Check Your Mirrors

A loose estimate of the number of sermons/Bible lessons I have heard while parked on a pew or sitting quietly in class: at least 5,000. Work with me on the math. In almost 65 years, I have lived 3,380 Sundays. Double this because the Sullivans/Mayes attended Sunday morning and Sunday night.

Purposing in our Heart to Trust in God

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Researcher spotlights ‘invisible incentives’

The Texas Enterprise Fund took a hit for lack of transparency in a new research paper from the National Freedom of Information Coalition. The paper by journalist Steve Miller is titled “Invisible Incentives: How Secrecy Impedes Evaluation and Accountability of Economic Development Subsidies.

Old Glory News

Praise the Lord, we have been so Blessed with a beautiful, precious rain that we have needed so badly. God is Good. Thanks be to God. I guess everyone had a good Thanks giving, the best due to the virus. It sure was not the same without big family gatherings.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

First, let me say to the two new members of the board congratulations. I look forward to working together with you to keep healthcare in this county, and the two others that we serve, as well as working toward a strong future within this region of Texas.

2 CENTS WORTH

Wow! It's kind of chilly in Aspermont, Texas this morning, Joe told me he wasn't getting outside until it go warm, he's a fair weather kid this morning.

Faces & Places

“In the desire to protect the unfit from nature’s cruel consequences and to render the fit fitter, we have case (cast) a burden upon the fit which has rendered him unequal to the task. In allowing the unfit to reproduce their kind we are doing our best to lower the level of life.

The Power of Democracy

If you would like to receive email delivery of my writings, please consider subscribing at westof98. substack.com. Currently, the weekly “Essays from West of 98” (focused on the big picture of rural revitalization and leadership) will publish on Mondays.

THE INFLUENCE OF PAUL BAKER

Late in my sophomore year at Baylor I signed up for a history class with a popular professor. I wasn’t really enthused about that and one night during a dorm bull session, a student mentioned he had taken a course from Paul Baker in the theater department and it opened his mind.

The government or you? Who should decide who is coming to your Thanksgiving dinner?

I’m a person who lives for our big Thanksgiving get-togethers. I dream of them. Arlene and I, along with the rest of our family, plan the details months ahead. My beautiful and crazy sisters and husbands fly in days in advance and the party is usually in full swing by Tuesday evening.