The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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This past Saturday was a great day. Not because it was Saturday, but because my son Jesse and I got to do some long overdue maintenance on his pickup truck. You see Jesse has the potential to be a very good mechanic, but like his Pa he gets his priorities mixed up. His poor ol' truck has had to endure two broken rear leaf springs for longer than I care to think. Jesse has put up with lots of creaking, noise, and strange handling due to those broken springs. He and I spent...
The other day as I was finishing up building a second-story deck, my thoughts ran to several projects that I needed to get to next. I mean this deck has been on my mind for almost 16 years, since we moved into our home prior to it being totally done! People had cautioned us, "Don't move in until everything is done.' But hey, we had eight people living in a friend's shop building, we were moving in asap! There were some definite concerns over how to build this deck, but once I...
During these insane days of government overreach, medical hysteria and misinformation, bogus computer models, consistency in the lies and attacks from communist groups both outside and within the U.S.A. I have marveled at the willingness of the people to give up their freedoms and economic power. If there is one thing I have learned from these days, it is that none of us have all the knowledge, information and answers for even the smallest of the world's problems. Throw in a...
Last Sunday the world celebrated Easter. The first Easter was the day in which the disciples and enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ discovered that the tomb in which Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus had laid the body of Jesus was empty. The disciples of Jesus were perplexed and sorrowful over the empty tomb. Even though Jesus had been telling them for months, and even years that He would be rejected, crucified (he often used the term "lifted up") and then rise from the dead...
As April comes around each year, I always look back to the years 2000-2001. You may remember those days. The end of the world from Y2K did not happen. The power grid did not fail. The world did not spin off its axis or orbit into the sun. Yes, we survived that period where people were buying all the generators, guns and ammo, stock-piling food, etc. You know I do not remember people hoarding toilet paper or hand sanitizer though! Ha, we did not know how good we had it back...
Well, in my last "musing" I wrote about praying for those in the world whose life had been impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Specifically, those who had lost a loved one to this virus. I can honestly say that I guessed this virus would find its way into most of the US. But I did not even begin to think about the chaos and fear that this would bring to the US. Who would have imagined that all schools in some areas would shut? Especially when the kids are not supposedly a prime...
Well it is now March and that means we will soon be moving our clocks ahead one hour, filing taxes, and yes, the start of baseball season! Of course, that also means fishing season in the streams is getting closer, soon elk will be calving and deer dropping their fawns. Spring is definitely a great time of year, and even more so this year as we have been blessed with a winter that has not been near as long as the past several. However, that could change between now and...
As a little boy people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I am sure everyone has been asked this question. It is a normal thing for people to ask the little ones. With my family being in the excavation business I would often say a crane/dragline/bulldozer/dump truck operator. Around the age of 10 I would say a professional baseball player. In a few years, it was a dentist. Where the dentist idea came from I have no idea! Of course, there would be periods where I...
The other evening my wife and I were over at some friend's house for dinner. While there we watched the Mecum Auto auction for a while. It was exciting to see the cars and the action. Like many men, and women too, I enjoy really tricked-out, high performance muscle car from the 50's, 60's and early 70's. I also don't mind the older cars, and the newer exotic rocket ships from Europe and Japan that are out there. The talent and skill that people have to do the mechanical and co...
Lately I have found great contentment in some areas that have caused me much stress. However, as I write this column, I find that some of those "areas" have come back. I am feeling some anger and uncertainty and I do not like that. I do not want to feel stressed and angry at any person or situation. But guess what, I do! That is not good. I am letting some circumstances rob me of my joy in the Lord. I am trying to control a situation that is not my responsibility, or maybe...
Father Time just keeps moving along doesn't He? Here we are facing 2020 in just another week. Over the past few years I have found it a bit harder to keep moving along. My knees and hips hurt, arthritis is in my neck, lung capacity is not what it used to be, yes, this aging thing is a challenge! But Father Time, well He keeps running strong every year, and in fact it seems to me He is getting faster and faster. I imagine many of you reading this feel the same way. For those wh...
As I think back about the way Congress has failed to address some major issues, I cannot help but scratch my head and wonder “What do they think their job is?” I mean we have put up with some of the most unproductive politicians I can remember. We have a large segment trying to legislate with no regard for the Constitution. They want us to become as destitute as Venezuela in fiscal and social integrity. We have some who think fiscal restraint is only spending say 4 per...
As summer fades to fall many people start worrying about winter. I guess that is a natural thing for us to do. Each season brings about change, new responsibilities, and finding a new rhythm for life. For many people winter and the cold exacerbate physical problems like arthritis, or breathing issues due to the cold air. For some it is weight gain as depression hits and the junk food calls. You may have to get some over-due vehicle maintenance done to ensure there are no probl...
I must say that I have really enjoyed the World Series so far this year. Of course, I am rooting for the Houston Astros and by now they may well be the champions. If not, they and the Washington Nationals are playing tonight in game 7. Either way it will be some fantastic baseball, many will be ecstatic, and many will be disappointed. Of course, we are sitting here with low temperatures and lots of snow starting to pile up; not exactly baseball weather is it? Again, many will...
I have been guilty of placing myself at the center of the universe. My needs are most important, I have the solution, and everyone else must accept that. I would bet that everyone reading this has been guilty of that. It is our nature to place our comfort and well-being above others. Do I mean that this is always the case, no! But it is the pattern of mankind. So, what is the answer? It is really quite simple, and at the same time very complex. In Isaiah 55: 8-9 the prophet te...
Debunking the Perception of “Self” Part 2 For those of you who were expecting a “Musing” last week I apologize. I have been so busy with ministry and family that come Monday morning last week all I could think of was taking my bow for a walk in the woods! It was around mid-afternoon I realized I had messed up and not written an article! Well let’s continue looking at how this idea of “self” can really mess things up. If you think about it, much of the depression we experience...
Biblically speaking the idea of “self-assurance” is one area of thinking that can lead to many problems. If we think that we are the source of all our blessings (material and immaterial) we do God a great injustice. The Israelites were warned about this in Deuteronomy 8: 11-18: “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, an...
Looking at some of the people in my life I realize that we are often our biggest barrier to a satisfying life. Most problems in my life have their beginning with the decisions Dave has made. Sure, some things come along that others bring into my life, and that means that person has created a problem that affects them, and me. The ripple-effect of sin courses through each of us. However, just because there are serious problems in life, doesn’t mean a person who has Jesus as the...
This subject may take several “Musings” to cover it, so if this interests you, you may want to keep this one so you can read them together. It seems to me that just about everyone of us is dealing with serious problems. Personal problems that fester, and grow in to physical, mental and spiritual cancers that poisons our minds and relationships. Life is about managing problems. The key is how we solve those problems, how do we come to resolution and understanding. First the...
The past month has been fantastic. I did not win the lottery. I did see the results of many months of preparation as we had our annual five-day Bible camp. It is a great but stressful time. Stressful because there is a lot of preparation. I should not stress about camp because God always blesses my feeble efforts and camp always turns out to be a great time. I did not stress out too much this year. Maybe after 19 years of being involved with camp I finally “get it”! There are...
Celebrations can be great fun. I know that most of us today are celebrating the founding of our country. July 4, 1776 is one of the greatest days in man’s history in my opinion. The best one was the day Jesus came out of the tomb and guaranteed victory for all who believe in Him! The second-best day of celebration for me was the day in the spring of 1971 that I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. I must say it took several decades for me to truly appreciate what that means a...
Well, according to some “experts” the dynasty of the Golden State Warriors is over. They were dethroned by the Toronto Raptors in six games. I must confess I am not an NBA fan by any means, but I was sure hoping that the Warriors would get whupped! It is not that I “hate” them but I do get sick and tired of hearing how great they are, when in fact five years from now no one will remember what they did, or who played for them during their fabulous run of five straight NBA fin...
This week’s column is going to be a bit different. I must admit it is hard to focus as I have so many frustrating thoughts running through my brain. Over the past decade or so we often hear about a “war on women”. Well I just read something that actually supports that. From 1970 to 2017 the number of missing baby girls in the world from sex-selective abortion is estimated to be 23.1 million. That is a horrifying and mind-numbing number. It is hard for me to comprehend that...
One area in my life that I feel God has made some good changes in me concerns anger. I can remember too many times in life when my “temper” got the best of me. It was not this impersonal “temper”, but it was a willful and intentional lack of self-control that tripped me up. I did not get my way, so I vented. It may have been not getting more ice cream; it could be when the team I was on did not win; maybe someone took a toy, told a lie about me, or betrayed a confide...
Over the years I have had many opportunities to develop and exhibit self-control. I would love to say that I have always passed the test and been a model of patience, calmness and control. However, the report would show something quite different. I cannot count the times I have lost my temper, or out of just plain meanness spewed anger all-over people when things did not go the way I wanted them to go. I sure wish I could roll back the clock and redo a few things but alas I...
