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Opinions

Snake handlers and poison drinkers

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, March 31. 2020
By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

Modern Bible translations note that the Gospel of Mark probably originally ended at 16:8. Manuscript evidence indicates that the material found in Mark 16:9-20 was probably added a few decades after the Gospel was produced. Most of what’s in those verses is found in the other Gospels.

But Mark 16:18 has something than none of the other Gospels have. It says of believers in Jesus, “They will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them.” Some of us might be glad to know that verse isn’t part of the original Gospel. We might say, “Well, that’s not really part of the Bible, so I can ignore it.” [Full story »] 

When ‘normal’ is lost, the show still goes on

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, March 24. 2020
Kay S. Pedrotti
kayspedrotti@gmail.com

As the days crawl by – when you have no place you can go – and more information on COVID-19 joins the already overcrowded group of disseminators, I have had some serious time to think. First, I commend all the doctors offices, grocery stores, food distributors, restaurants, governmental bodies struggling with basic services, essential service employees (like plumbers!) and many more – but especially the hardy crew at The Herald Gazette/Journal Reporter. [Full story »] 

Ruffin’s Renderings: Repentance

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, March 17. 2020
By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

Many Christians observe the 40 days (not counting Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday as the season of Lent. The name “Lent” comes from an old word meaning “to lengthen,” and, since the days get longer in the spring, it came to name that season. Lent is a season of repentance that is often accompanied by fasting. [Full story »] 

Geiger’s Counter: At rest on the tracks

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, March 10. 2020
The old man walked out onto the railroad tracks where so much history has been made and observed. The trestle over River Road seemed a little worse for wear than it had on his last visit over 40 years prior. He took his time crossing on the creosote railroad ties that he had scampered across in his youth. The asphalt below seemed a much more perilous plunge. [Full story »] 

March 24 Primary: Unsolicited advice, bold predictions

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, March 3. 2020
By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

As I hope you know, the Georgia Presidential Primary election will take place on Tuesday, March 24. Advance in-person voting is now underway. [Full story »] 

Judicial circuit so sordid, criminals sit on the bench

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, February 25. 2020
EDITOR’S NOTE: This column was written by Bill Torpy and published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and on ajc.com on Feb. 19. Torpy is a highly-respected roving reporter/opinion columnist for the Atlanta newspaper and its online platforms. This is his long view of the happenings within the Griffin Judicial Circuit, which includes our neighbors in Pike, Spalding, Upson and Fayette counties, over the years. His views are his - not ours - and received the approval of the AJC editorial board.
What do you think? Is Torpy on target or is he way off base? You may respond via a letter to the editor or by commenting on our website at pikecountygeorgia.com.

By Bill Torpy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ten years ago, I headed south to the Griffin Judicial Circuit to cover a brewing scandal in which two of the district’s four Superior Court judges had to resign suddenly in disgrace. [Full story »] 

Ruffin’s Renderings: Let your light shine

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, February 18. 2020
By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

Sometime in the fifth century BC, not too many years after Jewish exiles returned to Judah from Babylon and several hundred years before Jesus was born, a preacher delivered a message preserved for us in the fifty-eighth chapter of the biblical book of Isaiah.
The preacher told the people that when it came to worship, they were missing the point. As with all preachers in that day, this one believed so strongly that he was speaking for God, he could actually quote the Lord’s words. So he presents the following words as if God is speaking them about the people: [Full story »] 

A bunch of caring clowns I cherish every day

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, February 11. 2020
By Kay S. Pedrotti
kayspedrotti@gmail.com

It seems almost sacrilege to describe my myriad Smith cousins as “caring clowns,” but that is the shortest way to tell you what kind of people they are. I do love all 25 of them, and we are all close friends, too. [Full story »] 

Ruffin’s Renderings: MacArthur Park, reconsidered

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Monday, February 3. 2020
By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

A few days ago, Debra and I had the privilege of joining our beloved friends, college roommates, and fellow travelers Randy and Jennie Berry at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur to hear Jimmy Webb talk about and play and sing some of the wonderful songs he’s written during the course of his career. [Full story »] 

Geiger’s Counter: Tall tales and memes

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, January 28. 2020
With the growth and expansion of social media, memes have become more and more popular. Though there are serious memes, most are humorous and it dawned on me the other day they are the modern version of the tall tales of yesteryear. [Full story »] 

Ruffin’s Renderings: Wars and rumors of wars

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, January 21. 2020
By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

War … What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! [Full story »] 

Our Christmas miracle and the sweatshirt reminder

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, January 14. 2020
Laura Geiger
Publisher

It’s every parent’s nightmare. Our daughter Livia had just called to tell me she was leaving Athens for Christmas break after a grueling week of final exams at the University of Georgia. “Be careful, the weather is terrible,” I said. [Full story »] 

Ruffin’s Renderings: Possibilities

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, January 7. 2020
By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I was sitting in a classroom at Gordon Grammar School in the late 1960s, reading an article in my Weekly Reader about the future of space travel. [Full story »] 

Youth Aviation Program flies past six year anniversary

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Tuesday, December 31. 2019
By Jim Hoak
planejim@bellsouth.net
 
Well, here it is! Our sixth anniversary as a Youth Aviation Program. We started with the goal of giving local young folks an opportunity to look at aviation as a possible future in their lives. As evidenced by the number of youths who have attained their Private Pilot and additional ratings, or Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certification, we have succeeded thus far. With the continuing support of all who have helped along the way, we will strive to keep Ron Alexander’s dream alive. [Full story »] 

Christmas Eve truce

Posted by
Rachel McDaniel
in Opinions
Monday, December 23. 2019
By Barbara Latta
kbkj@bellsouth.net

War doesn’t stop for Christmas. However, there was an unexpected truce one snowy Christmas Eve when a German mother brought two groups of enemies together.
Three Americans, one who was wounded, had become separated from their unit and were trudging through the Ardennes Mountains. After three days they discovered a small cabin nestled in the woods. The smoke from the chimney called to their cold bones and hungry bellies. [Full story »] 
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