Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Generally speaking, when you feel stupid it’s because you just got smarter. Queen Elizabeth’s birth was probably announced via a telegram and her death via a Tweet. There’s something profound in the fact that wolves went from being our bitterest enemies to our closest friends. Bond 26 will be the first James Bond film where he officially serves a king. Giving a book as a present is a great idea; you can read it yourself before wrapping it up. Life starts as a whole bunch of firsts, but slowly without us noticing becomes a whole bunch of lasts...
Georgia, I have a question. I’m Gen X and I have a huge problem with how I am left carrying the weight for Millenials. For example, I’m 42 and my daughter is 22. She decided a while ago she does not want any kids. She’s actually getting a procedure for sterilization next year. But those souls needing to come into our family for ancestral or karmic reasons still need to be born. So I’m stuck birthing and raising two babies who should have been born to her but can’t be because she’s too selfish to have kids. We joke how my 1.5-year-ol...
When the subject of heaven and hell come up, some people listen intently, almost as if they are searching for an answer. But, others seem to run and hide. Over the last two months of columns, I have walked this journey with you, the reader. I want to say now, here at the end of struggling with you, the matter boils down to God’s grace and justice. Either we will confront our sinfulness and acknowledge the need for Christ to be our personal Savior, or we will face God’s justice by rejecting his grace and thus spend eternity in isolation and lon...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, think about waking up very early or staying up late to enjoy some quiet time. You can improve upon this sense of peace by enjoying the respite outdoors. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 You may be tempted to live the week in a fantasy world, Taurus. However, there are too many pressing issues that need your attention for you to tune out. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, this will be a week to focus on financial gain, but don’t put too much swagger into your business negotiations; otherwise, your plans may backfire. CANCER Jun 2...
The odds of being born are 1 in 400 trillion but there is no one in the world who hasn’t beat those odds. Given Elvis Presley’s popularity, it’s surprising more people aren’t named Elvis. Western Boomers were underqualified people who had the chance to do great things. Western Millenials are the most overqualified people, forced to do menial things. So many things were invented because people were lazy, but so many things weren’t invented because people were lazy. People who live in climates with four seasons probably appreciate summer we...
Dear Georgia, After years of shopping at Walmart, I have become aware that the acceptable shopping attire at these stores is pajamas, of varying sorts, and to one degree or another. I’m not mentioning any place names or my age, but in the time and place where I grew up, this would not have been in the least acceptable. However, times DO change, and as they say, When in Rome... So anyway, my question. Since most days I wear pajamas all day since I work from my home office, do I need to change into my nighttime PJs before I head out to W...
If you have felt discouraged and overwhelmed at times consider the often quoted Billy Graham: “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ “Help me.’” Help me, indeed. In my sermons and thoughts lately, I have attempted to be of encouragement. I continue today’s introspection by reminding you to keep your eyes on heaven. First, you are valuable to God. Jesus spoke in parables to help his audience and us understand God the Father. F...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 This week you may need to carve out some alone time to get yourself centered again, Aries. Too many things have been pulling you in different directions lately. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Don’t feel the need to conform to what others expect from you, Taurus. You don’t have to fit into a mold. Figure out what works for you and go with it. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, some heavy issues may be coming your way and you’ll need to work through them. This may be something that requires collaboration with others. CANCER Jun 22/Jul 22 Do...
Of all of the common household flies people have killed so far in our existence, flies have not evolved to avoid humans. You are probably still ‘it’ from an unfinished game of tag. Driving safely is less about how you drive, and more about how you predict other people will drive. Humans are the apex species on the planet yet the majority of us have never hunted prey to feed ourselves. The human brain is so powerful that it can overpower the will of itself. People can’t use you if you’re useless. We spend all our teenage lives longing for the...
AMERICA’S RUBICON. On January 10, 49 B.C. Caesar and his army crossed the Rubicon River. By formally entering the Roman Empire he knowingly committed treason as it was against the law to cross the river with an army. Since that event, the phrase “Crossing the Rubicon” means reaching a point of no return. Through his actions, Caesar ignited a Civil War that signaled the end of the Roman Republic, and once again history would pivot around the fall of one of the world’s greatest empires. When the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago they crossed their own Rub...
Dear Readers: Jo has retired from her column, at least for the time being. Please welcome Georgia, our newest satire etiquette advice giver! Georgia, I have a question, How do I convince my cousin, who is dead set on a home birth, NOT to do an at-home circumcision on her son? Her husband is training to be a veterinarian and currently crops ears and docks tails, so she thinks he should be able to perform a circumcision just fine. This makes me very nervous for the baby! Signed, What to Do?!? Dear What, WHAT!!!???!!! Ears and tails are NOT the...
You’ve observed no doubt that nature provides us with many parallels: a butterfly has two wings. In thinking of eternity, many fear death—that parallel with life. Joy and contentment contrast with loneliness and despair. Throughout history, we have faced harmful teachings, and this reality is no different today. Popular writers and “preachers” have been attempting to erase away the doctrine of hell. Those who reduce everything to nonbelief, we call them annihilationists, espouse the unredeemed will either cease to exist upon death or (after the...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Listen to the people around you as well as your inner voice this week, Aries. With all the information at hand, you can make some difficult decisions with confidence. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, it may prove challenging to figure out where inspiration will come from next. Rather than seeking it out, wait for things to unfold more organically. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, do not be afraid to think outside the box this week. The stars are spurring you in a particular direction that could influence various components of your...
Often, controversial topics scare us. But just because a matter is uncomfortable, sometimes it’s an unintended consequence for clergy when they are motivated by caring, caring that includes caring for people. So, Jesus spoke about Hell even more than Heaven. Christ is quoted 70 times in context with Hell. Take heed. In the case of my profession, my heart gets closer to the sleeve than in almost all other professions. I have been at the pulpit for thirty years now. I throw misunderstandings and misconceptions to both the profession and my h...
It's the cliche statement we hear every year. Summer went by too fast. Whitehall School starts today and summer is over. I've always enjoyed the start of a new school year. My son gets a haircut, he dresses up in his new school clothes, and school spirit is at its highest - at least for the first few days. But this year, I can't. I'm not ready. I blinked and I missed it. This year my son is a senior. What happened? This past Sunday I took him to have his senior photo consultation. He expressed...
The internet is all abuzz about a recent video showing Chef Gordon Ramsay saying it's "oven time" and "yummy yum" to a lamb he's selected to eat. Why is this so funny, to me at least? Because of its timing, as we finish the Madison County Fair and move on to the Jefferson County Fair. Each year hundreds of 4H club members select, raise, and then sell their animals - with most buyers intending to slaughter and eat them. Bidders come from far and wide to see whose animal will weigh the most and...
Dear Editor, These are just a few thoughts running through my head for a couple of years now. What if the recent so-called pandemic (some say Plandemic) has been a blessing in disguise?! Now, whether one believes there’s anything to all these conspiracy theories floating around or not, one must admit though it has been quite painful, much if not all of what has been revealed in the past years is eye-opening. And that is, to say the least! When this pandemic hit our shores back in early 2020, after spreading waves of terror around the world, d...
There are lots of people that don’t get any compliments because everyone already thinks they get complimented. A lot of people have stung their eyes from opening them underwater after seeing people on TV do it flawlessly. The crust is bread armor. The more sleep-deprived you get the more dreamlike everything becomes. Rule breakers, anarchists, eccentrics, nonconformists, selfish people, and megalomaniacs; whether we like it or not, they drive society forward and ensure we continue to evolve and survive. Before TikTok and Instagram, it was f...
Dear Jo, I was just daydreaming and thinking a lot today. I was thinking about how crazy it is that a person has walked on the moon and on Mars. Do you think a person will ever walk on the sun? I know it’s really hot but I am thinking if they went in the wintertime when the sun is only like 30 degrees they could probably do it. What do you think? Sunny Daydreamin’ Dear Sunny, Hmmmmmmm...maybe we need to revisit our basic knowledge of science and the universe. While life on Earth would not exist without our huge hot glowing ball of gas, lif...
Some echo the words “There is nothing free in life” The pessimist opines, “In one way or another there’s some sort of catch.” Sadly some relationships are founded on play for play or a hard fast IOU. Power and greed infect our lives way too easily. Here’s some refreshing news: the Bible teaches us there is a far better way. In a world enamored with self-centeredness, God’s kingdom is quite opposite. God offers each of us a free gift. Jesus through an act of selfless love paid the price for our sin. This grace is offered to any person, no ma...
To pretend like we are yelling, we make our voices quieter. The best and worst part about the internet: it’s pretty easy to find people who act and think as you do. There are two types of people: those who stop the microwave with 1 second left, and those who let it beep. Someday, a murder suspect will use their presence in Google Street View as an alibi. You don’t have to be a great pilot to be a kamikaze pilot. You just have to get to your destination. Bumping the price up to $1.25 completely ruins the Dollar Stores' business ideology. Whe...
This weekend three of my ladies and I went to Gunslinger Gulch in Anaconda and participated in a murder mystery game, along with 23 other individuals. This 52-acre ghost town brought us all the fun this past weekend and I just wanted to let others know about it! Gunslinger Gulch is one of those Montana places you hear about but don't really take notice of until you're there. Did Google Maps get us there on the first try? Definitely no! Did we dress up? Of course! Did we guess the correct...
Who doesn’t like new things? I recall the day we brought home our first family puppy, Oreo. The kids grew more ecstatic with each new day in the beginning. They made promises of how they would care for her, including pooper scooper patrol, feeding times, walks, etc. In a short amount of time, the grandeur of the new puppy faded. Any guesses of who primarily cared for Oreo? Now that three of the four kids are out of the home, Oreo is still a big part of our daily routine. My wife, Oreo, and I stroll around the neighborhood almost every m...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, your energy levels are elevated this week and that’s just the start of the positive energy floating around you. Harness your energy and use it to complete a project. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 A quiet week is ahead, which is the perfect opportunity to sort through your feelings and thoughts, Taurus. Not every day has to be a “get up and go” adventure. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you will have plenty of time to meet new friends and acquaintances this week, whether in-person or online. Networking is an important skill...
Dear Jo, I was brought up in a fairly strict household, but ever since I moved out of my father’s house, I have progressively gotten better! The further I distance myself from said household, both geographically and spiritually, the more my status as the black sheep of the family appeals to me. I don’t mean to completely cut off any part of my family, but is it wrong to enjoy the hell out of my chosen identity?! The Black One Dear Black Sheep, Listen to your inner wooly voice! You know what is right and what is baaaaaad for yourself! Sig...
