Bankruptcy for states?

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senator John Cornyn of Texas have stirred up controversy with a proposal to allow states facing severe financial problems to declare bankruptcy.

The intent is to provide an alternative to federal bailouts and allow states to re-negotiate their various debt obligations in a manner somewhat like a corporation or individual, in bankruptcy court. The proposal is being targeted at states like Illinois, which is currently expecting a projected 47 percent budget gap and an estimated pension funding level of 54 percent. Read More»

I ask again what in the world could a declaration by that name have to do with those of us living here on the south side of Atlanta? Well, it simply bears the name of the place in New York where a gathering of well known and respected national Christian leaders met a year ago last November to make an important and historic faith declaration, much like the governmental declaration that was made in Philadelphia in 1776. Read More»

If you are a knowledgeable avian aficionado, you can take a break from today’s column and go refill your bird feeders.

Winter, especially one as prolonged and bitterly cold as this one has been, is one of the two times in the year that bird lovers ask me what birds need to survive. The other is early spring, before berries and bugs mature. Summer and fall needs are easier to answer, with the wealth of seeds they contribute to the birds’ menu.

Actually bird feeders provide only about half the food birds eat, with the rest found in the woods and fields. And city neighborhoods. Read More»

Get Ready for Tornado Siren Test Wednesday, Family Reunion Workshop Planned, Economic Development Report, Fayette Earth Day, and more. Read More»

In 1983 I became the pastor of a small church that, at the time, was four and a half years old. I made a commitment to God and to myself that I would not leave there until I was certain that it was time. I based that commitment on something I learned in the Marine Corps.

There are 11 General Orders that all Marines everywhere are to memorize and follow when they are on interior guard duty. The 5th General Order is this: “To quit my post only when properly relieved.” Read More»

The pull of childhood memories is strong. A sight, a familiar smell, even a taste can transport us back in time in an instant. Melear’s Barbeque had all three.

To some, it was a meeting place to discuss the current politics of the day. To others, it was just another barbeque restaurant. For still others, the stopping point before the big race. To me, it was much, much more. Read More»

I didn’t join the grand anticipation of the speech called the State of the Union. I didn’t expect much, but I’m unwilling to believe a lofty speech written by someone else could somehow transform President Obama into someone his actions have proven he is not. Read More»

The turmoil in Egypt must not be seen in isolation from other events in the world. Neither is it an aberration. It is the next scene in a long-running play whose final act is the domination of the world by radical Islamists. Read More»

The text that my sister sent was simple yet so powerful: “He is gone to be with God.”

For 36 hours, we had expected the inevitable but it is also inevitable that tears will come in times like that.

Richard, whom I had known since childhood, and who was much beloved by our family had succumbed to the curse of his bloodline – a heart disorder that has methodically, relentlessly claimed members of his family. His 36-year-old niece had died from it just a few weeks earlier. Read More»

A wife returned home from work and found her husband sitting in his favorite chair totally absorbed in the local newspaper. After rummaging around in the kitchen for awhile, she said, “Honey, I read today that men speak 2,000 words a day and women 4,000 words each day.”

In a low growl he muttered, “Uh-huh, I wonder why that is?” He continued to be preoccupied with the paper.

After a pause, she said, “I guess it’s due to the fact that women have to repeat everything twice to their husbands.” Read More»