Beech Tree News Network

2024 legislative session underway

As the holidays end and the new year begins, the legislature is back in the capital city to do the work of the people. Though the first week of the legislative session is primarily occupied with administrative business, more than a hundred bills were filed. We will take up dozens of them before we adjourn on April 15, but by far the most important issue on our agenda is the state budget.

I might have told you this before—as I age, I find I tend to repeat myself—but when Garey and I began dating, 49 years ago now, he told me he was the Golden Glove boxing champion of Alabama.  He wasn’t.  That didn’t stop me from believing him, however, and bragging about it to my friends, one of whom asked him about it.  He thought it was hilarious that I actually believed him.  I was not amused.  He had told me that little factoid in response to my asking him how his arms go so muscled up.  Garey was buff when we first met.

We sometimes see or hear the question asked, “What would Jesus do?” In this article, however, I wish to ask whether or not Jesus would do what we are doing. Would He be practicing what we are practicing? May we take these thoughts to heart …

For my first column of the new year, I have more facts from one of my favorite AXS shows, Top Ten Revealed.  From Guns N Roses’ 1988 debut album Appetite For Destruction, their hit “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was written by lead singer Axl Rose about his then-girlfriend Erin Everly, daughter of ½ of the Everly Brothers Don Everly.  

I recently watched an ABC show that “reviewed” 2023 – basically an editorial of events during the year. This caused me to think about some things that I noted through the past year. I’ve broken my thoughts into categories below.

You know that place on the very top of the ladder that says, THIS IS NOT A STEP.  It isn’t.  I’m not sure if that’s what the step said that Garey stepped on when the ladder slipped, and he fell 12 feet, but that’s what it should have said.  That or TURN BACK or DON’T DO IT!  

How many times have we heard people say words to the effect, “If you tell me that there is only one way to Heaven, then you are condemning me (or my family, etc.).”? Is this a valid charge?

It’s time for my year-end Big Dummy Awards.  This year, there is a twist on my awards:  times where Hollywood treated US the viewer like a big dummy.  We’ll start with tv shows with characters who inexplicably disappeared.  A few seasons ago, it was even the subject of an episode of Mo Rocca’s Mobituaries podcast.  Sure, television characters die or are otherwise written out of a series all the time.  Occasionally, they stop appearing with no explanation or acknowledgement whatsoever. Here are a few examples.

One thousand years before Christ, David wrote, “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Ps. 127:1).

As we approach the holiday season, I extend warm wishes to each of you and your families and a heartfelt merry Christmas. During your busy schedules, I encourage you to carve out a few moments for family and reflect on the true reason for the season.