Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sorted by date Results 55 - 79 of 1722
Before the start of our mid-point Fallout Shelter Management class at the University of Alaska one of our instructors turned on the radio to hear the weekend weather report. An emergency notice interrupted and we heard "a nuclear attack is imminent – seek shelter immediately, this is not a drill." As the warning was repeated the air raid sirens went off with the signal for a nuclear attack. As the sirens wailed we were herded into a fallout shelter – a large room outfitted with a heavy fir...
"Beloved, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." I Corinthians 15:15 The Apostle Paul was explaining to a congregation of worldly-minded, newborn Christians, the liberty they lived in and the surety of the afterlife in Messiah Jesus. He presented knowledge of life, wisdom of God and understanding of a new faith-filled life. Today's younger generation is searching for truth they can trust. An excellent Bible example, then, is required of us. In Hebrew,...
For the past three and a half years, families have struggled under stubbornly high prices. The cause is Washington overspending and delusional regulations. As a result, American families are paying over $13,000 more a year to enjoy the same quality of life they had when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office. Back-to-school budgets are one of the many ways families are feeling this burden. According to the National Retail Federation, total K-12 back-to-school spending is projected to reach... Full story
Are you a dream maker or a dream breaker? The category to which you belong will strongly influence the direction your life takes, your level of satisfaction, and the type of impact you have on other people. Most of us aren't even aware of the distinctions between dream makers and dream breakers. Dream makers believe anything is possible. To them, the future is full of hope, promise, and potential. They know problems have solutions and obstacles can be overcome. Not only do dream makers believe... Full story
I received a two-page solicitation letter last week from "President Donald J.Trump." So the letter said. To be correct, Trump is "Former President Donald J. Trump." I read two pages, front and back on a single sheet, signed by Trump on the second page, and received two envelopes to return $25.00 in August and $25.00 in September, to help, he writes, "make certain Crooked Joe Biden is sent packing back to Delaware." Further into the letter, he gives out his standard MAGA points, that, "[W]e are... Full story
"And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." Luke 24:45 Jesus spoke comfort to His Disciples near Emmaus, first, that Scripture is true and His death, burial and resurrection was planned! Jesus came to teach everlasting life, preach the goodness of God, heal the sick, cast out demons and undo the works of the devil. I John 3:8. God counted it righteousness to Abraham (as if sin had never happened), who would teach his children. Every parent in Christ Jesus is...
As I write this article it is the 14th day of the Unicameral Legislature's special session for property tax relief and it is still ongoing. 81 bills have been introduced during the special session to deal with taxes while 24 resolutions have been introduced to change the Nebraska State Constitution. Each one of these bills and resolutions has had a public hearing. Most of these bills were referenced to the Legislature's Revenue Committee. So, the members of the Revenue Committee combined several...
Everyone encounters adverse circumstances. Some people survive and thrive while others suffer and allow their spirit to be extinguished. It's not the circumstances that vary, it is the manner in which each individual chooses to respond. Harold was out for a walk when he came across an old abandoned well shaft. Peering over the edge, he lost his footing and fell to the bottom of the deep well. Miraculously, Harold was unhurt as he landed in the soft dirt at the bottom. As Harold sat down to...
16 wasn't noteworthy for me and I was not worried about the state of the world. 1963 was better. I graduated from 8th grade and discovered girls. Weeks before the graduation dance I had lessons from my parents and watching American Bandstand. They didn't take. Overcoming shyness I approached one of the girls in my class and we tripped the light fantastic. I only tromped on her toes 2 or 3 times. I've never been a good dancer (as my wife Dorothy would have confirmed) but I like to dance. In...
"Encourage the young ones to be sober minded in all things; a pattern of good works, integrity, reverence, incorruptibility having nothing evil to say of you or them." Titus 2:6-8 Mother Teresa (1910-1997) founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to saving babies, feeding the poor and healing lives. Selflessness was the genesis of sainthood. One of her famous quotes was: "Do not wait for leaders. Do it alone, person to person." Biography....
The Governor's new property tax relief plan for the special session is in deep trouble. Last Thursday the Legislature voted to adjourn until Monday, August 12, in order to fix several problems in the bill and to garner more support for it. LB9 along with AM51 is getting tossed about like a wave of the sea without enough votes to get it passed. It is not my intention today to sink the Governor's property tax relief bill; instead, I want to save it. Last Thursday I offered Nebraska State Senators...
As careful as you may be, you will make mistakes. Although it's not possible to live mistake free, there are effective strategies you can use to recover from your mistakes. Let's start by considering basic causes of mistakes. You are impatient and act too quickly. You lack knowledge or expertise. You don't have enough information to make a sound decision. You make a decision based on wrong information. Regardless of the cause, you need to recover from your mistakes. Once you have recovered, you...
Students will walk back into school soon and settle themselves into a small desk. Once seated, each girl and each boy will stare at a series of math story problems, or long pages of difficult-to-read text on science or history, plus the dreaded weekly compositions in English. To those anxious students I say, "Embrace those compositions. Do not let them intimidate you. Let your light shine. Present your opinions, your ideas, your humor. Lay aside your fear of ridicule from your peers. Show your...
"The testing of your faith produces patience, so let patience have her perfect work that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4 Ever prayed for money to come and solve your financial problem or advance your vision? James warns of 'asking amiss' 4:3. Praying without knowledge of God's promise is to invite wrong solutions. Not believing in the heart, or worse, desiring your own way, causes vision to drift into darkness and money with it. First, understand God doesn't have...
On July 30 a public hearing was held at the State Capitol in Lincoln on LB 16. LB 16 is the latest and most updated version of the EPIC Option Consumption Tax, which I introduced for the special session of the Legislature. According to the Governor's proclamation only bills which focus on property tax relief may be considered for the special session. The public hearing was outstanding for the EPIC Option Consumption Tax. One member of the Revenue Committee commented afterwards that nearly 100 pr...
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." -Benjamin Franklin Persistence is key to reaching your goals. But how do you know if you are on the right track or just doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results? Unfortunately, there is no easy way to know. Since there is no way to know how long it will take to reach success, there is always the uncertainty of whether you need to allow more time or alter your strategy....
It Depends. In colonial America you were an Englishman, or you were not. The common plea was that an Englishman was an Englishman no matter where he stood in the world. The colonists increasingly took this to mean that they were equal in status and right to any other English subject. British people of the upper classes viewed this idea with some distaste and were often offended when approached with familiarity by an American. (Sounds like some of our elected officials and other classes in presen...
Psalm 37: 4 "I will give you the desires of your heart." Saul kicked against the pricks (points of the law), as the rich young ruler in Mark 10. He could not reconcile the Law with a caring Father, a relationship with God, as Jesus taught. How could everlasting, abundant life as in Matthew 5-7 and Luke 4 ever really be? His teacher, Gamaliel, was the greatest Rabbi ever. Saul was to dress like, eat like and teach like him. But a relationship with God, Himself? Acts 9, Saul becomes a student of...
The special session of the State Legislature has now begun. The first three days of the session were devoted to bill introduction. Gov. Pillen introduced his property tax relief plan first. I followed him shortly thereafter with the introduction of four pieces of legislation for the EPIC Option Consumption Tax. Today I would like to provide readers with my own analysis of the Governor's property tax relief plan by comparing it to the EPIC Option Consumption Tax plan. The Governor's property tax...
You would never attempt to drive your car with the windshield painted black. Nor would you expect to keep your car on the road by looking out every window but the front one. But how many people attempt to get through life by looking in every direction except forward. Distractions are everywhere. There are the distractions of the past. You think about the things you did but shouldn't have done. Then there are those things you didn't do but feel you should have. Additionally, there are the bad exp...
During the first World War, Henry Ford brought suit against the "Chicago Tribune," because a reporter wrote that Ford was an "ignoramus." At the trial, the newspaper's attorneys peppered Ford with trivia questions, each designed to prove Ford's ignorance. To each question, Ford replied, "I do not know." Feeling exasperated, Ford said, "If I should wish to answer these foolish questions, I could call in men who could give me the correct answer. Now why should I fill my mind with useless details,...
Colorado may not be Heaven, but it is on the way! Happy 148th anniversary! "And the Lord said, "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house to a land I will show you. I will bless you and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and in you all the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3 God spoke these words to Abram of the Chaldees--and to me. Grandpa Brands arrived in Colorado behind a herd of Morgan horses. Natives who knew good horse hay, sent him...
Two ballot measures will appear on your ballot in November which would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. The first initiative would make it legal for physicians to prescribe medical cannabis, while the second initiative would regulate the dispensing of the drug. The reason for two separate ballot initiatives has to do with the single subject rule stipulated in the Nebraska State Constitution, which states in Article III, Section 2 that “Initiative measures shall contain only one s...
Like most Americans, I was horrified by the recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. I'm grateful that President Trump survived the attack. Our nation prays for the innocent victims. Corey Comperatore was murdered while using his body to shield his loved ones from gunfire. This shouldn't have been allowed to happen. Political violence is anti-American. An attempted political assassination is an attack against America and our democratic republic. Everyone must condemn...
The placebo effect is a great illustration of the awesome power of the mind. Here is how it works. A person is given an inert substance with no medicinal properties and told that it is a drug that is proven to cure whatever malady they are experiencing. The amazing result is that the subject often recovers as if they received actual medicine. The only explanation for the recovery is that since the person's mind believed they were going to get better, they did. Then there are those who don't...
