I have struggled with health concerns during the past six months. My only wish for this new year is good health.

Sometimes it seems that this nation is constantly at war. Has this last resort become our first response?

Sometimes it is wonderful to be read to. I encourage everyone reading this to get to church for the Christmas holidays and have the story of Christmas read to them.

I enjoy watching Trading Places. In addition to the comedy, I enjoy the social commentary. If you could trade places with someone, would you rise or fall economically from the trade?

During Christmas, God proves that he will lower himself for incarnation. Is that the example that we should follow?

My grandsons joined us in making Thanksgiving cookies. What we did was more than make cookies. We had an opportunity to spend time together and bond.

The United Nations reports horrible conditions in Gaza. I wonder if these conditions will create future terrorists that will thwart the future peace and prosperity of Israel and Israeli citizens.

We own the country and we hired employees to run it. When our employees in congress shut the country down, it is time to fire our employees in congress.

I celebrate the 150th anniversary of Garner Sage library. It was built with a vision and funding from the faithful. Are we as visionary and faithful today?

How do we define ourselves when life is difficult? Do we define ourselves as people of God?

I celebrate the cease fire in Gaza. Do we really think that this will bring peace to the Holy Land?

The NY Mets collapsed and did not make the playoffs. I think that congregations of the faithful can learn a few things from this collapse.

I went to a Jewish funeral a few weeks ago and was reminded again of how much different groups of people have in common. Why can we humans not see our similarities?

We have had another assassination in our nation. How much has angry rhetoric led to these assassinations?

Why would someone hate so much that they would fly a plane into the World Trade Center? I am hoping to begin to answer this question.

Why would people hate enough to carry out the 911 attacks? I try to answer that question.

Nazis believed that they were seizing land and killing Jews to do God’s will. Have we learned anything since then?

I met a bird this past weekend, as well as her human companion and I learned a bit about birds that might be good for humans to learn.

Ellis Island screened 12 million people when it was in operation. Most were done efficiently. Why can’t we design an efficient system now to manage immigration?

Our family had a family reunion. From immigrants from Switzerland, Germany and England, there are now 11 Great-Grandchildren with Cherokee, Greek, Italian, African, Hispanic, and Filipino roots. I celebrate this American diversity.

I have a roof rack for my car. It is old and not glitzy but it gets the job done. How often do we focus on glitz instead of utility?