Opinion Archive

Ten years isn’t some magic number, but it happens to be the number of years I’ve been here in Florida.
A lot has happened in that time.

My wife and I pray together most mornings before one of us leaves the house for our workday. Our prayer is always the same, “Lord, we are yours and this day is yours. We ask you to fill us with your Spirit and use us for your glory.” One day last week, having prayed with my wife and seen her out the door, a question popped into my mind: God, are you tired of hearing the same prayer from us day after day?

This week we watched the beautiful and majestic pomp and circumstance that is the presidential inauguration. No matter who the incoming president is, the ceremony surrounding inauguration day is one to behold. It touches us both patriotically and spiritually.

Let the story of Michael Carter provide a valuable lesson to all young athletes out there who aspire to one day be the best they can be in their respective sports.
Carter is a former Navarre Raider running back, the best in school history to be exact, and he just finished up his fourth year in the NFL.

It’s getting tougher to play the recruiting game as a high school athlete.
Between the transfer portal, Name Image and Likeness deals and roster limits at the Division I level that all but eliminate walk-on opportunities, athletes in high school who dream of one playing a college sport are finding it tougher to find a home.

The acronym GOAT is frequently used in publications, but the first time I saw it used, I mistook it for a pejorative. “What despicable thing did this person do,” I wondered, “that this author would refer to him as a goat?” Reading further confused me even more because the author spoke of the person only in the most glowing terms. Then the lights came on and I realized that GOAT is an acronym for “greatest of all time.” Yes, it took me awhile.

Nothing says “peaceful transition of power” like barbed wire, barricades, and troops standing by. With no threats indicated, that is what the feds are doing with your tax dollars.

The fourth anniversary of “January Sixth” falls on January 6 this year. Who can forget the Biden Inauguration in 2021? Chief Justice John Roberts took the Bible to swear in Joe Biden and started the oath by raising his hand and saying, “I, Joe Biden.” Biden said, “No, I am Joe Biden!”

I’d like to think that I am an encourager, perhaps not the best, certainly not the worst. If someone does well, I will give a sincere, “Well done!” Even if someone does not do well, I look for something praiseworthy. As a pastor, I am often asked to give references and recommendations for others, and I lean toward graciousness in my assessments and remarks. But lately, my desire to encourage is being challenged by a browser I have used for years that is asking for my recommendation.

Not that many years ago, the best way you could find out about businesses in town would be through your local newspaper. Your local newspaper is still a great source of advertising information, but if you’re looking for something, chances are you’re going to start by “Googling it.” Have you ever wondered why that’s become our go-to move? Well, a recent court ruling has shed some light on this, and it’s not a pretty picture.

The future of junior college athletics is on the brink of change after a court ruled in favor of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia last month.
Pavia filed a lawsuit stating his NCAA eligibility time should not be impacted by his years at the junior college level. He’s now set to get an extra year of eligibility.