In violation of the separation of church and state, American tax dollars are funneled to fundamentalist private schools teaching peculiar things — such as a claim that Noah probably took two baby dinosaurs onto his ark.

The morning sun shone through my windshield, warming my face as I drove east on I-64. Had it not been for where I was going and why, I might have been rather dazzled by this unseasonably warm Jan. 13 morning. Instead of today’s 56 degrees, we usually have snow, sometimes of blizzard proporti…

Many folks think the beginning of a new year is the time for new beginnings, and that will work if you stay on the right path. It is great and heartwarming to know that “new beginnings” can begin at any time. When a person comes to the place in their life that they are completely disgusted a…

Miscellaneous

As I consider essay possibilities, I am reminded that today is a special day.

The old year, with all its happenings, has limped out. It seems that our minds go back to all the things that we encountered, good or bad, over the past 12 months. We need to be thankful that God has brought us through, and is still with us as we enter into another year.

Miscellaneous

Is it really 2020?

Statistics show that 8 in 10 people suffer from anxiety, and in today’s world it’s even affecting our children. Listening to the daily news programs, I can understand why. I can only tolerate so many morning news segments until I flip the TV channel to “Leave it to Beaver.”

We focus on Jan. 1 as the beginning of a new year, but every day begins a new year for each of us.

Miscellaneous

I may be one of only a few people who listens to Christmas music and watches Christmas movies for days after the holiday is over. I enjoy my decorations, too. We’re the only family in our neighborhood who turns on the Christmas tree lights every evening until New Year’s Day.

While sitting around after our Thanksgiving feast, trying to fight off the effects of the natural sedative some believe turkey contains, my grown children began talking about their growing up years — in this very house. One of them said, “We loved Thanksgiving, but the best part was — it mea…

The woman was little more than a girl — and tired, so tired. She swayed slightly on the back of the plodding donkey, and the older man who walked beside her reached out a steadying hand and said encouragingly, “Be of good comfort, Mary, we will soon be to Bethlehem.”

Miscellaneous

Another rainy and gloomy day descends upon our hills, while we beat in the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The younger generation is anxiously counting the days until Christmastime comes, while the shopping places are full of gifts to buy, and advertising their wares in colorful and…

Anniversaries/homecomings

It’s less than two weeks until Christmas and I’m not ready. Many interruptions have prevented me from doing what I need to do.

Can you remember when you were 14? I can. I was going to change the world. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t attempt. Especially if someone told me something was impossible. There was the time my brother drove across a bridge and saw me in line waiting to jump off with my friends who were swi…

My mother taught me early on to appreciate what others did for me; therefore, I always expressed my delight with gifts I received from loving relatives so they’d know I was grateful.

A lovely December day opens up before us, with blue skies and sunshine blessing our hills. It is such a privilege to live where the seasons do change, with each one with its special beauty and benefits. Some folks are hoping for a blanket of snow to cover our brown landscape, while others lo…

Miscellaneous

A few years ago, we hired a young man to do some work in our home. As I watched him work, we enjoyed friendly conversation about our families, our interests and finally, the impending holidays. That’s when the conversation went off the rails!

Beginning next week, the Charleston Gazette-Mail is moving its Church page from Saturday’s edition to Friday.