As I started reading these columns by Ross over twenty years ago, I was always excited when he would mention my great grandfather Calvin Jones.

During my study of the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah, one thing that stuck in my mind was the list of sacrifices. “For the dedication of the house of God, they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and a sin offering for all Israel of twelve male goats, one for each tribe of Israel” (Ezra 6:17). That number pales in comparison, though, to the lists from King Solomon’s dedication of the first temple, described in I Kings 8, when the numbe

Peptides are amino acids that are short chain (two to 100) and are the building blocks of proteins and are considered “major messengers” in the body’s cellular control function, metabolism and hormone production. Some of the key functions of peptides are: 1) They are smaller than proteins so they are more easily absorbed by the body. 2) They occur naturally in our bodies and control blood pressure, immune function and digestion. 3) Types of peptides include insulin, c

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8 The story of John the Baptist’s angelic birth announcement carries with it a great lesson on faith—or, more accurately—the lack thereof. Gabriel the angel appeared to John’s father, Zacharias the priest, telling him the joyous news that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son who would be great in the sight of the Lord. He was to prepare the way for Messiah and be filled with the spirit and power of Elijah. This news

Fighting the white bass for a few hours was fun, but I would have given a good rebel lure for a big treble hook. Those suckers that we hillbillies have always referred to as ‘yaller suckers’ would have been lots of fun with trebles and a grabbin’ outfit

Joe Shearrer, CPFA® is Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Fervent Wealth Management. Last weekend, I had one of those rounds of golf that didn’t make much sense on paper. Typically, my strength is putting, the part of my game I rely on to save strokes and stay consistent. But this time, it was the opposite. My driver was dialed in, my irons were sharp, and I was giving myself great looks all day. The problem? I couldn’t make a putt. It was a good reminder that performan

A disclaimer: yes, there are legitimate concerns that cause us to take rational precautions, but that’s different from true fear.

Yellow sun and yellow willow catkins sway after the spring thunderstorm. Afternoon sun lights silver rivulets beneath. A burly bumblebee crawls over thick pollen, engrossed in something akin to happiness. Springtime is here in the middle of America, just as it has been uncountable times over. The willows are new and young and ready once more. The silver clouds are wings in the south night sky, clouds barely visible even as the rain clears, even as the rain wings eastward ag

A Japanese fiddle player, a Russian comedian and a Greek Piano virtuoso known as the Christian Liberace. What do all these entertainers have in common? Well, Branson of course! You see, as much as Branson gets pigeon holed as just being the Home of Country Music in the Ozarks, our stages have been graced over the decades by talent from all over the world. Shoji Tabuchi, a student of the Suzuki method, actually made his mark in the Country Western style and was first br

Nearly 80% of older women have BBD (Brittle Bone Disease), AND like hypertension, it does its dirty work, silently. We, most often, do not even learn of it until it is too late. Women usually find out when they break a wrist, hip or sustain a spinal injury. Also, if you notice yourself “shrinking,” this could be a hint that you have osteoporosis. This disease causes nearly 27 million spine, hip and wrist fractures, yearly in our country (later in the article, I will tie in th

Area libraries can be a great source of information about local and regional Ozarks history! Whether you’re a native wanting to know more about how your ancestors lived, or new to the area and curious about the origins of local legends, you can often find resources at the library. This month, check out some great offerings from our neighbors to the north, the Local History and Genealogy Department of the Springfield/Greene County Library. The “Preserving the Ozarks” series

A clearing sky. A blackberry winter, again. The moon is a timeless thing cradled in the midnight above. The hubris of the day slowly passes into night, into forgetfulness. The day is done but the night is alive with the dead. Too often the dead of past regrets, of half-remembered thoughts, of memories sweet and bitter all. Ghosts are troublesome things. They don’t exist, of course. Just the result of an overactive imagination. A bit of neuroses with that fragment of potato

The historic Rippee Farm where Baker Creek Seeds is located goes way back in Wright County history.

“Today we gather to honor and remember a truly beautiful soul. As I stand here, I think about the wreath we created for her—every flower chosen with love, each one telling a piece of her story.

Fryling and others have written that we can learn to view growing old as a gift from God. Logically, if you are a senior citizen and you’re still here (and you are or you wouldn’t be reading my column) then it is God’s will for you to experience old age.

Every day this past week, it seems, I’ve been bombarded by some opinion of “artificial intelligence.”

Those quotas were based on 1890 census data, resulting in a legally clever way to favor immigrants from northern and western Europe.

Studying the books of Ezra and Nehemiah recently, I’m amazed at the relevance of the Old Testament today. Obviously, many prophetic writings are applicable, but there are valuable principles in the historical books as well. In addition to pointing in some way to Jesus, they can provide insight for our daily living. This week, I read about Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, which had been reduced to rubble by the Babylonian conquest. Although Ezra’s work had reinst

There are a lot more individual investors trading than at any time in history.

I call them the "furious five" simply because they are considered rare among Wright collectors.