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Learning the truth and cultivating humility

Success turns some people into jerks. Take, for example, King Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of ancient Babylon. He conquered the Middle East, including Israel and Judah. Nebuchadnezzar was so successful that he believed he should control everyone and everything. Nebuchadnezzar even wanted to dictate how his subjects worshipped. The book of Daniel tells about Nebuchadnezzar erecting an image of gold 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. Nebuchadnezzar brought some of the most important people in his kingdom together, the “movers and shakers” of Babylon, and told them: “As soon as you hear the ...

Backyard Gardener: Invitation for lawn renovation

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! Summer heat is hanging on in September, but mild temperatures are on the way as summer fades into fall. The fall equinox and the first day of autumn arrive on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 8:04 P.M. EDT in the Northern Hemisphere. Fall means football, watching the leaves turn color and fall off our deciduous trees, and of course another opportunity to garden. Milder temperatures, fewer pests, and fewer diseases make fall a suitable time to plant vegetables. Some plants to consider for your fall garden include arugula, beets, bok choy, ...

Make God happy, don’t be a jerk

Tehran’s daily newspaper, Mardomsalari, reported in September 2004 on the trial of a man accused of beating his wife. The court ordered the man to stop beating his wife, but the woman later claimed that she would have been happy with an order limiting the beatings to only one per week. “Beating is a part of his nature,” she said, “and he can’t help it.” The man said, “If I do not beat her, she will not be scared enough to obey me.” What a jerk! Chuck Colson told the story of Marleen, a Christian woman who sought help from her preacher because her husband was abusing her. ...

Backyard Gardener: Lettuce continue fall gardening

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! Hopefully, cool temperatures are just around the corner as the summer heat hangs on. Remember that fall is a great time to test your soil, a free service here in West Virginia. As backyard gardeners continue the harvest, contact the WVU Extension Office with your canning, freezing, gardening, lawn and turf questions. Most of us need a little more fiber in our diet, and a fresh salad with lettuce from the home garden is just the trick. There are four main types of lettuce: crisp-head (iceberg), loose leaf, butterhead, and Romaine (cos ...

Believers must examine both motives and actions

Max Lucado tells the story of Charles Robertson in his book, In the Grip of Grace. Robertson entered the Jefferson State Bank in Virginia Beach and filled out a loan application. But instead of waiting for his loan to be approved, Robertson went back to the bank a couple of hours later with a pistol and a note demanding money. Halfway to his getaway car, Robertson realized that he’d left the note with the teller and he went back in and grabbed it. When he returned to the car, Robertson remembered that he’d left the car keys on the bank counter. Instead of going into the bank again, ...

Backyard Gardener: Taking care of your lawn during the fall months

Editor's note: This column originally appeared in the Sept. 12, 2025, edition. Hello Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! When you clean up the garden, it is a good idea to plant a cover crop. Winter wheat is ideal for our area. Broadcast three to four pounds per 1,000 square feet in the garden. Cover crops increase soil fertility by adding organic matter, controlling soil erosion, choking out weeds, scavenging nitrogen and limiting the spread of certain diseases and insects in the soil. This week I want to talk about fall lawn care. September is the ideal time for almost all lawn ...