My wife Janis is a very wise and discerning person. She said something the other day that I believe merits sharing with you, because there is a real lesson here for each of us. We were talking about a member of her extended family that I had never met, and she had not seen in years. This person I am talking about has or had a very cantankerous nature and had a way of doing things or saying things that rubbed you wrong, regardless of how hard you tried to…

As the old saying goes, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” I have no complaints, as the Lord has blessed me with excellent health. When I was much younger, I had a couple of triple bypass surgeries because of my eating habits -- greasy steaks on the grill will do it every time. But other than that, my insurance companies have made money on me. Now, here at age 85, the problem with my teeth has caught…

With all the bad news we get each day, how about some great news for a change? Back in 2018, I told you about a remarkable young man by the name of JoVoni Johnson. At the time he was a 10th-grade student from a single-parent home who had received one of our personalized bookcases in 2005, the very first year we started our project. His grades were so good in 10th grade that he was already getting scholarship offers from colleges around the country. He came and spoke to us…

It has been said that a small town is where everyone knows what everyone else is doing, and then you read the weekly paper to see if you have been caught in it. Shortly after Janis and I began to see each other back in 2015, we had lunch together at Mather Lodge Restaurant, located on top of Petit Jean Mountain. This restaurant is out of the way and more than 50 miles from home. Wouldn’t you know it, an old friend we both knew came by our table and…

In my 85-plus years I have never seen the massive amount of violence and bloodshed that we have in our nation today. As I write this column there have been more than 200 mass shootings so far this year, and it’s not even half over. To be sure, a lot of people are working on a solution, and most will require massive amounts of money. I have an idea that I would like to share with you and invite you to think about it. If you agree, work with me…

Did you hear about the man who was running for office? When he got to the courthouse to vote, he looked over the list of candidates who were running for the same office, and decided several were better qualified than he was, so he voted for someone else. This old boy was brimming with confidence, wouldn’t you say? There is a famous poem titled “The One in The Glass” that I thought about when I heard this story. If we are to ever succeed in office or in life, we…

As a Christian, I believe it is my duty and my responsibility to speak up and speak out when I see or hear something that is totally un-Godly and un-Christlike, especially when it is not in the best interest of our country. Several weeks ago, I was watching television one evening and there were two beautiful women sitting on a couch together. In a moment they looked at each other and, before I could say “johnny apple seed,” they were in a long and passionate kiss that lasted for almost…

If you have a heart for children, you will really appreciate what I want to share with you today. We all know there are thousands, perhaps millions, of children across our nation who have a rough road to travel. Many are abused and neglected, which to me is a very sad story. I have a friend, and fellow church member, who is making a difference for at least some of these children. Back on August 1, 2007, Andrew Watson and his wife, Marla, officially opened the doors of Soaring Wings…

You know, from time to time life has a way of bringing you back to reality. A few weeks ago, I was invited to submit a copy of my latest book “Your Future Begins Today” to go in a time capsule that will be dug up in 150 years, which will be 2173. This took place as part of the celebration for our county’s 150-year celebration on April 12, 2023. While certainly I won’t be around in 2173, it makes you curious who will be. Will we still be a…

Back in the days when I was selling Earl Nightingale’s attitude motivation programs for a living, I was often invited to come to various companies and teach their people how to be more effective in planning their days and increasing their sales. It did not take me long to realize that one-time motivational talks do serve a useful purpose, but unfortunately, they also wear off very quickly. This is kind of like taking a bath once a month, and we know how that will turn out.             On the other…