Holiday a long time coming

I suppose I was like most children, in thinking that it sure took a long time for Christmas to arrive.  Strange how quickly it seems to roll around now.

Wrap yourself in His blanket

When Jesus was born, Mary did what all mothers did back then: she wrapped him tightly in swaddling clothes.  “Swaddling clothes” was like a blanket made of pieces of linen. For many centuries, newborns were wrapped in swaddling clothes. The infant felt safe, warm and could relax and sleep.

Why school choice is so important

* Conclusion of a 2-part column School superintendent Ryan Walters defended his decision to incorporate the Bible and optional prayer into Oklahoma’s public school system by saying it’s an attack on religious liberty for the federal government to forbid them.

Is there an advantage to wealth?

Does too much money equal too much power?  Does the combination of wealth and power lead to corruption?  It appears that we are going to find out, as the Trump team – so far – is overweight with ultra-rich people. Wealthy people love to grift the middle class with their tax breaks.

Israeli war hero buried in county

The grave of Ezekiel Shachar. Photo by Marshall McClung/The Graham Star There are heroes from most of the wars America has fought in buried in cemeteries across Graham County.  Thanks to information supplied by Jim Teasdale, we know there is a hero from Israel buried here also.

Fighting war with the gospel

My elementary school library had a good selection of biographies. The books were written for the elementary reading level.  I read the life stories of presidents, sports greats, generals and folk heroes.

New director raises eyebrows

With all attention being paid to the some of the most-controversial nominations for the Trump cabinet, it is important to also look into the less-publicized picks unnoticed by the public.  These lesser appointments can significantly change Americans lives – depending on who is at the helm.

Confusion or clarity

* Part 1 of a 2-part column Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote, “To defend a country, you need an army; to defend a free society, you need schools.”  It’s important to add that those schools need to be able to teach the truth with clarity.

Comparing winters, then and now

The term “Winter of Our Discontent” appears as early as 1594 in Shakespeare’s Richard III, and more recently as of 1961 in John Steinbeck’s novel by that name.  Could it be that God – knowing how hard we mortals are to please – gave us four distinct seasons to choose from?

How God protected a runaway

She was 18 and needed an escape. I was 16 and needed a new perspective on life.  So, as we waited on the second bus load, we planned our journey. Friday would be the day: instead of going to school, we’d go north toward West Virginia.