Commentary

THE BOX WE ARE IN

Former Attorney General John Durham shocked the world when he revealed his investigation that has been going on for the last three years showed that Hillary Clinton was behind the whole conspiracy against Donald Trump being in cahoots with the Russians. It has cost our nation literally millions of dollars to follow through on her allegations only to find they were lies. Trump had been spied on from the time he lived in his apartment in New York all the way through his presidency and the presidential office. Whether they will ever be able to prove this in the courts is another question but we do know that, as simple taxpayers, we are at the mercy of some slick Washington maneuvers. Fortunately John Durham is a very smart and courageous individual and he can make some of these people who have made these allegations be punished. Remember Congressman Adam “Pencil Neck” Schiff from California who said he absolutely had proof and now we know it’s a lie.

Dating is spending time with a special person whom you care about. It is like every other part of life. Some people start earlier than others with dating. Almost everyone dates at some time.

AUTO INSURANCE

Several years ago the legislature passed legislation taking away a lot of legal rights policy holders had. We were assured this would work and it was even projected by the Insurance Commissioner it could drop our rates by 25%.

I think you will find that it hasn’t worked and nothing really was accomplished. If anything, it got worse. It’s been reported by leading reports that “Louisiana saw the largest increase of 42%” and we are at the top spot of most expensive insurance.

It was also reported that the three most expensive cities in the U.S. for auto insurance coverage are: New Orleans (#1) with an average auto rate of $3,532; next in line is Baton Rouge with an average auto rate of $3,473.; and third is Alexandria with $3,202.

“I’m basically going potluck on a roommate.”

This is what a sweet 12th grade girl named Frances told me the other day. She’s planning to attend LSU in Baton Rouge in the fall, and is gearing up for the dorms.

She met some girls on Instagram through the LSU Housing site and they all agreed to room together in an on-campus suite. She’s going to meet them over spring break.

I told her about how I went “potluck” for a roomie as a freshman at Louisiana Tech in the 90’s, and how I met a lifelong friend in Melanie.

“Of course, we didn’t have phones or social media,” I said with a grin, “so I didn’t meet Melanie until the day we moved in.”

Frances’ eyes widened. It’s hard for teens to imagine not being able to stalk potential roomies on Instagram or “Snap” them on SnapChat.

“But Christ as a son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Hebrews 3:6 The third chapter of Hebrews has brought a lot of worry to some who have wondered if justification unto eternal life can be lost once gained? It’s sometimes put this way “Can a believer actually lose his salvation? Is the statement “once saved, always saved statement true? YES, justification unto eternal life CANNOT be lost. So, what is it about this verse that worries people? It’s the IF clause. So, what is he saying? Was he saying that IF doubt should ever enter a person’s mind, if insecurity ever enters the picture, BOOM, God will cast that person out of His household of faith like a bolt of lightning and Hell will be their ultimate end? That’s how some people would take this verse if they fail to see what is being said and to whom the writer of Hebrews made this statement.

UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION

For the upcoming legislative sessions coming in Louisiana and other surrounding states, you will soon hear legislation concerning the future of abortions in the respective states. U.S. Republican lawmakers are proposing new restrictions modeled after laws in Texas and Mississippi that present a direct challenge to the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision. Some Democratic-led states are working to preserve or expand access. The United States Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, signaled it was ready to make changes to the nationwide right to abortion that has stood for nearly half a century. We have been killing the unborn children to the tune of over six million over twenty years

“Howdy,” was a common everyday word where I grew up. Raised on old Stidham, now known as Milo road in rural Appalachia, I spent a lot of time at my Grandpa and Grandma Hinkle’s store. People came and went buying gasoline, sandwich meat, snacks or groceries for the week. There were cane bottom chairs in the store. Often people would sit and chat for a while.

Regardless of how many times during the week I walked down the road to that store, the opening salutation was typically, “howdy.”

People were in and out of the Hinkle store doing business. A family member was often coming or going because my grandparents had raised ten children and there were many grandchildren who frequented the Hinkle business. Often, family members were buying a soda pop or just stopping in to say “howdy.”

A celebration of the life of Dr. Thomas L. Hennigan of Natchitoches was held on Jan. 29 at Blanchard-St. Denis there. He was 92 years old and crossed the river on Jan. 26 after an extended illness. I first met Dr. Hennigan when he taught Home Improvement at Marthaville in 1956-57. A native of Marthaville, he married his high school sweetheart Gloria Crump, and they raised three wonderful sons.

DANGEROUS SITUATION

Ask Rusty – Will I Have Any Social Security Benefits?

Dear Rusty: I’m 60 years of age and wonder if I will have any Social Security retirement benefits. After all, I did purchase them. Signed: Uncertain