Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 744 - 768 of 1910
One sight that I get a kick out of is seeing a person driving down the road singing out loud to music. Are you a person who does this? From time to time, you might see me doing the same thing. Entertaining music is intertwined with our culture and many genres suit us. Music conveys attitudes, ideas, emotions and so much more. In the context of Christianity, music is also entertaining but another important element exists; worship, a person’s expression of appreciation towards God. Doctor Luke in chapter one of his account gives us details a...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, unless you are ready to take charge and spearhead an initiative for change, you may have to simply go with the flow this week. Think on it. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Ideas for creative projects keep popping up in your mind, Taurus. It’s just a matter of figuring out which avenue you want to explore and then finding the time to make it happen. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, some shake-ups at work may leave you wondering how secure things will be for you moving forward. Start asking a few pointed questions. CANCER Jun 2...
Dear Editor, Try that in a small town? I did. My family was met with vitriol, resentment, and judgment because we weren't born in that small town. Try that in a small town? I did. I spent time in the sea of vitriol, resentment, and judgment only to have my head kept above water by some of the most genuine and kind families I know. Let's please try to be less of the former and more of the latter, no matter what the size of our town. Signed by a person who grew up in this small town and now lives...
Dear Editor, This letter is not in response to anyone. It IS, however, a bit of a diatribe! The main subject of this letter may engender a negative response among certain people in this town; but then, sometimes the pot just NEEDS to be stirred! Not to be too negative though, it would seem that, for the last few thousand years, since the beginning of time, human beings have committed many atrocities in the name of their favored deity, or "God." Basically, what it comes down to is, that if you...
Someone having a bunch of garbage in their car is a sign that they don’t litter. One person has had the smelliest fart any human has ever had, and never knew it. Some people hate tourists in their city, but then expect hospitality when being tourists themselves. The fastest way to end world hunger is to not feed anyone. People used to mostly see a better future; nowadays most people can only see the inevitable doom. Gold and diamonds only have their insane value because humans think shiny rocks are pretty to look at. It’s hard to let som...
Georgia, I have a question, How do vegetarians feel about being made of meat? They look delicious - do they know how tasty they are? Hungry Dear Hungry, Well, Hungry, I’m worried about why you are asking this question. Yes, we are all made of “meat” but if you are feeling the urge to eat a vegetarian, I urge you to seek professional help immediately. With love, Georgia Georgia, I have a question, Is the movie SURFS UP based on a true story? My kids love this movie and I would love to take them to meet the cast on our next family trip! Cowab...
Do you like surprises? I do but only if they are “good” ones. LOL. Honestly, I’ve become a more organized person and generally, I function by a schedule even though last-minute changes come up. Those “monkey wrenches” can throw us by surprise, right? Luke introduces us as readers to possibly one of the most famous births in history. Of course, I’m referring to Jesus Christ’s birth. The “Good News” as many like to refer to this miraculous birth had to come as quite a shock for this young betrothed Jewish couple, Joseph, and Mary. “In the sixth m...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, a project you thought would be done quickly is taking more time than expected to be completed. Don’t fret over it too much, as things will work out in the end. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 There are just a few obstacles that you need to get past before it is smooth sailing for a bit, Taurus. Use these roadblocks as learning opportunities as you go along. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, when someone approaches you saying they have a good deal for you, there are certain questions you should ask before moving ahead. It’s imp...
On Sunday, September 10, it was my honor to participate in the inaugural Boulder Ideas Festival, hosted by The Boulder Monitor. This event featured innovators, leaders, artists, poets, and more. The seven speakers invited by Editor Keith Hammonds included MJ Williams, a jazz trombonist and vocalist; John Adams, the Founder and Executive Director of Montana Free Press; one of my best friends Stevie Croisant, founder of We Are HER; Lisa Ernst, a ceramic artist; my neighbor and friend Vaia Errett,...
People have been going to CVS for decades but no one knows what it stands for without looking it up. Blankets aren’t warm; YOU are warm, blankets just seal in the heat. Growing up is realizing that Batman definitely takes a ton of steroids. With more than 8 billion people on planet Earth alone, we are very successful as a species. In the year 2000, there were people alive who were born in the late 1800s. With Earth’s helium reserves running out, our grandkids/great-grandkids will likely never have the opportunity to inhale helium and make fun...
Biblical arguments and debates in Christian circles about “belief” have abounded over the years, especially when it comes to faith and healing. Here’s my two cents…as humans we are rather frail and at times even the best among us doubt God. This is true of the disciples who sat directly under Christ’s teaching, they watched him heal people and stand up to the Jewish opposition. Some will almost chastise Thomas for doubting the risen Savior who stood physically before him since he insisted on touching Christ’s nail scars. I’m not going to be o...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 There is nothing wrong with a bit of self-indulgence, Aries. But you do not want to go overboard with your treats and other must-haves. Moderation is key in everything. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 You have a no-nonsense bearing that immediately has people drawing close to you and trusting you, Taurus. Put that out in full force as you try to win favor on the job this week. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, don’t let your quest for excitement pull you in too many different directions right now. You need to stick to one plan for a certain...
No fast food chain has beef nuggets. You can really torture a masochist by not torturing them. The Winter Olympics are actually 100% water sports. Pregnant women are landlords. Humans never moved out of caves; we just started building and living in our own custom caves. Companies don’t like employees talking about their salaries but expect you to tell them your salary from your previous job. The higher your phone battery percentage is by the end of the day, the better your day was. Top secret documents used to be kept on computers to keep t...
Georgia, I have a question, How do you block fact-checkers on Facebook? I am SO SICK of this crap popping up on my social media? Sick of Facts Dear Sick, How about posting the truth? That might be the answer - just a thought. With love, Georgia Georgia, I have a question, What percentage of water is celery? I know celery has virtually no nutrition in it. It’s basically all water, so if that is true, what percentage of water is celery? Big on Percentages Dear Big, You may be “big on percentages” but I don’t think you understand how they work......
Throughout history, countless unanswered prayers are spoken, some trite and many others sincere from those who honor God. What are some unanswered prayers you have? In time we may get discouraged, thinking God doesn’t care or is somehow inattentive. We may feel that Heaven’s hotline is shut down or out of service. Sincere and selfless prayer is a very intriguing subject. Do we simply wish God to be our “sugar daddy in the sky” and give us everything we ask for? Or is God quite the opposite, just the Great Creator who cares little about our liv...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Your compassion takes you many places, Aries. This week you may be compelled to reach out and do more volunteer work for a nonprofit that you hold dear. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, your friends need you to be steady this week, and that’s just what you will give them. You like being in a leadership role and someone others can depend on. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Right now your to-do list is very small, which means you have loads of free time for recreational activities if you choose. Otherwise, you can simply bask in having n...
Montana is facing a growing housing crisis, driven by an influx of out-of-state home buyers and telecommuters. This is pushing up prices, making it difficult for Montanans to find affordable housing, and increasing residential property taxes. A solution I propose for consideration is to change the way property taxes are calculated for vacation homes and short-term rentals. Currently, all residential properties are taxed at the same rate, regardless of whether they are owner-occupied, rented out long-term, rented out short-term, or vacation...
Dear Editor, This is a story about THE SIGN and so much more. It started pretty much like any other day, then took an unexpected turn. Or maybe, not so unexpected. On the road to Butte, headed up the pass, I pull into the rest area. A familiar shade of green is illuminated by the sunlight. Woah! What? I was kind of shocked - laying in the mud, half of it suffocated beneath the trash dumpster was THE SIGN. JESUS CHRIST 2020 is all that was visible, but I knew what the hidden words under the...
Your car key has traveled more than your car. Alcohol companies never show a drunk person in their ads. Considering that they have existed for a timespan longer than humans, dinosaurs are sort of the main characters of Earth. Flat Earthers believe in a global conspiracy. You never see posts from women wondering why they don’t have any Tinder matches. The brain is the smartest organ in your body...according to the brain. Car companies always talk about how quickly their cars go from 0-100 but never about how quickly they can go from 100-0, w...
Luke is one of the four synoptic Gospels authors of the New Testament and provides an interesting perspective on the life of Jesus. Here are some facts regarding the author and historical background. Luke was a physician as noted by Paul in Colossians 4:14, in addition to being a gentile convert and the only gentile writer in the New Testament giving him a unique status in the early church. Traditionally, Judaism held a negative view of gentiles (non-Jewish people) and with the impact of Christ’s teachings and establishment of Christianity, t...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, a goal you have been working toward is nearing completion. Take time to reflect on all it took to make the goal come to fruition. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, try to get away on a vacation, even if it’s just a weekend jaunt. There’s never been a time you could use a little getaway more than right now. Push this into the priority zone. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, it is time to get more movement into your daily activities. Don’t you want to be in the best possible health? Incorporate more exercise gradually with activ...
Dear Editor, In response to Jan Lombardi's letter on August 30, 2023, in The Whitehall Ledger. I, too, had issues regarding Geocode; however, if one looks at their county tax bill, it is right there in the upper right-hand corner, fourth line. I do not know exactly what that is, but I must assume it has something to determine the property one owns. Regardless, not a big deal. I filled out the requested information, nothing of which I found invading my privacy, all included on my income tax retur...
It’s weird that Ariel doesn’t understand the concept of a fork when her dad is always carrying around a trident. People think most of Gen Z is tech-savvy but they’re really just tech dependent. As an adult, the concept of Santa is kind of sad. The older you get, the less of a deterrent a life sentence in prison becomes. Getting fat is a blast. Being fat is awful. Saying you’re better looking than most people sounds a lot more arrogant than saying you’re a 6/10, even though they’re basically saying the same thing. The person sitting behind you...
During the past legislative session, the Montana Taxpayers Association was excited to support the Gianforte administration's ideas that improved Montana's tax systems and provided tax relief. We look forward to continuing that working relationship. However, unless the administration decides soon on the level of the State's property tax collections, when tax bills go out this coming November the State of Montana could receive a windfall collection of 65 million dollars in ongoing property tax...
Have you ever used a specific tool for the wrong application? Recently, I came home and my wife, Dina, showed me all her hard work on the interior painting project. She did a fine job, but there was one caveat; I could sense it in her voice as she said, “But I need to show you something else.” After she pulled down a picture hanging on the wall there was this large hole. Apparently, she thought a crowbar was the proper tool to remove a screw. LOL. There was no sense in me scolding her since I’m guilty of utilizing improper tools as well. We ha...
