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I thought the Bible was just fooling around,

Its intellectual reasonings were not very sound.

Some said Jesus speaks in times of great need,

And carried our burdens if only we will heed.

Now I am much too busy to listen to that,

Or get down on my knees to have a brief chat.

Maybe someday I will change my own mind,

If all of life’s treasures I manage to find.

Then along came troubles I could not bear,

No help was available I looked everywhere.

I thought I had friends but they did not arrive,

They couldn’t care less if I didn’t survive.

Then I decided to see if the Bible was true,

It said call on Jesus and He’ll bring you though.

Then I prayed, Lord here I am unworthy at best,

Have mercy upon me and give my soul rest.

Then all doubt vanished and faith took its place,

I said, “Glory to Jesus, I’ll now run the good race.”

I’ve never traveled to Outer Mongolia. One account I read of was a young man who backpacked through it. He expected no restaurants or hotels. So he packed a couple weeks of food along with him.

One thing he noticed was that it was impossible to litter in that benighted country. Every time he threw away a tin can, some woman would grab it before it hit the ground. For him it was garbage. For her it was a useful article in her household.

Let’s talk about making survival gear out of the things we throw away, instead of going out and buying it. What comes to mind first is a cup. I have half a dozen cups made from tin cans that originally contained food. I saved the cans. True, I filed the sharp edges down a bit, but an empty tin can makes a great cup.

CANTON HERALD, Dec. 22, 1949

The Van Zandt County Lawyers Association meeting in the county courtroom in Canton, Monday, Dec. 20, elected Buck J. Wynne of Wills Point president of the association for the ensuing year.

Funeral services for Spencer Starnes were held in the Methodist Church in Canton Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock.  Rev. Hooper Haygood, pastor of the Canton Methodist Church, conducted the services assisted by Rev. Lamar S. Clark, pastor of Glenwood Methodist Church Tyler. Canteron Spencer Starnes was born April 17, 1878, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Starnes who preceded him in death many years ago.  He passed away in a Dallas hospital from a paralytic stroke after having been ill many months.   He was married to Miss Daisy Coleman of Canton and to this union eight children were born.

CANTON HERALD,   Dec. 15, 1949

Funeral services were held for E. C. Weedin Wednesday, Dec.7, at the Norwegian Church in the Wise Community.  Services were conducted by Rev. Pitts, assisted by Rev. James V. Gray and W. A. Lansford.  Mr. Weedin passed away at the age of 64 years being born Jan. 11, 1855 and passing away Dec. 1949 in Mabank.  Death was caused from a cerebral hemorrhage.  He was married to Bessie McClary Dec. 22, 1911. They made their home in the Wise community where he had been a lifetime resident. He is survived by his wife and eight daughters.

It took me 74 years to realize that I was getting bad advice and my body was a mess. My weight was as high as 254, and the blood pressure had been as high as 204 over 105. My buddy, the Funeral Director, asked one day “You still here?”

I had been poked, prodded, stuck and billed by many expert doctors. The Diet Tycoons had my number and I tried most of them. The only thing I lost was a pile of cash.

I joined health clubs, read books and listened to the nutrition experts, was mesmerized by the TV health pundits and went up and down on the scales like a yoyo. 

On June 12, 2006 I changed. I made a decision, and I have stayed with it. I only take advice from those who walk the talk. I study professional athletes. Ironmen, Rangers, Seals, and distance runners.

I weave three questions into a casual conversation.

They took my Jesus to the cross

Drove nails through His hands and His feet,

They thrust a sword into His side and said,

Now our victory compete.

No cry was heard to accuse and to blame

No railing accusation,

But a prayer for mercy for the guilty

So wrong in their elation.

He cried out to His Father God

Thy will, not mine be done

He died for the sins of all mankind.

He was truly the Father’s Son.

Death was a friend who came in relief

The pain He suffered went away

To the grave he was carried by friends so dear

In the grave they thought He would stay.

But the grave couldn’t hold Him

The victory over death He had won,

He came out rejoicing and glorified

His countenance as bright as the sun.

He now lives forever to seek and to save

To answer His call is salvation

Well-organized records make it easier to prepare an accurate income tax return next filing season. The Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals to gather the adequate documents that can also help provide answers if their return is selected for an audit or to prepare a response if they receive an IRS notice.

“It’s important to keep records throughout the year so you can file a complete return,” said Clay Sanford, an IRS spokesman.  “Plus, you don’t want to forget something that could have qualified for a tax deduction.”

Don’t let them be a ‘pedextrian!’

Many parents will be giving their teens a smart phone this Christmas season.

While this amazing technology has made life much more convenient, it is well known that these devices are also responsible for many distracted driving crashes. What might not be apparent are the dangers that smart phones pose for teens when they are walking — especially crossing streets.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, 50 percent of all pedestrian deaths occur among young adults 19 years old and under. Injuries to older teens have increased 25 percent over the past five years.

Paxton, as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, initiated the court action on behalf of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the state agency potentially most involved with the resettlement process. In an explanation of his reasoning, Paxton cited the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980, a law requiring that the federal government consult with state authorities in advance of such relocations.

Sickness is a word we use

To express our inner feelings,

I am sick we say, most any day

And express a need for healing.

At times we ask, “Why does it come?”

And lay us down so low,

We take our pills and lay our beds

And wait for it to go.

Sometimes we need to look within

What causes my dismay?

And take away the bloom of health,

To make me feel this way.

Could it be something I have done,

Or thought, imagined or neglected?

Could it come purely as by chance

Or a feeling of being rejected?

We don’t know exactly why illness comes

But one thing makes good sense,

The Hand of God and a good attitude

Works wonders in our defense.

To love the Lord helps keep us well

Love each other is better still

For peace and joy and happiness

Is our Heavenly Father’s will.