Columns

There’s a song that I love to hear people sing and the chorus is: “He knew me, yet He loved me, He whose glory makes the heavens shine So unworthy of such mercy, Yet when He was on the cross I was on His mind.”

Jesus had all of humanity on His mind when He was on the Cross. Last week I wrote about Jesus’ Forgiveness and Compassion spoken from the Cross. There are two additional phrases spoken from the Cross that have an impact on my personal relationship with Jesus. These phrases express the unconditional Love and Commitment that Jesus always has for each one of us.

There stood in Buna, Texas for many years a lone, bent pine tree. It was where our horse had been tied to in earlier days (as I remember as a lad), and in later days our hunting dog, Trigger, spent his last seventeen years attached to that tree when he wasn’t hunting with us.

The lone pine stood there many years until it was taken down by the new owners of our place after my dad and mother were gone, but I have many memories of it. I grew up with the memory of that tree as I reminisce about various incidents and the animals attached to it.

If you are a faithful reader of this column you will know that one of the main objectives is to keep alive the history and culture of DeSoto Parish. Today’s article is devoted primarily to a historical fact that will be new to some — World War II German Concentration Camps in Mansfield!

Buttered Croutons

Some recipes don’t arrive with ceremony. They don’t get passed down on handwritten cards or debated over holidays. They simply exist — used, practical, and dependable. Buttered croutons fall squarely into that category.

They’re not fancy. They’re not trying to impress anyone. They’re what happens when you refuse to waste good bread and believe butter can improve just about anything. There’s also no measuring cup anxiety and nothing delicate about it. You’re working with what you have, paying attention, and letting the butter do its job.

Croutons are almost accidental. Bread gets a little too firm. A loaf doesn’t disappear fast enough. Someone looks at it and says, “We can still do something with this.” That sentence alone could probably carry most kitchens through hard times.

There are many things that define a small town — the way everyone knows who your grandparents were, the way the grocery store doubles as a community bulletin board, the way a single train can stop traffic and conversation at the same time. But if you really want to understand the soul of a small town, you have to pay attention to the wave.

Not the kind that rolls across a football stadium, and not the kind that crashes on a beach. I’m talking about the small town wave — that subtle, almost instinctive gesture that passes between neighbors, strangers, and everyone in between. It’s a language all its own, and once you learn it, you never forget it.

From a donkey’s mouth came a rebuke for one of God’s servants. Numbers 22:20-35 Has God told you what to do and how to live? Then why don’t we do what He says?

In the scriptures listed above is the story of a so-called prophet of God by the name of Balaam. The King of the Moabites was afraid of the Israelites coming into the land of Canaan that they would destroy them. Also as Israel had defeated Jericho so he tried to hire a so-called prophet by the name of Balaam to curse them.

As we approach Easter week I wonder if that name accurately explains the true reason Christians celebrate the greatest sacrifice made by a man for humanity. When you ask a kid about Easter, what is the first thing they talk about? What is the focus of their attention during this holiday? I am sad the reality is that the first thing most kids today think about is about the bunny and the candy eggs they will receive. To me this is very wrong.

Greek Potatoes

I know, I know Greeks don’t do potatoes. So when I saw a recipe on the AllRecipes website “Oven-Roasted Greek Potatoes” by an author listed only as Maddie (Antonopoulas? Papadapas??) I had to try it. With a long list of spices I’m thinking olive salad or a muffaletta- esque type of dish but I should have known better because there were no olives listed.

What was the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport, La. in 1940 for three senior boys out of school for the day with five dollars each to spend? DeSoto Parish schools were off for Fair Day and the three boys called themselves the “Do-It Trio”. The buses left Logansport High School at 8:00 am and John who was a football player, J.L. who was a basketball player, and this writer called “Senior” who was a boxer spent their first 25 cents for the bus ride still leaving $4.75 left for the Fair.

The month was October with the world famous “Royal American Show” waiting. It took 80 train cars to move the Show and after seeing all the rides, sideshows and food stands it was easy to see why it took so many cars. In addition to the large group of Carnival workers that traveled with the show there were many local people employed for the 10 days selling tickets, working in food booths, & etc.

His Daughter, Tootsie

Think quickly and tell me your favorite candy! Whether it’s Milky Way or Baby Ruth or M&M’s I’ll bet any of you have had or may like a Tootsie Roll or its spinoff, a Tootsie Roll Pop. Along with Atomic Firebombs they are my favorite. As a matter of fact. I have several in my desk drawer right now — Chocolate or Cherry, please!