this weekend. (At least that is what the weather person says)...

You did it! You made it through another year. You’ve walked through good times, great times, and a few hard days. But you’re still here and still seeking God or you wouldn’t be reading this devotion. I am grateful you showed up today, that despite everything you’ve been through, both good, bad, and between, you showed up here today looking for encouragement for the year ahead. Thank you for trusting me to encourage you. I hope to do just that today...

First, two corrections. I know I misspoke on one. The other, my fingers may not be listening to my brain or my brain got ahead of my fingers. The light is on the stove hood, not shield. It can be anywhere attached to anything metallic or handheld. It’s just a handy light...

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. It still doesn’t seem right to be writing 2022 instead of 2021. About the time we get used to writing it, it will seem like it is time to move on 2023. Now that 2021 is over, we need to let it go and call it our past. We have a new year of new beginnings, a clean slate to start over. More important things than thinking only about 2021, let it stay in the rear view mirror. There are bigger and better things ahead. Just focus on what is in front of you. ...

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. It still doesn’t seem right to be writing 2022 instead of 2021. About the time we get used to writing it, it will seem like it is time to move on 2023. Now that 2021 is over, we need to let it go and call it our past. We have a new year of new beginnings, a clean slate to start over. More important things than thinking only about 2021, let it stay in the rear view mirror. There are bigger and better things ahead. Just focus on what is in front of you. ...

While I’m writing this, I have Facebook open. I never in a million years EVER thought Facebook would prove to be a positive. Most days I look at it as a tool of procrastination (a “nation” that I know all too well). But something came across the “airwaves” last week that made me think...

Happy New Year! Have you made any New Year resolutions? My New Year’s resolution is going to be to drink more water and eat less food. Hummm, seems I’ve had this resolution before. Maybe this year it will take hold. How did youns enjoy that warm Christmas we had? I heard some of you turned on your air conditioning. I didn’t do that, but it was nice having a few beautiful days to enjoy in the middle of winter. I have a feeling Old Man Winter will be quite vicious come February...

My car starts when I press a button, lights come on when I flip switches, the oven bakes my brownies, the fridge keeps my sodas cold,  Scooter will climb in my lap wherever I sit…I count on these actions without a thought.  The dependable aspects of life that make my world go round smoothly are taken for granted. They are the things that enable my body and brain to create and cope when a new factor appears or something gets out of kilter...

Welcome to the New Year. I hope everyone had a great time and made some wonderful memories. I’m excited about the opportunities this coming year will present. Aren’t you? Or are you looking at 2022 with trepidation and fear? During this past holiday season, I realized something. In the moving of presents and taking of food to different places, as well as moving luggage, I realized that the more you attempt to carry, the slower you go...

I consider Bob Johnston one of my mentors. In my early thirties, Bob had a little more experience but a lot more education. He frequently made time to encourage and challenge me. He regularly allowed me to borrow commentaries from his library. His kindness and generosity helped me become a better pastor and preacher...

This year, Thursday, Jan. 6, is the Day of the Epiphany, marking the end of the twelve-day Christmas season. The early Church blessed us with liturgical worship. The word “liturgy” refers to customary, prescribed orders of worship, often marking days which are opportunities to focus on Scripture readings which reflect observances of specific, important occurrences in the Christian faith. ...

Doug Hampton, siblings and families gathered at the home of Carla and Curley Bryant on New Year’s evening for Christmas dinner, a gift exchange and games. I was invited (it’s a long-time tradition) but church had already been called off because of the weather. I’d kinda snuggled in and thought it best to stay in. I know it was a fun evening for all. Sorry I missed it...

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday and that New Year’s Day proves to be just as pleasant. Bonny Davis’s ‘extended’ family gathered at the home of Christi and Robert Kirby for a delicious meal, opening of gifts and a full day of joyous visiting. ...

Happy New Year! A happy birthday goes out to my son-in-law Joey Graham. Joey is married to my daughter Amanda (Mandi) and is the father of four of my grandsons. Happy birthday Joey. Also, a happy birthday goes out to my daughter Ashley’s boyfriend Matthew McMinn. I hope you had a good birthday also, Matthew...

During this pandemic we’re all growing so tired of, anxiety aggravates me way more than my little brother ever has. “Mom, he won’t stop   me.” Mom isn’t around to scold him and rescue me, so I learned to rescue myself and create some laughs. But this anxiety nuisance is out of hand. No one applies the brakes and rescues me and I seem powerless in coping...

A dear friend passed away recently from cancer. Cherry battled fiercely, courageously and with optimism, yet she was honest enough to confide her fears. When I first heard she had passed from this world to His world, two things came to mind. In what order, I don’t recall...