City of Winnfield leadership met recently with the Water Department to address growing resident concerns regarding utility billing accuracy and the condition of local water meters.

Mayor Gerald Hamms, Utility Clerk Stacey Fields, City Clerk Katina Smith and the Water Department convened to review meter-reading protocols and transparency measures.

City officials sought to clarify the technology used to track consumption, noting that the system utilizes “SmartPoint” meters. These devices allow the Water Department to capture data electronically via handheld units, meaning that visible surface dirt or debris under a meter lid does not necessarily impede a device’s ability to transmit an accurate reading.

During the meeting, however, officials acknowledged that some units have reached the end of their functional lifespan.

“We recognize that mechanical issues within our system have, at times, caused frustration and may have caused some customers to lose confidence in our utility system,” the city said in a statement. “We hear you, and we are working to address these concerns.”

In response to these findings, Mayor Hamms directed the Water Department to begin the procurement process for new replacement meters immediately. The city confirmed that crews are currently engaged in ongoing updates, system upgrades and equipment repairs to restore service reliability.

City officials stated that these efforts are intended to improve the accuracy of utility billing and reinforce public confidence in municipal infrastructure. The city encouraged residents to remain patient as the department works through the phased equipment replacement schedule.

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As an angler who has fished it all: BFL’s, Toyota Series, ABA Solo 150’s, ABA Pro League, Bassmaster Opens, Fisher’s of Men, Media Bass, Angler’s Choice and too many others I just can’t remember, I can say that some of these were great tournament trails and some were just OK.   

Now don’t get me wrong, there’s never been a circuit that I didn’t enjoy, but there’s an issue I would like to address. Major League Fishing (MLF) is taking the BFL’s from a pro/am draw format and making it a team/solo trail, hoping they can get their numbers up. 

Do we really need another team trail? I think I speak for a lot of anglers who still like to fish solo/individual trails and the last thing anglers need is another team trail as we have too many already! Since the demise of ABA dropping the Solo 150 and the Pro Leagues, the only remaining individual trails are the Bassmaster Opens and the Toyota Series. 

Both of these are very expensive with the Toyota’s costing an angler on the pro side $1,700 per event while the B.A.S.S Opens will cost you $2,000. The BFL was considered an entry level circuit designed for the working man but will now cost you $500 per event as a team/solo entry. 

Years ago, the BFL’s would draw a full field of 200 boaters (which used to be the case) due to the low entry fee, but their payback was the worst of any circuit out there as they took part of BFL’s money to help support its upper-level circuits, therefore shorting the anglers supporting the BFL’s. 

Another issue has been that ever since the “Live Scope” controversy started, BLF participation has gone down dramatically as so many anglers refuse to participate in events where this technology is allowed. Boaters and co-anglers walked away faster than a hook set. 

So, after a few years of low turnouts for the BFL’s, Major League Fishing (MLF) will be taking this circuit in a totally different direction. I hope they thought this through as it has just eliminated the last remaining pro/am circuit for the lower level of tournament bass fishing. 

As an angler who loves fishing a solo/individual circuit, I really wish MLF would have put the same amount of guaranteed first place money of $10,000 and kept the original format of a pro/am circuit. Anglers would have flocked for this kind of guarantee! 

The next issue is the fact that there will be no limit on using forward-facing sonar (FFS) for 2027 when fishing the BFL Team Trail. This will bring out many of the younger anglers who have grown up using FFS. But one thing I wish MLF would adopt for 2027 is only allowing the use of FFS every other tournament like Bassmaster does with their schedule. 

This would help to level the playing field especially with the older generation of anglers particularly on lakes where local anglers tend to dominate. As far as what to do with forward-facing sonar in the long run, we may not have a choice as some states, starting with Florida, are looking to ban FFS altogether. 

If this happens, other state organizations will follow suit and implement the same rule. Then FFS will no longer be an issue for tournament organizations to deal with. 

I’m so tired of talking about it and yet no matter what decisions are made from ANY organization, everyone has their own opinion if this technology is good or bad, as the division continues nationwide on this topic. 

It appears this year’s three-hour FFS rule for the BFL’s and the Toyota Series has been the most popular and if that’s the direction they want to go, so be it … I DON’T CARE! Even if they choose to take it away completely… I DON’T CARE! Just make a decision, stick with it and move on! 

I know this article will draw some comments and I welcome everyone’s opinion. We have enough team trails nationwide and need more solo or individual circuits to help balance things outs and give anglers another option. 

Good luck, good fishing, stay cool and be safe out there if you’re going to brave the heat to wet a hook. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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More than a century before commercial air travel became routine, Orville Wright was born Aug. 19, 1871, in Dayton, Ohio.

Orville Wright would go on to become one of aviation’s most important pioneers alongside his brother, Wilbur. The Wright brothers developed and flew the first successful powered airplane in 1903, changing transportation and opening a new chapter in human history.

Their achievement did not come easily. The brothers spent years studying flight, building gliders and conducting experiments before successfully controlling a powered aircraft.

Orville’s Aug. 19 birthday is also shared by another name associated with groundbreaking technology: Gene Roddenberry, creator of “Star Trek,” was born on the same date in 1921. Former President Bill Clinton was also born Aug. 19, 1946.

Aug. 19 has been the date of several other notable moments in history, including the 1812 battle in which the USS Constitution defeated the British ship HMS Guerrière and earned the nickname “Old Ironsides.” In 1960, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 5, carrying two dogs that became the first animals to survive an orbital flight and return safely to Earth.

But for aviation, Aug. 19 carries a particularly fitting connection: it marks the birth of the man who, with his brother, helped turn the dream of human flight into reality.

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“Do you hear what I hear?”

It is a little early for Christmas music, but that old Christmas song has been running through my mind this morning.

I am sitting in my new little 4-by-6-foot office, practicing my pastor emeritus skills. Apparently one of those skills is sitting still long enough to notice what is going on around you. After years of meetings, sermons, phone calls, hospital visits, committee reports, and somebody always needing to know where the extension cord is, sitting quietly feels almost suspicious.

But this morning, I am listening.

Right now, the church building is silent. That will change soon.

Today is the first day of school for our preschool children. We have 104 children enrolled, which means that in a little while this silence is going to disappear. I expect to hear laughter, crying, little feet running down hallways, teachers giving instructions, parents saying goodbye, and perhaps one child announcing loudly that he absolutely does not intend to participate in whatever has been planned for him.

In other words, I expect to hear life.

And I cannot wait.

While I sit here listening for those sounds, another question occurs to me:

What are we listening for? And who are we listening to?

Jesus talked a surprising amount about listening.

Again and again he said, “Let anyone with ears listen.” He told his disciples to pay attention to what they heard. And in John’s Gospel Jesus described his relationship with us this way: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”

Apparently discipleship involves more than talking.

That includes prayer.

We usually think of prayer as talking to God, and certainly it is. We bring God our worries, hopes, fears, families, decisions, illnesses, disappointments, and dreams. We pray because we believe God listens and responds because God loves us.

But here is the harder question:

After we finish talking, do we listen?

Sometimes my prayers resemble leaving a voicemail for God.

“Lord, here are the problems. Here is what I need. Here is what I think you ought to do. Thank you very much. Amen.”

Click.

And then I am off to the next thing.

Maybe prayer occasionally needs a little silence at the end.

“Speak, Lord. I’m listening.”

Perhaps God’s answer will come through Scripture. Perhaps through another person. Perhaps through an unexpected thought, a nudging of conscience, a door opening—or closing. And sometimes God may simply give us the quiet assurance that we are loved and that we do not walk alone.

Soon the hallway will be filled with 104 little reminders that silence does not last forever.

But for this moment, it is quiet.

So I am listening.

Listening for children.

Listening for life.

Listening for God.

There is great joy in discovering that amid all the noise of this world, the Shepherd is still speaking.

The question is not only, “Do you hear what I hear?”

The better question may be:

Are we listening?

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Rachel lived on the island of Saint Croix in the Caribbean.  She married Johann Lavien and they had a son named Peter, but Johann was such an abusive husband that Rachel left for her own safety.  In retaliation, Johann had her imprisoned for adultery.  Upon her release, Rachel sailed from Saint Croix to another island in the Caribbean called Saint Kitts.  There, she met a Scottish trader named James.  Shortly thereafter, Rachel’s father died and left her a seaside lot on the nearby island of Nevis.  She and James moved there together but could not marry because she was still technically married to Johann.  Rachel had two sons with James, James Jr. and Alex.  After a little over ten years together, James abandoned Rachel and his children.  Some historians argue that James left to protect Rachel and their illegitimate children from legal action brought on by Johann.  Whatever the reason, Rachel and her two sons sailed back to Saint Croix.  Three years after James left, Rachel and Alex contracted yellow fever.  Alex made a full recovery, but Rachel did not.  She died at the young age of 39.  

Things went from bad to worse.  James Jr. and Alex became orphans.  Because she was still married to Johann at the time of his death, he had control of her estate.  Johann sold all of Rachel, James Jr., and Alex’s possessions in an auction.  For a few months, James Jr. and Alex lived with their cousin, Peter Lytton, until he died by suicide.  James Jr. became an apprentice to a carpenter and Alex became a clerk at an import/export company on the island.  Alex was not yet a teenager.  

On one hot August day, a powerful hurricane devastated Saint Croix and changed the course of Alex’s life.  Well, not the hurricane itself, but a letter Alex wrote which described the hurricane.  Alex wrote the letter to his father.  Alex’s mentor, a minister and newspaper editor, was impressed with the letter and published in the local newspaper.  “Honoured Sir,” Alex Wrote, “I take up my pen just to give you an imperfect account of one of the most dreadful Hurricanes that memory or any records whatever can trace, which happened here on the 31^st ultimo at night.”  Ultimo was short for “in the previous month.”  As he neared the end of his letter, Alex wrote, “I am afraid, Sir, you will think this description more the effort of imagination, than a true picture of realities.  But I can affirm with the greatest truth, that there is not a single circumstance touched upon, which I have not absolutely been an eyewitness to.”  When the people of Saint Croix read the article, they were also impressed.  Those who knew Alex knew he was illegitimate and uneducated, but they knew how hard he worked.  They paid for Alex to come to North America for a proper education and to give him a chance at a better life.  Alex did not squander the opportunity.  While in college, war broke out and Alex joined the military.  Within a short time, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel because of leadership abilities and became the chief staff aid to the general in charge of the whole war.  After the war, Alex became a delegate to Congress, practiced law, and founded a bank.  When the general he served under became President of the United States, he chose Alex as his Secretary of the Treasury.  Because of this position, those of us who still carry cash can see him on our $10 bills.  Alex, that illegitimate orphan who achieved the American dream, who was a signer of the U.S. Constitution, was Alexander Hamilton.  And it all started because of a letter to his father. 

Sources:

1.     Susan B. Barnes, “Walk in the Footsteps of Alexander Hamilton on This Tiny Caribbean Island,” Smithsonian Magazine, August 23, 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/alexander-hamilton-nevis-caribbean-island-180964047/.

2.     “Alexander Hamilton to the Royal Danish American Gazette, 6 September 1772,” National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-01-02-0042.

3.     The Royal Danish American Gazette, October 3, 1772.

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A burn ban has been issued for Winn Parish effective at 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, under Winn Parish Ordinance 003 of 2006.

The burn ban applies to all outside burning and will remain in effect until further notice.

The burn ban does not apply to prescribed burns conducted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, those trained and certified by the department, or those conducting prescribed burning as a generally accepted agricultural practice as defined by the Louisiana Right to Farm Law (R.S. 3:3601 et seq.).

Violations of the burn ban may result in a $500 fine, up to six months in jail, or both.

The notice was issued by Winn Parish Fire District No. 3 Fire Chief Dustin Parker.

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We have reached the six-week mark after heart surgery and things are slowly getting back to normal, or close to what normal used to be. Once you’ve gone through open heart surgery, life is never the same. There are still many challenges I’m looking to conquer, and some will only be conquered with time. 

The physical challenges were tough, especially right after surgery, with all the tubes hanging out of my chest and just trying to find the right position to be comfortable. But once those tubes were taken out two days after surgery, I was a new man as it was such a stress relief to have those removed. 

One pleasant surprise has been the lack of pain. Every person I talked with who had been through open heart surgery said the leg where they take the vein out would be painful and hurt a lot. Well, not for me. I have not had the first ounce of pain from day one. While the chest has been sore, no pain there either! Just a lot of discomfort, especially when trying to lie down. 

Now don’t kid yourself, a slight cough or sneeze can send you to a place of pain that will remind you of some form of torture. The best relief for this is to squeeze the heart-shaped pillow they issue after surgery, as it truly becomes your best friend. 

But even more difficult for me have been the mental challenges that come with this type of surgery. My body has gone through a complete transformation with a weight loss of 30 pounds while trying to adapt itself to all the new changes and medicines. 

Anxiety was extremely high after returning home, not having nurses checking your vitals every hour of the day and night. When they say the mind is a very powerful thing, it’s true, as your mind tends to race and wonder 24/7. Emotions run high and rampant as one minute you’re crying and the next you’re so happy you’ve survived.

Trying to sleep at night has been my biggest challenge as I’ve truly been afraid I would stop breathing if I fell asleep. Taking a nap was a major challenge even though I knew and understood that my heart was as good as new. I had trouble trusting myself and the work I had done on me. 

Next is the adjustment to the medications … and I mean lots of medications. I think this also plays a huge role in your mental stability as it’s just another thing your body must adapt to. 

Now that we are at the six-week mark post-surgery, things are getting much better daily. The anxiety issues have slowly faded away especially since I have a low dosage of medication for that. 

But sleeping at night continues to be an issue as I tend to wake up every night at 3:00. Some nights, I’ll eventually go back to sleep and other times I’ll turn on the TV and just lay there hoping to fall back asleep.

This is very frustrating as I end up taking a long nap during the day just to regain energy. Food is still the enemy for me as nothing tastes like it’s supposed to. Soups seems to be the one thing I tend to like over anything else. 

Presently, I continue to try solid food, even the things I really enjoyed before the surgery. Slowly the appetite is returning, and things are starting to taste better even though I’m on a low sodium diet. 

One thing I have taken a liking to … chocolate protein drinks! These are really good and tend to make me feel full. Lately, I’ve been drinking one of these at some point during the day. Before I do my morning walk, I’ve learned that it helps to have some form of solid food for breakfast as it really helps my energy level. 

Again, while things are getting better and I continue to gain more strength, getting back into a routine has been very important in my metal state of mind. Hopefully this week my doctor will give me the OK to start driving again and regain some of my independence. My wife, Sherrie, has been an excellent chauffeur!  

Here’s some food for thought. Not too long ago, I wrote an article about how we all need a purpose in life. Well, it’s during times like this when having a purpose is more important than ever as it helps to occupy the mind. Hopefully soon, things will get back to what I used to call normal. 

 Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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This article is well used and true. I hope I express gratitude to those who teach, especially children like I was.

I was an underachieving little hellion.

In the Baptist church, they practically drew lots to see who’d be stuck with me in Sunday school. I was the kid teachers prayed would be absent — and when I was present, they prayed harder. A lesson on the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness could, under my creative influence, end with a John Wayne shootout at high noon with the Philistines. More than one Baptist teacher quit and joined the Methodists for the sake of their sanity.

Elementary school wasn’t much different. Recess was the only part that made sense: there was a ball, you kicked the ball, and then you ran. That was education at its finest. The only reason to go back inside was Cindy Stinson sitting on the second row. All the boys loved Cindy. On Valentine’s Day she received real cards and real candy — the kind that didn’t come from the drugstore clearance bin. Naturally, we all tried to impress her. Some boys used charm. I used classroom destruction. Standing in the corner meant standing closer to Cindy, and I became an expert at slapping chalkboard erasers together like a man auditioning for janitorial percussion.

My report cards were a cry for help. My teachers were frustrated. My mother was frustrated. The school janitor was probably frustrated. I was not inspired by the academic process — unless the academic process involved recess or Cindy Stinson.

Then came fourth grade.

My teacher was Mrs. Sarah Napps, a legend whose career stretched back to the 1930s. She had taught my uncle, my mother, and half the county. She was also my mother’s piano teacher, which meant she had already survived one generation of my family. For reasons I still can’t fully explain, I took a shine to her. Maybe it was her grandmotherly demeanor. Maybe it was the mythical tales of her teaching prowess. Maybe she simply had the courage of a woman who had seen everything and feared nothing.

One afternoon, during a parentteacher conference, she invited me into the room. She looked at me — not through me, not past me — and said, “You are a smart young man. I think you can do much better in school. I expect you to do much better. You’ve made progress, and I’m proud of you. But I want you to work harder, and I know your grades will improve.”

I don’t remember anything else from that meeting. All I heard was: She believes in me.

And that changed everything. Not overnight — I didn’t suddenly become a scholarly saint — but the ship began to turn. The boy who weaponized chalkboard erasers discovered the rudiments of selfcontrol. The child who terrorized Sunday school found a teacher who saw potential instead of problems.

School has begun again for many students. I’m praying for our teachers — especially the ones who must deal with “that child.” I pray they have patience, wisdom, and the courage to place high expectations on their students. Children rise to — or sink to — the expectations set by the significant people in their lives.

My life was changed by a teacher.

And maybe that’s why the stories I love best about Jesus begin with one simple word:

“Teacher”

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On Aug. 12, 1851, Isaac Merritt Singer was granted a U.S. patent for improvements to the sewing machine, marking an important moment in the development of an invention that would change how clothing and other goods were made.

Singer was not the first person to invent a sewing machine. However, his improvements helped create a machine that was practical and commercially viable for home use. His patented machine used a straight, vertically moving needle and a reciprocating shuttle to create a lockstitch.

Singer’s patent, U.S. Patent No. 8,294, was issued on Aug. 12, 1851. The machine incorporated several improvements, including a mechanism to help tighten the stitch and changes to how thread was controlled and supplied.

The development of the sewing machine had an impact far beyond the workshop. Singer’s company helped turn the sewing machine into a consumer product, making it increasingly accessible to families. The company also offered installment payment plans, encouraging more households to purchase machines.

Today, sewing machines are commonplace, but on Aug. 12, 1851, a patent helped advance a technology that would eventually bring mechanical sewing into homes across the country.

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Kerrie grew up as an only child on a farm in Benoni near Johannesburg, South Africa.  She said that “violence and turmoil was…everyday life” in Johannesburg.  There were riots in the streets because of apartheid.  Her home life was often filled with violence and turmoil as well.  Kerrie’s father, Charles, was an alcoholic to the degree that he built his own elaborate bar in the family home.  It was there that he spent most of his time.  When his drinking got the better of him, Charles would go missing for days and sometimes weeks at a time.  When he eventually returned, he and Kerrie’s mother, Gerda, engaged in what Kerrie called “verbal abuse” against each other.  Charles would throw lamps, furniture, and whatever else was close at hand, but never physically abused Kerrie or her mother.  After the fights, Charles and Gerda would not speak to each other for weeks.  The silence tortured Kerrie.  She was even too afraid to say good morning to her parents.  Kerrie thought Charles being verbally abusive toward her and her mother was normal.  Gerda had installed lockable steel doors in each room of the house except for Kerrie’s just so they could escape if necessary.  At the time in South Africa, divorce was not culturally accepted.  

Tension within the family continued to grow.  When Kerrie was around 13 years old, her mother sent her to a boarding school to get her out of the house.  When school was not in session, Kerrie’s mother took her to the movies to get her away from home.  On June 21, 1991, when Kerrie was 15 years old, she and her mother went to a movie to escape.  They returned to find that Charles had left and had locked the outer steel door on their house.  Without her door key, Gerda and Kerrie located Charles at his brother’s house.  Charles and his brother were both intoxicated.  Kerrie was in dire need of a bathroom and ran through her uncle’s house without speaking.  To Charles, Kerrie had disrespected her elders.  Kerrie said that “this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”  After a heated argument, Gerda and Kerrie returned home.  Within minutes Charles and his brother arrived at the home.  Kerrie ran to her room and turned off the light in hopes that her father would think she was asleep.  Kerrie’s mother quickly locked all the steel doors in the house to keep Charles away from them.  One by one, Charles fired a pistol through the steel doors and made his way to Gerda and Kerrie.  Charles was going to kill them both.  Gerda retrieved a pistol from their gun safe and ran into Kerrie’s bedroom.  They used their bodies to push against the steel door.  When Charles was unable to force the door open, he began firing his pistol at the door.  Charles’s drunken brother encouraged him to continue.  Somehow all the bullets missed Kerrie and her mother.  When Charles ran out of bullets, he yelled that he was going to get his shotgun from the safe and walked away from the door.  Kerrie’s mother opened the door and fired a single shot down their hallway.  The bullet ricocheted and struck Charles’s brother in the hand.  Gerda ran toward the room where the gun safe was kept and Kerrie followed.  As Charles was opening the gun safe, Gerda fired her pistol.  That fatal shot forever ended the family turmoil and saved hers and Kerrie’s lives.  Investigators concluded that Gerda had acted in self-defense.    

Kerrie left South Africa in search of a better life and she found it.  She became one of the world’s highest-paid actresses.  In 2004, Kerrie became the first South African to win an Oscar for Best Actress.  She won the Academy Award for her portrayal of a serial killer in the film Monster.  Kerrie was the childhood nickname of actress Charlize Theron.

Sources:

1.      “How Charlize Theron Overcame Her Dark Family Past,” Time Magazine’s The Interview, April 18, 2026, https://youtu.be/ndYSsk-P8bQ?si=6m7YMNeklm7TqZIq.

2.     “Charles Jacobus Theron,” Find A Grave, Accessed August 2, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109904585/charles_jacobus-theron.

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It’s that time of year when there’s not a whole lot going on in the bass fishing world. August is when there’s a lull on most tournament trails as they avoid the hot summer heat. But come September and October, trails start to crank up again with their end-of-the-season championship events. 

The goal of all anglers who fish tournament trails all spring is to qualify for the fall championship. It’s where champions will be crowned and Anglers of the Year announced. It’s also when most tournament trails reveal their new schedules for the upcoming spring. 

Most anglers make their decision on what circuit they will follow next season based on where the fall championship will be. Some like trails that stay close to home to help cut down on travel costs, while others like trails that travel more on a regional level and go to places that are known for quality fishing. 

But one thing all anglers want is to wrap up the season at a great fishing venue where they can catch a lot of fish. While most anglers would love to win a regional championship, the reality is they want a place they can enjoy and to finish out their season on a high note at a good fishery. They want a great experience! 

Most bass tournament trails also want to send anglers to great fishing destinations where anglers are rewarded for making the championship. But every once in a while, some circuits will send anglers to a place like the Red River, a body of water that tends to level the playing field with its diversity as a fishery.  

Any time you go to places like Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Grand Lake, or maybe Texoma, there are a handful of anglers who frequent those bodies of water, giving them a distinct advantage going into the event, and potentially making them harder to beat. 

River systems like the Red or the Arkansas River are places that aren’t as popular and tend to give more anglers a shot at taking home a win. Certain lakes like Arkansas’s Lake Ouachita and East Texas fisheries like Lake of the Pines or Lake Palestine are also places that are great for championship events. 

But there’s also another huge factor that determines where a tournament trail will have its championship event. What city or community will be willing to put up the money to host these events? Yep, that’s right, it all comes down to who will foot the bill to host these major tournaments. 

While these championship events bring in a lot of money over a weeklong period, it’s also great exposure for the local community. Most of the time, the standard of “how good is the fishery” falls way down on the list of things most important deciding who gets to host a championship event. Sure, the trail owners want all the anglers to have a good time, but in reality, it’s all about the money. 

Other priorities a host community must provide are free hotel rooms for the entire staff that it takes to put on one of these championship events. They must have adequate boat ramp facilities and plenty of lodging options for anglers. 

Here’s the bottom line. When anglers sign up for a particular tournament trail, the location of the season-ending-championship is very important. It’s a pride thing for all anglers to know they have qualified for the championship, as it means they have had a very good season. 

For most anglers, these championship events are a great way to end the fishing season. It also means fall is right around the corner as anglers trade in their rods and reels for bows, rifles and shotguns. 

They prepare to hit the woods and enjoy some great hunting. Bass boats will be parked, deer stands will be cleared of unwanted wasps, while duck blinds will be dressed, and four-wheelers will be cranked … because tournament anglers aren’t just bass fishermen, they are outdoorsmen who love the outdoors no matter what season it is. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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There are few places in life where a person feels quite as vulnerable as the dental chair. Reclined, mouth open, bib clipped on like a toddler at mealtimes, we are reminded—sometimes painfully—that even the strongest among us can be brought to our knees by a stubborn molar. Recently, during a stretch of extensive dental work (the kind they do before you get dentures), I found myself reflecting on forgiveness, sin, and the curious ways God uses everyday experiences to get our attention.

There I was, gripping the armrests “with my teeth clenched,” even though the dentist had politely asked me not to clench anything. As drills whirred and suction tubes slurped, I realized how much of life feels like this: uncomfortable, exposed, and out of our control. Sin works the same way. It sneaks up on us, decays what we thought was solid, and before long we’re dealing with something far more extensive than we ever expected.

The hygienist cheerfully said, “We’re just going to get down to the root of the problem.” I almost laughed. Isn’t that exactly what God does with us? Grace doesn’t just polish the surface; it goes deep, right to the root. It addresses the infection, the hidden places, the things we’d rather keep tucked away. And like dental work, grace can feel intrusive before it feels healing.

As the dentist worked, I thought about how often we “bite off more than we can chew,” how frequently we “grit our teeth” through situations we caused ourselves, and how easy it is to “sink our teeth” into resentment. Sin has a way of leaving us spiritually toothless—unable to chew on the Word, unable to speak truth without wincing, unable to smile without feeling the ache of what’s broken.

But here’s the good news: God is the Master Dentist of the soul. He doesn’t shame us for the decay; He simply says, “Open wide.” And when we do, He gets to work—cleaning, restoring, reshaping. Forgiveness is His anesthetic: it numbs the sting of guilt and gives us courage to face the deeper work. Grace is His reconstruction: building us back up where life has worn us down. And mercy? Mercy is the gentle rinse that washes away what we cannot remove ourselves.

When the appointment finally ended, the dentist said, “You’re going to feel better once the healing kicks in.” I knew he meant my mouth, but I heard something more. Forgiveness doesn’t just fix what’s broken; it frees us to heal. It lets us smile again—really smile, not the tight-lipped kind we give when we’re still hurting.

So if life has left you feeling like you’re in the dental chair—exposed, anxious, and aware of your own decay—take heart. God’s grace is already at work. And when He’s finished, you’ll walk out renewed, restored, and ready to sink your teeth into joy again.

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One of the most influential figures in space exploration was born on Aug. 5, 1930.

Neil Armstrong, who would become the first person to walk on the moon, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio. His interest in aviation began at an early age, and he earned his student pilot’s license before obtaining a driver’s license.

Armstrong served as a naval aviator during the Korean War before becoming a test pilot and later joining NASA’s astronaut program.

On July 20, 1969, Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission, delivering the famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

The moon landing was watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide and remains one of the most significant achievements in human history.

After leaving NASA, Armstrong taught aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati and served on several national commissions related to aviation and space exploration.

Armstrong died on Aug. 25, 2012, at the age of 82, but his legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists, engineers and explorers.

Each year, Aug. 5 marks the anniversary of the birth of the man whose historic first steps on the moon changed the course of history.

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Each summer we discuss the unbearable heat as if we have somehow forgotten from previous years.  This is nothing new.  Our ancestors complained about it too.  For thousands of years, people in our hemisphere have linked the hottest days of summer, which are often times of drought, disease, and unrest, with astronomy and folklore.  Our ancient ancestors paid more attention to the stars in the sky than we do today.  During July and August, ancient keen observers noticed that a bright star appeared in the eastern sky just before dawn.  Aside from the Sun, it was the brightest star in the sky.  They concluded that the sweltering temperatures were produced by a combination of the heat from the Sun and this star which they named “Sirius,” the Greek word for “scorching.”  The Greeks and Romans believed Sirius was responsible for drought, fever, general discomfort, and a host of other unfortunate occurrences.  Ancient Egyptians believed that the appearance of this star which they called “Sothis” signaled the annual flooding of the Nile.  Egyptians depended on the annual flood because it delivered nutrients to the otherwise infertile land.  

Today, Sirius is seen as little more than a curiosity.  If you look to the east in the pre-dawn hours, you can spot Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, which is Latin for “greater dog.”  Because Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and the brightest star in the “greater dog,” it became known as the “Dog Star.”

Through the centuries, as our understanding of astronomy and knowledge in general improved, the old superstitions slowly faded away.  Well, mostly.  While trying to beat the heat this summer, you will undoubtedly hear an ancient folklore phrase based on Sirius’s appearance in the sky which has been spoken for millennia.  Most people mistakenly associate the ancient phrase’s meaning with laziness brought on by heat and humidity.  However, this phrase links the period of time when, as ancient people incorrectly believed, the Dog Star and the Sun combined forces to produce sweltering, almost unbearable heat.  That phrase which you will undoubtedly hear this summer, which has been repeated every summer for years, refers to July and August as being the Dog Days of summer. 

Source: Catherine Boeckmann, “What Are the Dog Days of Summer? Meaning, Dates & History,” The Old Farmer’s Almanac, June 19, 2026, accessed July 26, 2026, https://www.almanac.com/content/what-are-dog-days-summer.

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