Opinion

Wild parsnip blooms

Good Growing – Spotting the danger: toxic plants that look like carrots

The other day, I had the opportunity to chaperone a school group at a local state park. While on the field trip, a volunteer-led the students on a nature hike through the woodlands. At one point during the hike, the group leader grabbed a handful of two plants to share with the students but in doing so, misidentified one of the plants. Luckily it wasn’t a harmful plant that was picked. Yet, as I scanned our surroundings, noting stinging nettles and poison ivy, it reminded me of the importance of knowing which plants have the potential to cause harm. 

Tick

Good Growing – A bad year for ticks? Take steps to protect yourself

Ticks! I can’t stand these parasitic arachnids. I have had far too many run-ins with ticks throughout my life. They seem to find me every year. So far this spring I have found one lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) attached to me and I have caught several other ticks headed my way looking for a bite to eat.

Fortunately, lone star ticks are not known to transmit Lyme disease, but there are plenty of other ailments they can impart to their human host. One such affliction is the dreaded alpha-gal syndrome that makes humans allergic to red meat.

bible and cross

Focus on Faith – Are war and death real?

I recall a conversation I had with my father about war. I was around 12 years of age when I began to realize that war was more than playing with my green army men in the back yard sandbox. We had stayed up late one night to watch the 1955 classic, “To Hell and Back,” starring Audie Murphy, playing himself in the title role, as the most decorated Army soldier during WWII.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – One of my proudest moments

As most of you know, I like to write. I’ve always liked to write for pleasure, but when I was in high school there were certain subjects I didn’t like to write. History was one of those subjects.

I had one of the greatest history teachers ever and that was Adele Hegener. Adele knew her history backwards and forward and she loved sharing what she knew. The problem was I simply didn’t like history. It wasn’t until I was an adult and started studying the Bible that I realized the importance of history and how it affects all of us.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – Quality time, reunions and memoriams

My daughter, Tarra, and grandson, Mason, were here for a few days last week and we had so much fun.

Usually they only come for a weekend, but Tarra’s job takes her to Springfield several times a month. Last week they arrived on Wednesday since she had to spend Thursday and Friday in Springfield so I got to “babysit” my 20-year-old grandson. And,wow, did we have fun!

This young man takes such good care of his grandma. And we laugh and laugh. 

One of the things the three of us enjoy is playing board games. However, I’m not very good.We played Clue and I’m terrible at that one. Tarra wins almost every game, but she did allow Mason to win one.

Bible and lily

Focus on Faith – The Wisdom of Suffering

The Book of Job is a Christian favorite. For millenia, the faithful have opened up Job to encounter someone experiencing serious suffering, struggling with a mixture of faith and doubt. Most of us know the happy ending when Job gets double all he lost (one chapter), most of us know the strange beginning when God challenges Satan over Job (two chapters), but the real core of the book is the muddy middle. For 39 chapters, neither God nor Satan speak. Job and his three friends have to try and comprehend God in the wake of suffering. 

Periodical cicadas will be emerging across much of Illinois in 2024.

Good Growing – Periodical cicadas are here…now what?

The long wait is finally over! After spending 13 (or 17, depending on where you’re at) years underground feeding from roots, periodical cicadas have started to emerge (at least in central and southern Illinois). Soon, many places will be awash in cicadas. So, what can we expect now that they are beginning to emerge?

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – The fun of little boys

Growing up across the street from the marina had many perks, especially for my three brothers. 

Back when we were kids, there wasn’t a marina, but there was so much raw territory for my brothers to explore. I never joined them for their fishing, hunting or exploring escapades, mainly because of my fear of snakes. But my brothers never flinched. In fact, my brother Danny brought a snake in the house (unbeknownst to any of us) and hid it. Unfortunately for me, the rascal escaped and decided to live in my room. I can’t even begin to tell you the screaming I did as I walked in my room and a snake is slithering across the floor. I’m sure it broke the sound barrier.

Hands on the bible

Focus on Faith – Who is your neighbor?

Have you ever noticed that stories about people doing good or being kind are usually saved for the very end of most evening newscasts?  You know the kind of stories I am talking about, like when a community helps out a family in need or a serviceman or woman returns from overseas to be reunited with the family. On the other hand, what leads off the news each evening isn’t that uplifting. Stories about murder, terrorism, vandalism, fires, political drama and other not so nice news starts off the evening news.  We live in a pretty rough world. And that may be why the news ends with a positive story to make us all smile.

Bible and lily

Focus on Faith – Set apart from the world

Much of Jesus’ New Testament teaching points toward humility. An admirable quality then and now. Of course we know that Jesus came from humble beginnings. Born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem, raised in a backwater town called Nazareth. Jesus was humble and lowly.