Opinion

How are America’s leaders measuring up against the standards set by the Constitution and the examples of the Founding Fathers? It’s a question I’ve been asking as I seek refuge from contemporary politics in reading and occasionally writing, in my 2023 book “Mental Maps of the Founders,” about the early years of the republic.

Dear Annie: I have eight beautiful grandchildren. I have been blessed to help care for six of them from birth to 5-6 years old. My daughter has twin 7-year-old boys. She has issues with me that I’ve apologized for and have given her space to work through things. I’ve never met my twin grandsons. I’ve only seen them in pictures and several times in public, but neither she nor her husband knew I was in the same store.

In Gaza, famine is imminent. To get urgently needed food, clean water, temporary sanitation facilities and medical supplies to more than 2 million Palestinians, President Biden ordered construction of a floating dock.

Where are you going to be this Easter Sunday? Hopefully, the answer includes a time for worship and praise for the resulting promise that comes when you celebrate the resurrection of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As previously mentioned in last week’s article, Burbank First has a sunrise service at 7 am. It is a time of remembering that Jesus is risen from the grave. Jesus is preparing a place for all who believe in Him. It is called Heaven and is a place to experience life everlasting. The Easter Sunday worship service that follows at 11 am is a continuing time of rejoicing in the future promise in that land where peace, joy, and love is perpetual. My mind wonders how many of our brothers and sisters in Christ that have passed in the many years of the Burbank First’s existence are now rejoicing in their decision to receive Christ as their risen Savior and Redeemer. This week, I have been privileged to gather each morning on Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 am with several of the faithful from the churches in the Shidler Ministerial Alliance in Webb City, Oklahoma. We share food that each place of worship provides. Then a devotion is brought to help us reflect on the true meaning of Easter. It isn’t a long meeting but ignites our hearts to remember all that Jesus endured during His week of passion. I am praying for those that read this article that they also are preparing themselves for a time of remembrance and reflection. I have been blessed with the comments of people who I have met that say they enjoy reading this small statement of reflection on the Lord’s work in Burbank. May the Lord inspire each of you to spend time in worship this Easter Sunday in your home churches.

Well, once again I have been dismayed by some of my fellow Ponca Cityians. It seems the pitchforks-torches- cry-havoc-and-let-slipthe- dogs-of-war contingency is again showing its inestimable ignorance by creating a hue and cry over the Sunny Dayz Mural Festival, happening the last week of May. We are incredibly fortunate to have the talented group of artists in our town creating exceptional public art. Public art is defined as “ . . art in any media whose form, function and meaning are created for the general public through a public process.” It is also free to view. And how delightful is it that all the businesses involved have shown generosity in participating in this seminal artistic event.

Dear Annie: I’m having an issue with my partner of six years, “Alex.” I love him deeply, and he’s a truly amazing guy. But we have different views on marriage.

Saving: An Acquired Addiction As personality traits go, “compulsive” and “addictive” are not generally considered all that terrific. Those of us with an inclination to be obsessive struggle to overcome our obsessions.

Ronna McDaniel’s conduct following the 2020 election was shocking enough, but NBC’s decision to hire her as a paid political analyst almost topped it. The blowback from the company’s own commentators prompted the executives to turn around and send McDaniel packing.