Opinion

The continuous warnings of scam artists and fraudsters may grow old and redundant, but a constant reminder that they exist and are a problem, especially for the elderly, is a must. According to the Senate Special Committee on Aging (SSCA), in 2018, nearly $3 billion was exploited and gleaned from seniors, and the number continues to rise with the wide use of technology...

Every time you look at Facebook or tune into the news, strife and blight seem to dominate. A conversation with my daughter one morning about the madness taking hold of this country, made me realize that, one, you can’t fix stupid, and two, every time I see it, it makes me mad. As a senior, it is important to take care of myself and controlling anger and the emotions that wreak havoc on my body is part of that healing. So, how does anger affect the body, and how can you control it?...

In these tumultuous times many have given into despair and have given up on the thought that we can once again unite as a country. It seems with all the issues we’re dealing with now as a nation, racial equality, political discord, the pandemic, we are drifting further apart and creating an atmosphere of anger and fear...

A fellow Christian of the Reformation, The Rev. Dr. Voddie Baucham, recently shared of a television program episode he watched broadcast on one of the old networks. This particular program featured a scene between a believer and unbeliever. The unbeliever asked the Christian to open her Bible to Leviticus 18:22, which says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” “Do you agree with that?” asked the atheist. ...

Most of the time when a book is mentioned in this library column, someone wants to reserve the book or at least wants to chat about the book. Writing about a new mysteries and thrillers last week, the DCL Director JoNell Minton had a suggestion, Memory Man by David Baldacci. ...

God’s true people today are Christians. The Jewish people today are not God’s special people as many mistakenly claim. Jews have the same opportunity to become Christians as do Gentiles. I am not motivated to say these things because of hate, but out of a love for the truth and souls. (John 8:32)...

If anything, this pandemic has created the need to look at the immune system and how it works in both young and old. More research is taking place regarding the aging immune system and the geriatric generation than any time before the pandemic because the medical community is finding 100-year-old plus seniors surviving the virus while people half their age are not. ...

There is so much division in our country at this time from so many different groups. It makes me wonder what the core problem is. Is it black versus white? Is it Democrat versus Republican? Could it be socialism versus democracy? Perhaps the core issue springs forth from a deeper issue...

Christians most likely know the story of the prophet Jeremiah, a.k.a. “the weeping prophet” who was thus dubbed because he mourned for the unrepentant people of Judah. When God announced that Jeremiah would deliver His Word to the people, Jeremiah balked, claiming he was too young, and therefore did not have the words to say to them. ...

Earlier, we studied 2 Corinthians 3:7-13 about the lifted veil. We want to examine a few more concepts that people fail to clearly see because of their mistaken ideas about the Old Testament system. Some people fail to fully appreciate Christ’s priesthood because they don’t understand that the Old Law is no longer in effect today. ...

The more things change the more they stay the same. That certainly rings true for me. I wrote my first column as editor of the DDD almost three years ago. It was titled Heritage or Hate and centered around the removal of Confederate monuments and statues...

The recent incivility in the streets of American cities highlight what heroic courage it takes to be in law enforcement, especially the grieving families of officers killed for evil done by someone else. As our elementary teachers taught us: two wrongs do not make a right. (Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter 3:9-14)...

A few weeks ago I listened to a female comedian, Leanne Morgan, share stories about her three children. This lady talked about her “baby girl” going to college. She was troubled over this and mentioned how she tried to convince her child into taking classes online so she wouldn’t miss her “baby child”. ...

In teaching recently from the first chapter of John in our Bible class, I noticed something interesting. John, three times in quick succession, interprets three words which would help his readers have a better understanding of their meaning. The book of John is called the “universal gospel” and was sent to people who might not be familiar with Jewish words and culture...

June is set for World Elder Abuse Awareness (WEAA) Month, and June 15 is WEAA Day. According to the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) in 2019, nearly 1 in 10, U.S. senior citizens are abused and neglected each year, but only 1 in 14 are brought to the attention of authorities. With a growing number of the population turning 65, and many of these with physical and/or mental deterioration, the possibility of abuse physically, mentally, and financially is even greater...

Over the last few months I’ve been asked to respond to all the messages I receive through email and social media regarding the issue of charging for the news. I’ve resisted because I don’t believe long threads of social media tirades solve anything...

Christianity is not merely 2,000 years old, but goes back to creation, where we read in Genesis 1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” He did so by speaking all things into existence. We also find those same three words opening the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ...

Human brains are genetically wired to seek and to satisfy basic survival needs. The act of seeking and realizing what we desire triggers activity in the reward network of the brain which eventually releases dopamine (reinforcing compulsive behaviors). ...

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, spoke of Moses wearing a veil to hide the glorious glow upon his face after appearing in the presence of God. This vail signified that the Old Testament could not be fully understood until the veil was removed. (3:14-16) Paul said about his day, “But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. ...

When taking a drug, how many times do you think about asking your pharmacist what foods mix or go against your condition? What questions do you ask when filling your prescriptions, and what should you ask to make sure you receive the full benefit of that prescription to cure what ails you?...

I have tried over the years to encourage community involvement. One of the ways to do this is commenting on articles in the DDD. I have asked for your input and tried to start a column directing questions from you to local mayors all to no avail. Aside from a few loyal commentators it just didn’t pan out...

A fellow pastor recently told me that the average percent of men who become pastors in our Synod (church body, denomination), but do not stay in the ministry all of their working lives is about ten percent. Later, I went to my office and took down the framed photo of my own graduating class and looked at the faces and names and judged only two I would not have been shocked to find that they were no longer in the ministry. ...

Even casual readers know summer is peak season for juicy fiction, swoon-worthy romance, gripping tell-alls, hair-raising thrillers, and the kind of escapism that can carry you away from wherever you are. Even if this summer’s staycation is by the pool in your own backyard or on the living room couch with the windows open and a fan going — there’s just nothing like this summer’s new reads to make any day feel like a relaxing escape...

“And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.” (Mark 2:12) Then, as now, Jesus causes people to be amazed. Jesus is amazing!...

Bringing a hospital back to the area has, for the moment, surpassed COVID-19 as the local top news story. That’s a blessing in itself. There are also two groups engaged in this effort. They are the Billionaires Funding Group and the Healthcare Task Force, with advisor/consultant Steve Clapp...