You can preach all your life and still stumble upon a truth that you thought you should have known but, to tell the truth, have never hit upon. For me, it had to do with the Holy Spirit, fullness of the Holy Spirit, and love.

They tell us there are still creatures in the very depths of the oceans we have yet to discover. And, there are creatures among us we have yet to define; Michael Jackson for instance.

Several years ago, Clarence Harshaw was recovering from a car accident that broke his back in four places and left him unable to move his neck. He wasn't supposed to swim because of the strain it placed on him. But Harshaw wasn't thinking about his disability when one of his fishing companions, 8-year-old Shawn Copeland, fell into a lake during a fishing outing. He jumped into the lake and rescued Shawn, the son of a friend, and then drowned.

It has become trendy in church circles to gear at least a portion of a church’s ministry and outreach to popular films. The best known film that caused churches to salivate was, perhaps, Mel Gibson’s, “The Passion of the Christ.”

The Wife asked me yesterday what I’d like for my birthday. Seems I have another one coming up next month. I only had to think for an instant and knew what I wanted more than anything else. Framing her face with my hands, I drew her close, kissing her lightly on her lips, and told her my desire: to have an entire day spent just with her.

I really considered not writing this column, but I realized that wouldn’t be fair. After having blasted the Union City Council and their city attorney, Dennis Davenport, a few weeks ago in our South Fulton Citizen edition for something similar, I would hate to give the impression of favoritism.

From time to time, I try to pay respect to my former beloved literature professors like Nancy Story by reading classic literature.

John Kerry boasts that he volunteered to serve in Vietnam and volunteered for dangerous Swift Boat duty. But, as most things with John Kerry, the truth tells a different story.

In the last 45 days, I have walked into three Fayette churches that I had never before known anything about, much less known their pastors. You know the three churches I am talking about. Many of you, just like me, have passed these faithful outposts of the Christian faith but never knew much more. We need to venture out more.

The idea for an informal Golden Anniversary reception came from one I attended last May, when the daughters of Etta and Ro Schlobohm put on a really sweet celebration of their parents’ Big 5-0.

Attention, high school seniors! I know that this column is going to sound like an advertisement, but I think if one comes across a good deal that might help a great many people, one should share. Don’t you? So, here’s the pitch:

This month, I’m voting for Republican Emory Wilkerson for the Fayette County Commission Post 1.

I’ve endorsed Emory Wilkerson before, when he ran for the Georgia Legislature.

Like the Energizer Bunny, John Kerry keeps on running for president.

Some of us remember Kerry as responsible, more than any other individual, for the false image of Vietnam veterans as dysfunctional misfits, baby-killers.

I found romance on the Mississippi River. I found the kind of romance that tickles your soul and warms your heart.

I found the kind of spectacular romance that inspires Hallmark cards and movies and women spend years of dreams searching for.

Is it possible to celebrate an anniversary for its own sake? To invite friends and strangers alike to pay tribute to an institution, without giving credit to the two who hung on for the ride?

Mardi Gras has come and gone. New Orleans has experienced again its orgy of drinking, frolicking, and bead throwing parades. This year Fat Tuesday (English for Mardi Gras), was somewhat diminished because of the devastation in many parts of the city. Many were ashamed that the event was even staged due to the plight of hundreds of thousands of citizens. Others thought it represented the resurgence of life. For one, I can’t interpret resurgence of life by men and women puking their guts out on city streets. That’s fun?

During Winter break, we ventured to the suburbs of Denver to visit my wife's sister and family. For five years, they have been trying to get us out there, and now that they may be moving back this way, we made a last minute decision to head West.

Arriving early for a breakfast appointment, I was sitting outside a restaurant recently reading a newspaper as I waited for my friend. A white-haired gentleman approached me and said, “I know you. You’re the fellow that writes the columns in the newspaper.”

How old do you have to be to run away from home? It’s been a long time since I’ve had to ask myself that question.

Can you name the war which so far has claimed over 6,000 American lives, more than half that number being innocent civilians?

Maybe now that the 2004 presidential election is far behind us, and the next presidential election is over two years away, maybe at last we can talk rationally and calmly about John Kerry.

Standing in a grocery store line, I smiled at the woman who looked up briefly as she placed her items on the conveyor belt.

I heard about a man who is having a cold January. He asked his wife what she wanted for Christmas, and she replied, “Something that goes from zero to 200 in six seconds.”

In a little over seven years of reporting the news, I have regularly covered hundreds of public meetings. Very rarely have I seen occasions where elected representatives of the people openly violated Georgia law, whether in letter or spirit.

When I started this Jones surname research, I had no idea I was opening up a real can of worms. I guess with a name like “Jones,” many conflicts should be expected. After researching the Internet using official records as well as family trees composed by others, I have come to the conclusion that this family is a real mess.

The five Peachtree City Council members might be wondering what is the big deal about Peachtree City approving extension of city sewer lines to developments outside the city limits.

When word came that Mama’s Aunt Stella had passed to her heavenly reward, there were no reminisces over her great accomplishments or stories of how her children had gathered tearfully around her death bed.

Cont. from last week: Potter D.X. Gordy -
There seemed to be a perception among students that they would somehow be handicapped by having no “family tradition” like D.X. Gordy and those craftsmen whose fathers had worked in clay. Gordy told them, “What you want and what I want is an American tradition. What the whole country needs is a good American tradition.”

You can preach all your life and still stumble upon a truth that you thought you should have known but, to tell the truth, have never hit upon. For me, it had to do with the Holy Spirit, fullness of the Holy Spirit, and love.

I had intended to wrap up Mary Amelia Jones’ family this week but two things popped up which require dealing with before we go any farther.