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Opinions

Do we only follow God when we feel like it?

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Have you ever wondered what is the purpose of television, games, movies, and social media? Many will say it was created to entertain and inform us, but what we may not have noticed, is that when we are constantly focused on these things, we are usually not listening to what God is saying. To understand what He wants us to do, we must give Him our undivided attention. This is accomplished when we find a quiet place where we can pray, worship, and be still before Him. To those who are not followers of God, this sounds silly, but the ones who cry out for His refining fire to purge their minds and hearts, realize the desire for entertainment can become a snare trap distracting us from our mission.

An innocent balloon

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Everyone loves a good party balloon. This week America got a good view of a Communist Party balloon, and apparently trusted it long enough to tour across the nation like it was an illegal alien crossing the border.

Our hearts belonged to Seymour

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There Betty Lynn and I stood in flip-flops and faded denim shorts ‘neath the old apple tree. Paying our last respects.

Leave it to Beaver

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Leave It To Beaver, Father Knows Best, Lassie, Rin-Tin-Tin, The Roy Rogers Show and other 1950s television shows are viewed by many in our modern times as unrealistic and lacking the portrayal of the seamier side of family life. Others complain that these shows are preachy and moralistic. Another common criticism is the lack of people of color, LGBT folks, and other marginalized parts of our culture were not represented or, if so, were shown in a bad light.

Living right here

Where else would you rather live? Ennis or Palmer? Bardwell or Avalon? Ferris or Bristol? Alma or Italy? These towns we call home are not bedroom communities like Midlothian or Red Oak, and not much like Waxahachie, the county seat.

When does a cricket go to sleep?

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Two days before dinner guests arrived, a cricket did. At first, I thought the heinous noise was coming from the dishwasher. All my appliances are old like me and prone to heinous noises. Each day brings new creaks and quirks.

Maybe we should let someone hold our mule

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“Hold my mule” is a figurative expression from the American South that means when a person is leading a mule and they need to go somewhere, or do something very important they will ask someone to hold their mule. Sometimes it meant they were going to enter into a confrontation be it a verbal or physical one, but in church settings where the members were not embarrassed to express their emotions, the phrase meant they were getting happy and praising the Lord or spending time at the altar crying out to God. Do churches still use altars? Do people still get happy?

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Really want to know?

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Will we ever learn the names on Jeffrey Epstein’s list? I doubt it. The convicted sex offender who died in a prison cell in 2021 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges was not allowed a chance of bail. And once his jail cell cameras were turned off and the guards reportedly dozed off, he was likely knocked off.

Home Alone Faith?

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When I say, “Macaulay Culkin,” what pops into your head? I am not telepathic, but I am guessing you thought of the movie, Home Alone (and before you ask, that is how you spell his name…I know, I googled it!). You know what’s really interesting to me about the fact that scenes from that movie are probably dancing in your brain? That particular film came out in 1990!