Musings

By Rick Moore In the eleventh and twelfth grades, students were permitted to leave the school campus for lunch. I remember asking my friend Terry if he wanted to go to the pool hall to get a chilly cheeseburger. He responded by saying his dad would “skin him alive” if...

By Sean Dietrich It was our place. That’s what it was. I grew up in a little fishing village, nestled in the Florida Panhandle. This was long before the tattoo parlors, before the T-shirt shops, before Whole Foods and Bass Pro. Today our little town is not even a shadow...

By Sean Dietrich It's late. And I wasn’t going to write this, but I have to. Not only for me, but for the good of our children, and our children’s children. No matter how hard it is to address. I’m talking, of course, about the highly controversial issue of homemade...

By Rick Moore A boxer sends his opponent to the canvas, and the referee counts down from ten. As soon as he reaches zero, the fight is over and the referee raises a hand of the winner high into the air, proclaiming the new heavy-weight champion of the world! A...

By Rick Moore If you love someone, but that person doesn’t feel you love them, is it really love? The Bob Dylon song “Make You Feel My Love” was first released by Billy Joel, and continues to be sung by famous artists such as Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, and Adele....

By Kirk McCarley Today, more than ever perhaps, we crave leaders who demonstrate high standards of personal conduct and integrity.  The preponderance of information we see, read, and hear seems to argue a reality that is otherwise:  Violations of ethical standards.  Investigations.  Whistleblower testimony. The desire for moral and trustworthy leadership...

VALENTINE By Sean Dietrich I’ve seen her climb a mountain. On her birthday. No joke. I was beside her, praying for God to kill me. When we made it back to earth, she was so overcome with emotion all she could say was, “Sumbitch.” To which I agreed, “Sumbitch.” And then we...

By Victoria Ostrosky While in the military, Lee Barr and his wife Barbara lived overseas for a time, and while there, they met Brian Howard and his wife.  Brian invited Lee to church.  After a year of friendship and attending church together, Lee and Barbara both gave their lives to...

THE INVISIBLE MAN By Sean Dietrich I just met someone. An invisible someone. A man who—despite whatever his problems may be—isn't lost. A man who knows things. Who smokes used cigars. He sits on the steps of the Shell Station. A backpack beside him. His skin is rawhide. His beard is white. His...

Tis’ The Season By Rev. Pete Hyde The Thanksgiving newspaper hit the driveway with what must have been a three-pound-thud because of all the ads.  'TIS THE SEASON!! The Thanksgiving meal was prepared and devoured, leftovers put away, football games were watched, naps taken and strategy laid out for Black Friday.  Christmas decorations...