Category Archives: Opinions
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
Editor’s Note: In 1897, 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York Sun, and 
the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages. We offer the letter and editorial response to you in this week’s issue. Merry Christmas.
Dear Editor:
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as
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Letters to the Editor
Action needed on SC 183
Dear Editor,
Anyone who travels Farrs Bridge Road (S.C. Highway 183) frequently knows that accidents occur frequently. Many drivers treat this road as a stock car race. Speeding, passing and tailgating is the rule, not the exception. Rarely have I seen Highway Patrol on 183.
The eastern intersection of Farrs Bridge and Jameson is an extremely dangerous. For drivers traveling on Jameson, either turning left onto 183 or continuing across can be a frustrating then a risky experience. I have witnessed two T-bone accidents while waiting at the stop sign on Jameson. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in either accident. However, on Dec. 11, two people were killed trying to turn onto 183.
I obtained a Freedom of Information document from the Department of Transportation, and this
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Why Christmas
Luke 2:11-14 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
Interesting is inadequate to describe the phenomenon of Christmas celebrations around the world. Over 160 of the 195 countries in the world celebrate the birth of our precious Savior. Dates and types of observances vary but consistently, the celebrations do happen.
Of all the world religions, only Christ is celebrated this
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I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Most people have read or at least heard of a man named Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). He was a literary giant in his lifetime and is still known today in many circles as “The Children’s Poet” as 
several schools around our nation are named in his honor. You may remember some of His original works, which include Paul Revere’s Ride, The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline, and was also the first American to completely translate Dante Alighieri’s Comedy. As one of the fireside writers from New England, he is regarded as the most popular poet of the nineteenth century.
On July 9, 1861, tragedy struck the Longfellow home. His wife,
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Courier Letters to the Editor
Merry Christmas
Dear Editor,
Christmas has something about it that seems like as if for once in the year people have a feeling of joy that no other Holiday brings.
Of course there has been and always will be the haters. The spirit of Scrooge is very much alive and well. These Grinches think they just have to try and ruin it for everyone that celebrates it. Because they don’t believe and want to force others to believe their way! Just got to bring the joy of that great holiday down no doubt this is the reason.
No matter what you believe there will always be the Scrooges and Grinches! Don’t let others ruin your
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Saving lives with Buddy Check
One of the most valuable things you can do in the new year will be to check on your buddies, those you’ve served with and those in your area, and make a regular routine of it. It’s called Buddy Check, and 
you could be saving a life.
A few stats:
— Depending on the source you read, there are 17 to 22 veteran suicides per day. Yes, the numbers have decreased slightly over the years, but even one is too many.
— The rate of male veteran suicides is 60% higher than for
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The dynamics of creation
Genesis 2: 7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
The average human body contains thirty trillion cells. Blood cells, bones, skin, organs and many other body parts, from toenails to hair, are made up of cells.
The average cell contains over one-hundred trillion atoms. An atom is the smallest part of an element that can exist and it retain it’s identity. An atom has a nucleus in which there are protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons, neutral
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A divided heart lives in denial and deception
I’m reminded again of the quote from Scott Fitzgerald, “You do not write because you want to say something; you write because you have something to say.”
I can relate to those who are called to express the burdens within their hearts and thankful for the opportunity to share mine. These freedoms may not always be with us as the world is becoming aggressively opposed to God and His disciples. I write for many secular publications around the country and I’m often warned about toning it down
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Love gives, lust takes
Romans 5:8 “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
Advice we occasionally hear given to young people is, “Don’t confuse love with lust.” Lust is usually associated with sexual desires. Our physical bodies cause us to do many things we later regret and the powerful sexual desire of humans at times affects our ability to reason rationally.
The word love is often confused. Eros love is a love between a husband and wife and not to be confused with agape love. Agape love is actually the highest form of love. God’s love for
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God’s power is associated with His principles
Have you noticed that much of the time God works to accomplish His will, and not ours? We often wonder why certain events happen or do not happen, but when we consider that He has a certain vision and way of doing things, it can help us understand more about prayer, deeds and faith.
Does this mean that God depends on man for everything? Not necessarily. It’s true there is nothing
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