Opinions

Ruffin’s Renderings: My Christmas List

Posted by

in Opinions

Monday, December 10. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I remember when I wanted lots of things for Christmas. “How many things?” you might ask. Well, let’s just say that had I sent a letter to Santa, it would have required extra postage. [Full story »]

The heavens declare his glory!

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, December 4. 2018

By Beverly Brisendine
beverly.brisendine@gmail.com

Have you ever walked through a field at night, far from the lights of a city and paused quietly to view the skies above? There is an incredible silence in this experience for no human words can describe the boundless expanse of our universe. As we catch a glimpse of God’s infinite power and majesty we begin to sense what David experienced as he watched over his sheep in the fields of Bethlehem. Sitting under a magnificent canopy of stars he penned: “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork” in Psalm 19:1. [Full story »]

Hazel Harden

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Monday, December 3. 2018

Mrs. Hazel Alice Williams Harden, age 99, of Williamson, passed away December 1, 2018, at her home. She was born in Meansville, daughter of the late Columbus Andrew Williams and Mintora Laura Barnet Williams. She was a dedicated member of Flat Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Zebulon. She was a hairdresser and for many years she owned and operated Maxine’s Beauty Shop in Griffin. Mrs. Harden had a green thumb and enjoyed her flowers and garden, taking care of her home and was also a wonderful cook. She never turned away a stray dog or cat. She was loving and kind to everyone. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Opinions

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, November 27. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I’m grateful that Walter Geiger allows me to occupy this space every other week. I don’t know if he’s grateful that he agreed to our arrangement. I don’t plan to ask him. I figure he’ll let me know if he changes his mind about it. [Full story »]

Despite the chaos, I’m thankful for America

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, November 20. 2018

An outsider looking in may scoff at the notion but America, despite all its flaws, is still the greatest country on God’s good earth. Though they could not have dreamed what the world would look like 240 years hence, the founders of our system of government put together a pretty good framework back in 1776 that has stood the test of time. [Full story »]

Racketeering charges dropped against Veal

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Monday, November 19. 2018

By Walter Geiger

Racketeering charges against George Randall Veal of Milledgeville that came about after an investigation into a scam operation by Pike County investigators in March, have been dropped. Prosecution of a co-defendant in the case, Billy Daniels Sr. of Zebulon, is still a possibility. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Things I’m thankful for

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, November 13. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

As our annual day of Thanksgiving approaches, I thought I’d share some of the things for which I’m thankful. [Full story »]

Constitutional crisis

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Monday, November 5. 2018

By Anthony Vinson
advkdv@att.net

Some folks out there are using rhetorical origami to artfully fold the Constitution into sacred scripture, shield and sword. It is time to set a couple of things straight. [Full story »]

Help mission group stop local kids from being hungry

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Thursday, November 1. 2018

By Rod Folds
Christ Chapel Missions Pastor

Zero is my favorite number. Zero indicates complete success. What am I talking about you ask? [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: The Zombie Apocalypse

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, October 30. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

In an Oct. 21 story on NPR’s Weekend Edition program, I learned about a course that Professor Eric Smaw teaches at Rollins College called “Zombies, Serial Killers, and Madmen.” It’s the most popular course at the college. It’s a morning class now, but Smaw used to teach it at midnight. Spooky. [Full story »]

New fangled version of an old-fashioned barn raising

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, October 23. 2018

I used to spend a pretty good bit of time in the Macon County Mennonite community participating in dove shoots. There were 42 dairy farms packed into a relatively small area and all were producing corn silage. That meant lots of grain and lots of doves. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Accepting Responsibility

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, October 16. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

According to the most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we have until about 2030 to make drastic changes to prevent environmental catastrophe. [Full story »]

It is never wrong to share love!

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, October 2. 2018

By Beverly Brisendine
beverly.brisendine@gmail.com

It is never wrong to love! Think on this for a moment. How many times have we withheld love from a person whose behavior did not measure up to our expectations? Their behavior could actually be quite disgusting! We think that showing love to such a person would actually show them we condone their behavior. Oh, what about the person whose behavior has wounded us in some way? We certainly feel we are justified to withhold love from such a person. Right? Somehow in the recesses of our minds we have come to the wrong conclusion that unconditional love equals unconditional approval. There was one who unconditionally loved but did not unconditionally approve. It was Jesus Christ. If He did it, He will enable us to do it! [Full story »]

Think about volunteering before you complain

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, September 25. 2018

We just finished up with a very well-attended 45th annual Buggy Days. Unfortunately, there was a huge snafu with the parade that overshadowed what was an otherwise great weekend. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Winning and losing

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Opinions

Tuesday, September 18. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

As I write these words about a week before you’re reading them, the Atlanta Braves are seven and a half games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the battle for the National League Eastern Division pennant. The Braves’ magic number (the combination of Braves’ wins and Phillies’ losses that would give the Braves the championship) is 10. [Full story »]