Jesus loves the little children

Over the years, I visited a number of African-American churches.  At times, I was the only white person present.  I learned there is a tradition of visiting ministers sitting in the chancel area in one of the pulpit chairs. This is a great honor.

Sportscaster’s message worth hearing

Little bowls of blackberries sat on every table, as supporters of Eagle Ranch filed into a banquet hall on Sunday, March 8, just ahead of a pandemic that surely would have canceled or postponed the event. Eagle Ranch is a residential school in Flowery Branch, Ga.

Go-slow reopening may be costly

Over the first two months of the coronavirus crisis, our labor-market cratered.  The number of employed North Carolinians dropped by 820,000, or 17 percent. Only 56.3 percent of working-aged residents were either employed or actively looking for jobs.

Racial injustice within U.S.

I always told my son that if he ever ran into a problem to find the closest law enforcement officer. The person in uniform is there to protect and serve. You can count on them to help.

Morality, murder and a miracle

What a week this has been.  Let’s start with the morality of the South Bay Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista, Calif., deciding to defy reasonable limitations on their assembly.

Is in-person worship essential to faith?

What is essential to our faith?  During this pandemic, debate is ongoing in our country about whether having an unlimited number at in-person worship services is essential to our faith.   Some argue it is a right guaranteed by the First Amendment.

‘Viral’ and ‘veracity’ are different words

Don’t get your dander up. This column is about the Roe in ‘Roe v. Wade,’ who recently passed away.  This column does not take a position on the issue. That is for each of us to decide and for the courts to resolve in a civilized society that believes in the Rule of Law.

Cooper isn’t addressing urgent needs

During the month of April alone, North Carolina lost 572,000 jobs, or 12.5 percent of the state’s total employment.  That’s a higher rate of job loss than any of our neighbors experienced. Among the 12 Southeastern states, only Kentucky and West Virginia fared worse.

We need to rehydrate ourselves frequently

Water is important for everyone.  It fights fluid and electrolyte imbalances – and unnecessary water loss – after an active or strenuous lifestyle by drinking more water.

Nothing like an evening in May

It was one of those evenings that makes you glad there’s a month called May.  Bob Milford parked his truck in front of the Mule Barn truck stop, then changed his mind and drove the few blocks into town, parked in front of Sarah’s Read Me Now book store and got out.