One time I heard a story about a little boy who crawled under a big tent, thinking he was getting into the circus free, but when he got inside it turned out to be a revival meeting. Life is filled with surprises and disappointments of various kinds, but this is one facet of life which makes it so interesting. When you think about it, I believe you will agree that much of the drama of life would be destroyed if this were not the case. From my perspective, it would…

On a day-by-day basis, how we view our circumstances in life is often a matter of perspective, and this is especially true when it comes to raising children. Here is an example of what I mean: One time a woman said to a friend, “Our marriage would have broken up years ago if it hadn’t been for the children. We can’t get a divorce, because he won’t take them and neither will I.” Children are a precious gift from God, but they don’t always perform or act in a manner…

Some time ago, my wife and I attended a graduation exercise for a class of nurses at one of our fine hospitals in nearby Little Rock. Near the end of the program, the head instructor read something titled, “What is class?” It was so good that I went to her afterwards and asked for a copy of it. In today’s times, we often hear it said of someone that they have “class”, but have you ever thought about what the word “class” really means when it’s used in this way?…

Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Any government, like any family, can for a year spend a little more than it earns. But you and I know the continuance of that habit means the poorhouse.” How many people do you know in today’s society who spend more than they earn? Our nation’s collective massive credit card debt, amassed by individuals, should give you a hint. From my observation, I think one of the hardest lessons for many people to learn in today’s times is how to do without. It’s…

As it relates to personal success, have you ever heard or read this statement before: “The person without a goal is like a ship without a rudder.” If you will stop and think about this statement, I believe you will realize that it’s true. More importantly, however, in terms of how it may benefit you, if you are not already a person who sets goals, this simple idea could make a real difference in your future. To enable you to gain greater insights into what I’m saying, please consider this:…

Since the beginning of recorded history, the family unit has always been one of the essential building blocks in the success of an empire or a nation. The late William Thayer expressed it this way: “If well ordered, they are the springs from which go forth the streams of national greatness and prosperity, of civil order and public happiness.” As leaders in the homes of America, our decisions will often affect our family for years to come. According to the Bible I’ve been reading for the past several years, not…

In almost 25 years of writing this column, I have had the privilege of getting to know a great number of newspaper people across the country. But there is one thing I can say for sure, I have never known but one who spent almost all of his life, over 63 years, working at the same paper. The one I do know is Frank Datta, owner-publisher of the Wibaux Pioneer-Gazette, based in Wibaux, Mont. I am proud to say that my column has run in his weekly paper, on page…

The date of May 10, 1869, was a very significant one in the history of our country. On this date the Transcontinental Railroad was completed. A gold spike was driven at Promontory Summit, north of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, linking the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads. This could be called America’s first great engineering feat, even though it actually involved hard work, tremendous danger and great amounts of money. The idea was first promoted by a young engineer named Theodore Judah. He identified Donner Pass in Northern…

Did you hear about the man who read so much about the harmful effects of drinking, smoking and gambling that he decided to give up reading? Unfortunately this is the same reaction that many people, young and old, have when they are warned about the harmful effects of doing or being involved in any number of harmful activities. One of those activities that is on the front burner these days is “vaping,” or the use of E-cigarettes. According to a recent study by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, E-cigarette…

When I was in the printing business many years ago, I remember working with some employees who moved about so slow that we had to line them up with a post to see if they were moving. To be sure, these employees were not in line for a pay raise. The famous American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) once said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” This is so true. We are not going to accomplish very much on a job or in a lifetime if we do not…