Opinion

Views From the Back Pew Well, once again I have found myself traveling down the rabbit hole or chasing squirrels. I guess it really doesn’t matter what you call it. All it means is that I got caught up in something that is strongly on my mind. The squirrel this week is the word humble.…

Views From the Back Pew I don’t know if anyone realizes this about me, but I am an excellent arm- chair coach. In fact, if more of these coaches would just listen to me, they would most likely be undefeated. Even though I haven’t spent time at their practices, I’ve never evaluated their team or…

Editorial Who should pay for water deposits By Roger L. Thompson When the Okemah Utility Authority met on September 16, they addressed an item on the agenda to raise the  water deposit for renters to $300.  There is an article in this edition of the Okemah News Leader highlighting the discussion between City Manager Kristi…

Thinking Out Loud: Keep On Keeping On!    We are never far from reminding God of our good works, of providing Him with a list of nice accomplishments that lays out all we are, all we have been through, and all we have done for His sake.   We are never far from making the subtle turn from…

Editorial Why remember Memorial Day By Roger L. Thompson Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr delivered a speech for Memorial Day on May 30, 1884, at Keene, NH, before John Sedgwick Post No. 4, Grand Army of the Republic, entitled “In our youth out hearts were touched with fire.” In Holmes opening paragraph he spoke these words:…

Thinking OuLoud: The BIG Three!    Unavoidable suffering is a condition of existence, a part of the mystery that shrouds every life.  It is usually the result of broken attachments to those we love or the loss of something cherished.  It cannot be prevented because death and perpetual change are uncontrollable givens of living.    On…

Thinking Out Loud: Children    Children are precious gifts from God, and we need to remember them when the family is going through a tragic death.  Children who are old enough to love are old enough to grieve.  Children and teenagers grieve just as deeply as adults, even if their grief may seem to appear different at…

Thinking Out Loud: Picking Up the Pieces  Grief is a part of life.  There are so many things humans grieve over, some intensely personal like the loss of a long time pet or a stolen family heirloom, and others that are familiar to many such as time to trade in the family car in which…

Views From the Back Pew What are you ready to give up? If you look around your house at all the things there, could you find something that you would be willing to do without? If you are like me, I would pick the easy things first. Of course, I could do without all of…

Spreading Ashes    This is a personal story about several of my loved ones who were cremated.  I share these as different possibilities of either releasing or keeping the ashes.  I hope it will be helpful to see how every situation is different.  The best decision is the one that works best for you and…