Columnists - The Journal

Don’t let food poisoning sour your Thanksgiving dinner celebration

At Thanksgiving, we gather with family and friends to appreciate the gift of each other. Traditionally, this celebration involves lots of food – typically turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie. ...

DATE: Nov 13, 2014 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Yellowstone's a place to be thankful for

By Don Oliver It's November, and it seems anyone writing a column does a "being thankful" column. Well, I'm no different. Last September, while standing in the middle ...

DATE: Nov 11, 2014 | CATEGORY: Writers on the Range

Celebrating a transcendent union

All Souls. All Saints. Dia de los Muertos. Some of us Christians have recently celebrated these days of remembrance. As the days grow shorter, their timing is no accident. We are ...

DATE: Nov 6, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thoughts Along The Way

Freedom’s journey leads into the Wilderness

Biblical literature teaches that we all take seven journeys in life. Which journey are you on? Two months ago I wrote about our first journey in life – “Welcome to the Garden of E...

DATE: Oct 30, 2014 | CATEGORY: Pastor Tom's Tidbits

Veterans Day pays tribute to all who serve

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, an Armistice was signed ending hostilities of World War I, The Great War, the war to end all wars, in which 16 million combatants and...

DATE: Oct 28, 2014 | CATEGORY: Veterans Forum

Get those ballots in

Ballots for the Nov. 4 local, state, and national elections were mailed to registered voters last week. They need to be returned to the county clerk by 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 to be counted. Postma...

DATE: Oct 23, 2014 | CATEGORY: View from the Boondocks

Living (and dying) by God’s good Nature

Today when I read Ezekiel J. Emanuel’s article in the October edition of “The Atlantic” titled, “Why I Hope to Die at 75,” I knew there were others thinking along the same lines I do. ...

DATE: Oct 16, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thoughts Along The Way

The Passover Journey – learning hard lessons of life

We take seven journeys in life. Last month I wrote about our first journey, “Welcome to the Garden of Eden,” where we begin growing up and leave the buoyancy of infancy and adole...

DATE: Oct 2, 2014 | CATEGORY: Pastor Tom's Tidbits

Behold the wonders of the apple

Apples, apples, apples everywhere! Yes, apple harvesting and gleaning is encouraged, and, of course, I hope you join the fun activities at Homegrown Apple Days. My apple butter a...

DATE: Oct 2, 2014 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

We need more than lip service about care at VA clinics

Every month, I receive publications from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion. Lately, articles have focused on troubles at the Department of Vete...

DATE: Sep 29, 2014 | CATEGORY: Veterans Forum

Experience the fullness of this moment

By Leigh Waggoner “This moment” is all there is. And the moment that existed when you read that first sentence no longer is. Another moment – “this moment” is all there is. ...

DATE: Sep 18, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thoughts Along The Way

Our first journey: In and out of the Garden of Eden

Imagine yourself standing in a field filled with bushes and trees surrounding you. You look down, seeing your bare feet. It occurs to you that not just your feet look bare. All of you looks ...

DATE: Sep 11, 2014 | CATEGORY: Pastor Tom's Tidbits