Opinion

For centuries dating back to the ancient Egyptians, honey has had many uses besides a great sweetener. The Egyptians used it for embalming fluid, and because of its natural antibiotic component, it was also used as a dressing for wounds. Today, it is still used for everything from wound care to cough suppression. According to Webmd.com, it is especially useful for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and holistic practitioners consider it as one of nature’s best natural remedies...

With the arrival of summer I’m reminded of so many memories from this area. Although, I was primarily raised in northern Illinois, many trips were made throughout my life visiting relatives in the bootheel. The roots of my family are here. A lot of these trips were in the summer. On average we spent about three weeks a year in the Kennett area during the summer with other trips throughout the year...

Your children or grandchildren have questions about God, although they may not be asking. That may be because they don’t know what to ask. Children and adults leave church every Sunday after worshiping God for His grace for His people and enter into the land of secular fundamentalism with its cavernous, amoral void leaving many forgetting what God has to do with any of us. ...

Library traffic increases in the summer months. Some individuals have more time off from work. They seize those moments to read all the books on their “to read later” list. Reading is an activity that seems solitary is spoken of freely with enthusiasm and abandon. ...

Fanny J. Crosby’s hymn “Near The Cross” is a beautiful song which encourages everyone to get near the cross and stay near. The song mentions the shadow cast by the cross and that one should not move so far away as to leave its shadow. The song’s chorus encourages one to glory in the cross of Christ. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ …” (Galatians 6:14)...

After my mother fell and fractured a hip, I discovered what many children of elderly parents have gone through, especially if they are covered under Medicare and not Medicaid. This column is meant to help those who are headed into their senior years, as well as those who are already there, or the children who are caring for them...

As we celebrate Flag Day I like to look back on some of the most memorable moments involving our flag. Betsy Ross sewing the first stars and stripes on the American flag. The name “Old Glory” being given to the flag by Captain William Driver. Raising the flag over Iwo-Jima and of course Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planting the flag on the moon...

A Christian missionary in Turkey for some twenty-three years has been released from two-year captivity after receiving help from President Trump and his administration. The missionary is warning Christians that persecution is coming here. In a recent speech to a gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention, The Rev. ...

When my husband and I were dating and getting serious about our future, I asked how many children would he want to have. His reply, “Enough for a baseball team!” Now I love baseball, but his comment did rather shock me. I did not let the surprise show yet in my head I kept spinning the line “that is nine kids and I hope he doesn’t want a relief pitcher!” We did marry, and we got almost half-way to a full roster! We have four children—today they are four great young adults. ...

Sadly, many today in this country do not have a very high opinion of religion and would say it makes them feel bad. Past generations did not share this low evaluation of religion by today’s generation. Possibly, the title question above is not a good one. ...

Losing weight and getting healthy has been my focus since January. After making that cyclical New Year’s resolution to lose the weight and failing to follow through each year, I decided to become dedicated to it after receiving for Christmas, two books from a friend: “The Plant Paradox” by Dr. ...

Kennett was rocked once again this week with the news of a major employer leaving the area. Parker-Hannifin announced Tuesday they would be phasing out their hose products facility in Kennett and closing in September. I’ve talked to many people during the week concerning this loss and the effect it will have on our community...

This year we Christians celebrated Easter on April 21 (the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrated a week later, as usual). Jesus walked on the earth for forty days after His resurrection then ascended into heaven (Ascension Day, always on a Thursday, this year May 30). ...

“Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful” (Romans 1:31) This scripture is taken from a long list of sins mentioned by Paul which occurs when men reject God. (Romans 1:24-25) Being “without natural affection” is a sin worthy of spiritual death. (Romans 1:32; 6:23)...

Today, in a fast-paced world of immediate gratification, fast-food, too much sugar, and very little exercise, there is a rise in poor health, heart disease, obesity, and dementias. These issues do not just belong to the old anymore, even the younger generations are having heart attacks and living with dementias earlier than previous generations. Why? Could it be the food we eat and the lack of time to properly prepare it?...

A component of relationships that seems to be missing these days is compromise. Not just in personal relationships but relationships in general. A good example is congress. It isn’t just in Washington D.C. either. Lack of compromise is apparent in local governments as well...

It is true that the average length of retirement in the United States is eighteen years. Decades ago, I worked with a man who had worked very hard, saving and scrimping for his retirement. The day of his freedom from work did finally arrive, but his wife had a few more years to go before they could travel together and see the sights they had always planned. ...

What makes a good teen or tween fiction novel is pretty much the same as the ingredients for a good adult fiction novel. However, juvenile fiction has some relatable elements for teens and tweens as well as for those who love those kids. Young adult fiction must come from a wholly different mindset. After all, this category has its own rules, its own quirks, and its own very opinionated audience: teens and tweens...

Do you have to be entertained every moment of the day? It seems that a majority of Americans today are out of control when it comes to their desire to be entertained. They have an insatiable desire for constant entertainment. Television, movies, sports and travel are “old-school” forms of entertainment still around. ...

As we honor our military men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice this Memorial Day, I’d like to share some insight concerning Gold Star families. Gold Star families are the surviving family members of military personnel who died in an active duty status...

You have likely heard of read that today there are more dogs in American households than there are children. People like dogs because they are loyal, not expensive (unless you are willing to spend maybe tens of thousands of dollars, for Rover’s cancer treatment). They can offer protection for the house and property. In other words, they are useful to us. Children can be poor investments if you are looking at them to exist for your benefit...

What do “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, “The Catcher in the Rye”, “The Great Gatsby”, “Native Son”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Fahrenheit 451”, and “The Adventures of Captain Underpants” have in common? At one time or other, someone has tried to ban them from classrooms and public or school libraries...

Sometimes, people feel uncomfortable around preachers because they do not know by which title they prefer to be called. The solution is to wear no titles since Jesus condemned the wearing of titles. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. ...

For the last and final ailment of eight listed by Lisa Haney in her AARP article “They Won’t Kill You, But they Sure Make You Miserable,” is the frozen shoulder. Although Haney gives this one an eight on her “misery factor” scale, this ailment can be more than just a pain in the arm. How does one come up with frozen shoulder, and what can be done to avoid it or repair it when it appears?...

I’ve been to a lot of graduations this year. The DDD covered 11 school’s commencement ceremonies. It’s a good thing I enjoy these events. They all have similarities. The senior class entering, family members looking on with tears in their eyes, awards given, and speeches made...