Columns & Editorials

Dear Aunt B,

A few weeks ago I wrote about adding a new little member to our family. Our Ausie-Pom puppy; Toby “The Dude” Leonard.

Many parents have experienced it. Their children’s (or their own) penmanship is barely legible. Even after several years in school, their handwriting is extremely poor. These learners may be bright, high achievers, but their handwriting does not reflect their academic ability. Teachers (and parents) may think the learner is “Lazy” or simply not putting forth effort to produce neat work. In some cases, this may be true, in others, a legitimate disability may be the cause of their poor penmanship.

The last judgment will be before GOD sitting on a Great White Throne. The people who will be judged there are the “lost” or the “dead” so called in the Bible. REVELATION 20: 11-15. The Bible says the dead, small and great, will be those who stand there to be judged. All saved Christians have already been judged. The judgment will not be for the sins people have committed, but all will be judged for their “works”. When Jesus died on the Cross He paid for the sins of the whole world.. I believe the last judgment will be to determine how deep each person will go into the lake of fire. Death and hell will cast into the lake of fire, the Devil and all his angels will also be thrown into the lake of fire. When we think about the horror of that time and many “good” people by earth’s standard will be thrown into the fire. Many will try to tell all the good things they have done in their lifetime, but when GOD looks into their souls and can’t see His Son Jesus Christ there He will say “depart” from me you workers of evil I never knew you. Jesus said there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Saints will be with Jesus judging the lost. What will it be like to see family members or relatives go into that fire?

Dear Aunt B,

I open my eyes. The dog on the floor stirs as if my wakefulness has an aroma or creates a silent whistle only canines can hear. The dog in the bed wiggles. The other dog in the bed stretches and shakes his head, long ears thwacking like helicopter blades. What day is it? I sit up in bed, my hair “pineappled” into a unicorn horn of a ponytail, because I read that’s the best way to preserve curls. It’s 6:41 am on a random Sunday. I feel my stomach churn. For so many people, weekends are times to relax, let go, throw caution to the wind. You’ve worked hard all week, after all. Weekends are for throwing rule books out of half open car windows on one’s way to doing something fun. Let’s go to the lake. Let’s go to the beach. Let’s go shopping. Let’s not care about whether the countertops are wiped down or beds are made. Those are concerns for stuffy, weekday adults, after all. But, alas, I don’t have those feelings. For 54 and one-half years, I only have one thought when I wake up on weekend mornings. Visitors (GULP). It’s time for the scary, judgy, vindictive, motley crew called random visitors.

Early voting for Texas Constitutional Amendments started this week and turnout is expected to be very low. There is a lot at stake and it is important to know what is in each proposed amendment. Here is a brief description of what we are voting on. Please read them and get out and vote.

We can’t love someone unless we know them. No one has ever seen GOD and lived to tell about it. If we are going to love GOD according to the Bible’s instruction, we have to “know” Him. That doesn’t mean to know about Him but to stay close to Him through prayer and obedience. That may sound easy but we have the enemy of GOD throwing temptations in our path 24/7. The devil knows our weakest part and will always start there to stop us from serving GOD. When a person is “saved” the devil loses that soul but he will do everything in his power to keep them from serving GOD.

Dear Aunt B,

From 1988 until 1992, a piece of animal meat never crossed my lips. I was young and impressionable, living outside of Texas for the first time. Mom to a toddler, pregnant with my 2nd child, and brand new to the northern sector of The Commonwealth of Virginia, I was searching for the meaning of life in a big way. DC suburbs were odd back then. I’ve never felt so unwelcomed, with my Texas accent and my big hair. I attempted to acclimate quickly. We didn’t have health insurance. I met a neighbor, a lovely woman whose heart broke when she saw my huge stomach, my kiddo in a stroller, and my tears. She introduced me to the concept of home birth and registered midwives. My family back in Texas thought I’d lost my mind. A baby born at home – why, wasn’t that illegal? Barbaric? But I took off one day, paper map in hand, to venture to a distant city called Alexandria for an appointment at the only listing for midwives I found in the yellow pages. That visit changed my life, as did the many trips to the Smithsonian in DC. Did I mention we were strapped for cash? What’s a 21-year-old pregnant woman to do with no gas and no way to pay for things? Hop onto the VRE and go into the city. Museums don’t cost an arm and a leg, and a brisk walk along the mall will silence the grouchiest preschooler. That’s the first time I ever saw a PETA booth. It changed my life, as well. But, soon, I would find myself back in Texas, pregnant again, a meat eater once more. I was doing good to feed my kids, let alone make a separate vegetarian meal for myself. The lure of a meatless diet did not die with those years, however. I have been an on again, off again vegan for most of my adult years. My Texas family chimed in many times, with criticism and good-natured ribbing. No meat? Are you a communist or something? Finally, the experts hopped onto my bandwagon. All the celebs are vegan. Meatless Mondays are a thing, per Good Morning America. I became smug, a vegetable satiated know-it-all. Thankfully, my inner Maya Angelo kicked in around a year ago. I learned better. Everything changed.

Generally speaking, investing is a longterm process. You invest in your IRA and 401(k) to reach a long-term goal – retirement. You may invest in a 529 education savings plan for many years to reach another long-term goal – college for your children. But is there also a place in your portfolio for shorter-term investments?

Unfortunately, social media often has more influence on youth behavior than parental example and influence. I’m referring specifically to the TikTok challenges that inspire typically well-behaved young people to take risks or commit unsavory or illegal acts to net a degree of social media fame. According to an article in the Dallas Morning News, a current challenge that is vexing North Texas schools and schools everywhere is known as “Devious Licks.” In the Devious Licks challenges, participants video themselves stealing, moving and in some cases, destroying school property and equipment as each challenger tries to outdo each other with bigger, bolder, and often more expensive acts of theft or vandalism.

Many people seem to think that being a Christian means living a dull and drab life with a long face and no fun and games or excitement in their lives. I believe that is one of the most powerful weapons that the devil has to use on people to keep them from accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Christian life is filled with joy and fulfillment. We go to Church to worship GOD and serve Him wherever He sends us. The earthly life brings laughter and good times, but only for a short time and then something else must be found to bring back the fun and games. Faithful Christians have GOD’S presence in their lives 24/7. They experience joy, peace, and safety when GOD is present. I can’t see how life could be any better than that.