Back in the early 2000s, when I received my annual Social Security projected earnings statements, they always included a warning at the bottom: without significant adjustments to the program’s revenues, it might only be able to pay 74 percent of projected benefits by 2034. I never got overly concerned about that forecast, figuring Congress had…
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Our pastor has been preaching through Genesis for more than a year, which has been instructive and eye-opening. In a recent week, we reached the story of Joseph, which begins in chapter 37 and continues through the end of Genesis. No matter how familiar the first book of the Bible may have been, his series…
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When the ruckus that led to Jerry Falwell Jr.’s leave of absence from Liberty University erupted a month ago, I dismissed it as a tempest in a teapot. I mean, imagine the outrage that would accompany a story about a Christian university president photographed with his arm around a young woman—not his wife!—at a party.…
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As August draws to a close and we near the end of summer, I can’t help thinking of summers past. They usually included a trip to visit family, old friends, or do some sightseeing. None of that in 2020, since COVID-19 made us reluctant to travel too far or mingle with large crowds. Given this…
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A couple years ago, I helped a retired businessman from California compile his memoir. His experience included smuggling Bibles into the Soviet Union and China in the mid- to late 1970s, a time when that literally meant risking your life. Some historical research I did to flesh out background details of his story were a…
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The recent coronavirus resurgence set people’s teeth on edge. Especially parents waiting to see whether their school will conduct in-person classes soon or return to spring’s online environment. Like everything else, the situation is fluid. Aside from school, it remains to be seen whether congregations will continue holding in-person worship services or—like a number of…
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Like so many other states, our governor here in West Virginia issued a mandatory mask order a month ago for anyone venturing out into public. It was yet another sign that no matter how tired we are of the coronavirus, this bug isn’t going away any time soon. Yet, while few will relate to my…
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With the resurgence of COVID-19, social unrest, and economic upheaval grabbing the share of news headlines lately, the demise of the personal transporter this month isn’t ranking at the top of the public’s consciousness. Yet the demise of the Segway is a sad phenomenon. It’s one that reminds every would-be inventor that it doesn’t matter…
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With cries of “fake news” and Facebook-fed rumors hurtling around, it’s easy to take the value of local news coverage for granted. Or, it was until the pandemic came along. As a former newspaper reporter and editor, I was used to keeping up with current events each day. Then in mid-March, along came so much…
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Our oldest great-nephew graduates from high school this week, but we won’t be there. The last time we checked, even his parents weren’t sure they would be admitted. In late June, a day before our great-nephew was originally scheduled to graduate, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the green light for outdoor ceremonies of up…
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