Commentary

Most of us have heard of the Biblical character David. At one point in his life, David returns home from a long and arduous journey, only to find that his home in Ziklag had been razed and the women and children gone. David and his warriors saddle right back up and head to the rescue.

Understanding just how difficult this journey would be, he allowed two hundred of the most exhausted to remain behind at the Brook Besor. Instead of punishing them for remaining behind, David made sure the 200 shared in what was returned.

There are days when we have given our all. We have very little – if not anything at all left to offer, but still have a long road to travel ahead of us. At some point, we just give out, and can’t take another step. Which is where 200 of David’s men found themselves when they reached the Brook Besor.

It’s located at the corner of Hopelessness and Despair.

“being between a rock and a hard place;” other times some we’ll say they’re “bumfuzzled” or perplexed to the point of despair. And, in reality, all of us have been there at one time or another.

Thankfully, the anonymous author of Psalm 107 describes such a situation and tells us how to overcome it. In his case, he likened it to a seasick sailor who’s caught up in a raging storm: “They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of their trouble. They reel to-and-fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wit’s end” (vv.26-27).

Governor Jeff Landry has moved at a dizzying legislative pace since being elected governor and one very significant change made to Louisiana law is what is referred to as “Truth in Sentencing.”

What is Truth in Sentencing?

The long and short of it is that for years Judges, District Attorneys and Defense Attorneys have essentially had to estimate the actual amount of time a convicted individual would be incarcerated. Louisiana was said to have a “high rate of indeterminacy” in sentencing and the stated purpose of the new law is to simplify time computation by the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

Our world has become so fastpaced, it’s difficult to keep up. We strive to do all the things we need to do, yet so many distractions get in our way, preventing us from finishing what we start.

When I read Edward Abbey’s words years ago, they resonated with me deeply. When life gets hectic, I feel as if I’m everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. And I’ve discovered I don’t really like to be in ‘Nowhere’.

We may know what we need to do, but understanding the why behind it is what can motivate us to get it done.

Living life at a slower pace has multiple benefits. The first on the list is it helps to reduce stress. Stress is one of the leading causes of mental, emotional, and physical health problems. This leads to more doctor’s appointments and additional stressors, which just keeps that vicious circle turning.

According to Dictionary.com, an Enabler is: 1) a person or thing that makes something possible; 2) a person who encourages or enables negative or self-destructive behavior in another. In today’s ‘politically correct’ society, being an Enabler has a very negative connotation, and to be branded one is either met with vehement denial or embarrassment.

The funny thing is… Enable is the root word of enabler. Dictionary.com defines ‘enable’ as: 1) to make able; give power, means, competence, or ability to; authorize; 2) to make possible or easy; 3) to make ready; equip.

Cynically Using the False Narrative of Climate Change to Do Social Engineering

I periodically return to this topic because of the intensity and frequency with which the narrative is pushed by the Climate Change Religionists, this time regarding the UN (United Nations) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), which continuously promote hysteria and the supposed “apocalyptic” nature of climate change to push an agenda that will essentially remake humanity and human beings.

What do I mean? The WEF and the UN previously signed a formal agreement entitled United Nations Agenda 2030: Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). There are 17 goals identified that they want to have accomplished by 2030.

June 14, 1992.

That was my oldest son’s 14th birthday and it was on a Sunday; but, why would I bring that up, much less mention it in this weekly column?

It’s because it was one of those spiritual “milestones” in my Walk of Faith: and, in reality, we all have them ( whether we realize it or not).

Yes, we’d been serving in the Philippines as missionaries since October, ’89, and lived in Ormoc City, Leyte. We’d gone up to Luzon—the largest of 7,100 islands in the PI—for our annual missions’ conference with other missionaries.

And, it was there. . .on Wednesday, June 10, ’92. . .that I learned my adoptive father had suffered a massive stroke in Houston, Texas. Needless to say, I was very upset about this; yet, inwardly, the Lord told me to “be still and know that I AM God” (Psalm 46:10).

The question is “Is this Biblically true or not?” Once saved, always saved.

I first heard that phrase and its accompanying “Security of the Believer” when I was a young boy: and, I must confess, I didn’t know what they were talking about. But, through the years, I’ve come to realize why there’s such angst about the belief.

Yes, opponents of “Once saved, always saved” scowl and say “Well, that means you can do whatever you want after you’re saved!!” Then, they point to all those folks who wear a cross around their necks. . .sing like an angel on Sunday. . .but act like the devil during the week . . .and still smile and say, “I’m saved—and when I die, I know I’ll go to Heaven.”

For them, there’s no remorse, no “Godly sorrow over their sins:” and that’s because there’s been no repentance—for you can’t have one without the other.

The recent fatal shooting of a 12-yearold male in Shreveport has brought this issue back to light. The facts are still developing, but the allegation is that the individual was trying to break into a parked car in Southern Hills when the owner of the vehicle fired a weapon.

In Louisiana, the use of force to repel an attacker is essentially covered in two statutes: The first is entitled “Use of Force or Violence in Defense”: (1) The use of force or violence on another person is justifiable under either of the following circumstances: (i) when committed for the purpose of preventing an attack against the person or ... property in a person’s possession, and the force used is reasonable and apparently necessary to prevent the attack. Or, (ii) when the force is used by a person who is inside their home, place of business or motor vehicle and the person reasonably believes that the use of force is necessary.

That’s pretty straightforward.

Dear Editor of Winn Parish Enterprise, I would like to inform the citizens of Winn Parish that on May 14th at the regular City of Winnfield monthly meeting there is a company that will be attending the meeting in hopes of contracting with the city on photo ticketing. If you live in Winn Parish, shop in Winnfield or live in the City of Winnfield this meeting would be one of importance to attend. We should be concerned with this company coming into our town. This company MetaTraffic will contract for a percent of tickets that they write. Most contracts they have had is the company gets 60% and the town gets 40%. Someone is making money and it’s not the city. Yet the city will take on any legal issues that will come from this farce of a company. This company recently contracted with Eros and also Dodson. I feel it is imperative that as a community we pull together and let our voice be heard.