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Nothing is ever out of God’s control

Hi, my name is Mark and I’m a control freak. I’d like to make myself sound a little better and say that a different way, perhaps, something like, “Hi, my name is Mark and I am a perfectionist who likes to get things right. Word games, however, wouldn’t change the fact: I am a control freak. Since I’m confessing here, let me continue and admit: I’m scared. Scared of what will happen if things get out of control. Afraid that I will disappoint others and disgust myself if I don’t get everything right. Fearful of the rejection I’ll experience when people discover how ...

We shouldn’t be prompted to seek revenge

Brett Blair tells about a Swedish woman whose husband dumped her and took up with a younger woman after 17 years of marriage. In his divorce filing, the man claimed the downtown apartment where they had been living. His soon-to-be ex-wife agreed to give up the apartment, but asked for 3 days to pack and move out. She hired movers and cleared her things from the apartment. Then she sat down with a glass of chardonnay and a pound of raw shrimp and celebrated being rid of that jerk. After finishing her snack, she took some of the shrimp shells and put them inside the hollow core of each ...

A tale of two (plus three more) Putnam Street bridges

The first was built in 1880. It was a big deal for the growing town - a FREE bridge (meaning no tolls) built with taxpayer dollars. That's the good news. The bad news: it was washed away by a flood in 1884. A replacement span was quickly constructed on the original piers. That's the bridge ...

MOV Climate Corner: Why West Virginia’s rivers deserve a voice

I’ve stood on the banks of the Ohio River at sunrise, watching the water move steadily past. In moments like that it is easy to believe our rivers will always be there for us, unchanged. But working with communities across West Virginia has shown me a different reality. Our water shapes our health, our economy, and our future. In West Virginia, water is more than a resource. It’s part of our identity. It’s where families gather, where kids learn to fish, and where generations have built their lives. It’s also the source of drinking water for communities that depend on it every ...

Colonial Gardens

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley gardeners and farmers! This week I want to discuss planting a historical or colonial kitchen garden. 2026 marks Americas 250th Anniversary. Compared to today, colonial gardens were an essential component of survival, located near the house to prevent starvation and treat illness. Gardening meant feeding your family and having a ready supply of medicine. Kitchen gardens were a vital source of daily nutrition. In many instances, gardening today is a hobby or a way to get fresh, great tasting and nutritious produce from your backyard. It is often a pursuit intended ...

Grow beyond the need for revenge

Brett Blair tells about a Swedish woman whose husband dumped her and took up with a younger woman after 17 years of marriage. In his divorce filing, the man claimed the downtown apartment where they had been living. His soon-to-be ex-wife agreed to give up the apartment, but asked for 3 days to pack and move out. She hired movers and cleared her things from the apartment. Then she sat down with a glass of chardonnay and a pound of raw shrimp and celebrated being rid of that jerk. After finishing her snack, she took some of the shrimp shells and put them inside the hollow core of each ...