Opinion

Just a yesterday we celebrated and remembered St. Francis on October 4, 2023. St. Francis has been called the most loved saint of all history, and the one whose example or ideas have been the least followed! We all know St. Francis because of his love for all animals. In fact, many of us bring our pets and our farm or ranch animals to be blessed at our churches or by our ministers around this time of year because of that great love that Francis had for all animals.

I remember the time I went by our local JP office to visit and when I arrived the judge was in despair because the computer with all their records had crashed. I asked the judge if I could look at it so I took it apart and found the problem and got it working; somewhat. The judge was excited and wanted me to backup all the files we could because their backup had failed. That event reminded me of something in the Bible. There are books of records in heaven and everything we have ever done is recorded there, (Revelation 20:12-15). The judge said, “let’s look at your records” and we typed in my name. To my surprise it went back years and yes, there were some offenses, (minor traffic) but the fines had been paid or taken care of. That reminded me of my life before I accepted Christ and there were numerous sins in my life that had not been dealt with or forgiven but when I accepted Christ, I acknowledged or confessed them and asked Christ to forgive them, (1 John 1:8-10, 2:12, Romans 4:7). As the judge looked at the more recent years there were no offenses. The judge said , “You are in good standing with this court and you are free to come and go as you please” (Galatians 5:1, 8:1). Where or how do we really stand before God?

Dear Neil: This is my peace lily. It was sitting in my living room eight feet from two windows. I have since moved it to my living room where there is little sunlight. Will that get rid of the leaves with black on their ends? Will that help it produce flowers?

Congress is back from its August recess, the weeks-long period away from its alwayscontentious, mostly unproductive business. The House and the Senate have about a week until the Sep.

I remember the time we were working a big bunch of older sheep to send to the sale. In the middle of that bunch was a ewe with just born twin lambs. We did not have time to catch them and put them in a separate pen, so we just kept working with the big bunch. I tried to identify her so we would not separate her from her lambs. All the stirring and moving of the big bunch did not seem to excite her; she just kept looking back and moving quietly making sure that her lambs were with her. Those two little lambs stayed side by her side following no other sheep.

Dear Neil: I saw your information on chinch bugs. I think that’s what we have.

Thank God for Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana.

The evening of September 24 at sunset until sunset Monday evening September 25 is a very important day for the nation of Israel. It is when they celebrate Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement. Moses led them out of the land of Egypt, (Exodus 12:40&41). While in the Sinai God instructed Moses to build a special tent, a Tabernacle where God could stay, (Exodus 40:1-16). Aaron was the High Priest and his sons assisted him, (Exodus 29:43-46, 40:12-16).

Dear Neil: I’ve had a bird-of-paradise plant for 10 years. Originally it was in the ground, but I have since planted it into a large pot. However, it has never bloomed. Is there something I can do to get it to flower?