Revised Edition Family Ties: Thicker than Blood, is a novel about a character from the South, who continues his trip to the big city (New York) to find his way in life. This book is well written with characters, and especially places, that can be recognized if you are a resident of inner city New York. You can curl up on your couch and enjoy this intriguing novel.” —CIW (Retired) Georgia

In The Gray Matter

A Matter of Opinion

When recently engaged in a conversation that included two individuals who had differing understandings of a situation, I realized the potential consequences when people take an unwavering stand on any issue. The two long-time friends and I were discussing matters...

…Friends

A peculiar thing occurred recently that rather caught me off guard which resulted with my questioning the very moral fiber of who I am as a person. I've often said it's an unfortunate situation that causes one to question the circumstances but there's something...

Country in Crisis

(Original print date Feb 2017) This week's opinion had been completed two days prior to me forwarding it to the editor for consideration in the News-Banner. Oddly enough, when I logged onto the internet with the intent of emailing the column, there were a number of...

They’ve Got a Pill for That

Time has finally convinced me that it doesn't allow favors for any of us as I've realized the necessity of living a generally healthy life. This would, invariably, include eating well and this required me to take a hard look at my appetite. Like most, I felt that my...

Hate the Hate

**Originally printed January of 2017) If you've spent any time in front of the television, on the internet, or virtually anywhere in public over the past few weeks it has been extremely difficult to not be exposed to, take part in, or overhear reports and opinions...

Family

A recent encounter with a long-time acquaintance who detailed a situation involving two of his "brothers" that turned out to not be relatives at all prompted consideration of a rather compelling issue…who is family? There are a number of people who often speak of...

Hope for the Hopeless

(Originally printed Oct. 2016) For the past couple of months, I've been engaged in weekly training sessions as mandatory preparation for what proved a truly unique form of ministry that provided a one-of-a-kind experience. Involvement in various ministries urged me to...

Position Available: Apply Within

(Original print date October 20216) My usual position is to avoid the entire conversation regarding politics altogether but with all the hoopla surrounding the current presidential campaign and pending election I began wondering what makes the position worth all the...

Matthew: A Gift from God

(Originally printed October 20216) The biggest news of that year traveled through the impoverished country of Haiti in October of 2016 and killed, at least, 1,000 people. Hurricane Matthew then trounced Cuba and the Bahamas before making landfall in South Florida...

What to Do?

For somee time I've written about incidents that have evoked concern, criticism and protests, in some cases, throughout various parts of the country. The matters have consistently involved police actions as related to African-American citizens and the unfortunate...