Beech Tree News Network

To help or not to help? The answer seems obvious. In Butler County, we have the privilege to help others freely and this is what the soup kitchen is all about. The soup kitchen serves hot, fresh meals three times a week for two hours to anybody who needs a meal. I feel honored to live in a community that still allows us to openly assist others. But in other cities in the US, laws are being formulated to ban or restrict feeding the homeless or people in need. This is taking away our freedom to help people if we wish to do so.

In the winter, I take more time to read than in the summer months. My recent reading has been without much of a pattern. Some of that random information is included below:

I’m a relatively tolerant person, but every once in a while, I’ll cross paths with a person who rubs me the wrong way.  More times than not, their behavior has something to do with the way they are treating children or animals.

John the Baptist plays a very important role in the first century. It was he who prepared the people for the coming of the Lord (Isa. 40:3-6; Lk. 3:2-6). He stands out in the Bible for the work he did. In fact, he was prophesied as coming “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Mal. 4:5-6; Lk. 1:16-17; Matt. 17:11-12). Yet, after a time of preaching and preparing the people for the coming Messiah and His kingdom, we see him die at the request of a wicked woman (Mk. 6:22-28). Why did John die? Let me suggest to you some reasons why he died.

Beginning this week, I’m starting a “When I discovered” series.  This will focus mainly on music.  I will begin with my favorite old school rock band of all time-Queen.  As with most things, I was late to the party with Queen. Queen’s final album called Innuendo in 1991. 

January 20th marked President Obama’s sixth State of the Union Address. It is the first time during his presidency that Republicans have held the majority in both houses of Congress. Many of us listened to President Obama’s speech, and it’s also available on the Internet.

You’ve pulled out my brain and stomped that sucker flat.
“It’s a judgment call,” said first wife Bett.
We were on the way home late one afternoon and we were discussing: “when the gloaming quits and twilight takes over. We’ve done this after late in the day-it’s sort of a running joke. I usually bring it up when the sky presents the opportunity. She usually responds with “not again.”
“Well,” I bravely press on, “what about dusky dark? I’ve heard of that.”
“That’s the same as twilight,” Bett explains.

One very frustrating day last week, I told God I needed an answer.  The question to which I needed an answer was, “Why do I have so much trouble dealing with my family?”  I know what you’re thinking.  Why does anybody have so much trouble dealing with their family?  I wasn’t being simple-minded when I put the question to God.  He knew what I meant.  Why, when I’m in the presence of one or more family members, do I feel like my brain is going to explode?  Why do I have to fight the urge to run screaming out the door? 

In the long ago, Solomon said, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered” (Ecc. 1:14-15). This is a hard truth for many to grasp. Put simply, there are some things in life that we cannot change!
 

The podcast has its origins in 1980.  It was first known as audio-blogging.  With the advent of broadband broadband internet and portable digital audio playback devices such as the iPod, it began to really catch fire late in 2004.  Combining the words iPod and Broadcasting, everybody and their brother seems to have a podcast.  Sportscasters, personalities and players have podcasts.  A lot of wrestling personalities these days have podcasts.