Beech Tree News Network

Questions can be effective tools when teaching people. Jesus knew the power of questions and asked them often when He taught folks. Let us look at two questions Jesus asked and make some applications to ourselves.

Our pets are part of our family.  Our pets understand.  Whatever our mood, our pets are always there.  They’re there to comfort.  They can and will instantly put you in a good mood when things are going rotten.  Plain and simple, our pets are our friends. 

The warmer weather makes me want to be outside more. Saturday, I weeded around the flowers in my yard and enjoyed the sunshine. I’ve noticed that my daughters and others have begun to walk for exercise – I haven’t gotten into that routine yet. But, these activities have caused me to focus on my need to get rid of my winter weight and to curb my snacking tendencies. My weight concern is very definitely health-related.

Thoughts:  The Bible tells us of a man who declared; “My barns are bursting and running over. I will pull them down and build bigger ones (and fill them too).”  To this God said, “You fool, this night your soul will be required of Me.”

I stayed some with my stepmom, in Taylorsville, last week.  She had hip-replacement surgery.  She’s eighty-two years old and is still one of the strongest women both physically and mentally I’ve ever known.  She had surgery on a Monday, went from the hospital to rehab the following Saturday, and from there to her home by the next Saturday.  When I got there on the following Tuesday, she could do just about anything she needed to do, provided she didn’t get far from her walker—doctor’s orders.  Mom has always been like that.  Most people from that generation have always been like that. 

 A few months ago, there was a news report about the Irving Middle School in Lincoln, Nebraska, and their decision to not refer to their students as “boys” and “girls”, but rather in “non-gender” terms. Specifically, a training document was distributed to the faculty discouraging them from identifying their students according to gender. Instead, they were to use “gender inclusive terms” when referring to the students.

James Best, best known as bumbling yet endearing Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane, passed away this week from a brief illness and complications from pneumonia.  The 88 year-old(youngest of 8 brothers and a sister), was born Jewel Franklin Guy in Powderly, KY July 26, 1926 to parents Lena May Everly(sister of Ike Everly, father of Don and Phil) and Larkin Jasper Guy.  After spending a short time in an orphanage following his mother’s death in 1929, the young boy was adopted by Essa and Armen Best and moved with them to their home in Corydon, Indiana. 

Sometimes in the middle of a problem, one of life’s little pleasures helps me to realize “this too shall pass.” For example, turning on the fireplace during a chilly evening or allowing myself to wake without setting an alarm makes me feel better – a little pleasure. The simple things can offer us a little breathing space.

Dear Editor,

Over the past five months, I been a part of a statewide campaign familiar to some as #StandWithStudents.  Spearheaded by members of the Prichard Committee Student Voice Team, its purpose is to elevate the level of conversation surrounding students’ participation in school governance.

Twice, on Thursday night, at near midnight, I chased my beagle around the front yard with a flyswatter—in my pajamas, barefoot, and in the rain.  He was howling at something in the nearby pasture, something that wasn’t supposed to be there, probably a coyote.  Twice, he started howling again as the front door closed behind him.  He had chosen to howl from the front porch for two reasons, I supposed: one, it was dry; two, the acoustics reverberated the sound in such a way as to make his howl multiply in ferocity.  It was after the second chase round the front yard, I realized my efforts were