Opinion

Donnie Spears: ‘Our Daily Walk’
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2.

Kyle Troutman: Power in homegrown professionals
In small-town America, the opportunity to dive into a new career can be limited. Resources can be scant and post-secondary education, though now offered extensively online, can be difficult to obtain.

Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights: The backway forward
On April 4, 1954, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood at the pulpit within the humble walls of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., and delivered a sermon.

Bill Hodgson: The ‘Messianic Secret’
The “Messianic Secret” is a theme that scholars began to discuss at the beginning of the 20th century. Though indicators are present in all four Gospels, attention was especially focused on St. Mark’s Gospel.

Jeremiah Buntin: Intoxicating history
The recent trend of “Dry January,” forgoing alcohol for the month, brings to mind some of the past attempts in Barry County to wet one’s whistle. Attitudes toward liquor in Barry County seemed fairly divisive throughout local history.

Trout Tales, Jan. 31
I tagged along with Publisher Kyle Troutman on Friday to the annual Career Day at the Southwest school district. He manned one of 26 tables filled with a myriad of local professionals who love their jobs enough to spend 90 minutes sharing the ins and outs of their industries.

Kyle Troutman: Moving the APR ball
In recent years, state evaluation of public education has been a challenge for schools. With the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) standards continually evolving, it seems as soon as districts get close to adapting to a formula, the ball is punched out of their hands like the Chiefs’ L’Jarius Sneed stealing a touchdown from the Ravens’ Zay Flowers in Sunday’s AFC Championship.

Janet Mills: Tales from the other side of frozen
Do we tend to complain when life gets tough? Most definitely the answer is “Yes.” We share our thoughts about the inconveniences and challenges we face each day with our friends and loved ones. Who didn’t share a grievance with someone else about the inconveniences created by the temperatures plunging below zero during the arctic blast that settled in over the last couple weeks? We all have made some adjustments to allow for the discomfort of the cold.
Jon Horner: New Year’s resolutions — one month in
As we approach the second month of the year, it’s a great time to reflect upon many of our new year’s resolutions. Hopefully your resolutions aren’t becoming as realistic as the Buffalo Bills or the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl plans for this year.

Rich Cummings: ‘Do you do well to be angry?’
This devotional and directory is made possible by these businesses who encourage all to attend worship services. There is a line from God that may fit our present climate in the U.S.