Know, that you know, that you know! The "old time" preachers used to say that phrase frequently. Ralph Cox a long-time pastor at Milan Baptist Church in Maynardville was the first preacher I recall saying "know, that you know, that you know". The Apostle Peter said it this way, " Give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (see 2 Peter 1:10). Both phrases mean make sure you are saved!

Youth are the future; the forthcoming of our county, our country, our world. Insurance that the youth of today are prepared for tomorrow’s challenges as they grow more independent falls under the responsibility of us as teachers and role models. Communities progress from the education of adolescents, resulting in growth and sustainability.

Knoxville TN: Walter Lambert, or Chef Walter as he is known in these parts, claims to be recently retired. However, Lambert has set his mind on undertaking two main projects this year: a new book and a new podcast. Lambert says the new book will be a fairly long process that includes an autobiography with recipes.

I did something this past weekend that I have never done before. My good friend and former teacher Martha Warwick sent me a notice on “Messenger” that the Lincoln Museum at Lincoln Memorial University was sponsoring free admission on weekends in the month of February. Most fascinating to me, however, was the fact that patrons would be allowed to enter the vault.

It was a bizarre situation that I never thought about being in and it all started because of my love for my bling. And to make things worse, there were no words I could think of to get out of it.

I tried to wait when I received the call of nature, but I couldn’t. I was attending a writer’s conference at the Blue Ridge Conference Center. Hopefully, the bathroom would be nice and clean.

Brooke Cox recently wrote about the “Spider in the Blue House.” That reminded me of why I also hate spiders. It happened a long time ago when I was in the fourth grade. Spiders have given me the willy-wooley crawlies ever since.

People with chronic low back pain might get “modest, short-term pain relief” from opioids. But when it comes to long-term treatment, evidence to support the effectiveness of opioids is “lacking.”

That’s the conclusion of an analysis by JAMA Internal Medicine (“Efficacy, Tolerability, and Dose-Dependent Effects of Opioid Analgesics for Low Back Pain,” May 23, 2016), after reviewing the results of 20 trials that included nearly 8,000 participants.

Native Americans and European pioneers were a tough bunch to be able to eke out a living in the American wilderness. Nothing symbolizes that toughness more than hickory, a common tree of great strength and versatility. It goes back a long way as a revered and useful plant.

Suppertime isn't like it used to be back in the day. When was the last time your entire family sat down together for the evening meal? Those of us in our elder years know what I am talking about. It's not an every day event anymore, even on Sunday.

Aluminum foil hasn't always been available for the housewife. (That's what we called married ladies that stayed home and didn't work outside in the real world.) I remember, after World War II, when aluminum foil and I were first introduced. Oh yes, I had become quite an expert in using waxed paper to seal a bowl for chilling in the fridge, but we all know you can't cook with waxed paper. It was love at first rip between me and aluminum foil. I looked for new ways to use this wonderful invention. This oven dish is one of them.