Apr 2, 2025
For God’s Sake
I learned yesterday that a good friend has died. June had not been well for the last several years, nonetheless, her death came as a surprise and has evoked bittersweet emotions.
Mar 26, 2025
Game of chance
Last week we wrote about the Laurel Hill City Council election. There were two open seats up for grabs. One candidate, Amanda Rosen, won one of the seats after receiving 25 votes, but the other two candidates, Mike Blizzard and Shawn Cogan were tied neck-and-neck. (The term seems appropriate here.) They each received 22 votes.
Mar 26, 2025
For God’s Sake
I was hired for my first ministry position by a pastor with 40 years of experience. “You don’t serve people,” he sagely said to me, “you serve God, and people are served in the process.” He advised against living in a parsonage and instead purchasing a home to build equity. “You will never get rich in ministry,” he counseled, “but God will provide for your needs.” Now, nearing his years of experience, I can attest to the wisdom of his counsel. Nonetheless, there was a financial situation in that ministry that had me scratching my head in amusement.
Mar 19, 2025
For God’s Sake
How do you respond when things don’t go your way? Your response may depend on the generation of which you are a part.
Mar 19, 2025
Journalism: Risky business
In the latest issue of Editor & Publisher Magazine, they tackle the issue of Freedom of the Press and some of the perils that come with it. Leonard Woolsey, a respected publisher of the Daily News in Galveston, Texas, and the 2025 president of Southern Newspapers, had a lot to say about the perils of reporting the truth. The following is a portion of what was published in the February 2025 issue, with Gretchen A. Peck reporting.
Mar 10, 2025
Turn your anger into something positive
We came under fire last week over reporting on an autopsy report for Stephen Dalton. Our personal safety was threatened, personal addresses were published on social media, there were demands of removal from a volunteer leadership position that a team member holds, and a target was made of one of our reporters. The only reason […]
Mar 5, 2025
For God’s Sake
About 35 years ago, my wife and I purchased a house next to an older, Lebanese couple. One afternoon, after lunch, I was about to head back to the church, when I saw my neighbor. I waved to him. He gently called to me, “Mike, please, come for coffee.” I hesitated, did a quick mental assessment of my busy afternoon schedule, sighed, then answered, “Sure. Thank you.”
Mar 5, 2025
Bullying: A hidden epidemic in our schools
Bullying is a widespread issue that lurks in the hallways and classrooms of schools across Northwest Florida. While the silence of it can be deafening, it will leave invisible scars that can last a lifetime. Despite school districts trying to implement increased awareness and initiatives aimed at combating bullying, its effects continue to ripple through our educational system, creating an environment of fear and insecurity for many of our young students.
Feb 26, 2025
For God’s Sake
There is the story about a young man who was walking home on a very dark and moonless night and decided to take a shortcut. This shortcut took him directly through the local cemetery. As he crept through the graveyard, he fell into a deep open grave. It was so dark in the grave he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face.
Feb 26, 2025
A ‘Warrior Spirit’ remains in Baker
The Baker community mourned the loss of Kadence Fredericksen,18, this weekend and celebrated her life and legacy. The hundreds of attendees poured into the Baker School multipurpose building Saturday, Feb. 22. Kadence died in a car accident in Santa Rosa County Feb. 17.