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ASK AUGUSTINE

How can we justify our opposition to abortion? The principle of the sanctity of life is clearly established in Genesis 9:5-6 and in the Ten Commandments. The Bible clearly states life comes from God and we are answerable to Him for what we do with our own and other people’s lives; thus every taking of life requires justification to God. Abortion was common in the ancient world with its earliest known written reference from the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung around 2700 B.C. Plato wrote in his “Republic” that ill-conceived embryos should not be brought to birth and Aristotle said that ...

The jobs report you are not reading

Every month, the jobs report takes over the headlines: the economy added or lost jobs, and a familiar sequence follows. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases the number, the market reacts, and the figure goes into the record. But what almost nobody reads is what happens to that number ...

Exercise and mental health

We all know how important exercise is for keeping us physically healthy. But did you know that exercise can also help keep you mentally healthy? Research shows that people who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional wellbeing, and lower rates of mental illness. Taking up exercise seems to reduce the risk of developing mental illness. It also seems to help in treating some mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety. For example, for mild-moderate depression, research suggests physical activity can be as effective as antidepressants or psychological ...

EMPTY NEST

On Sept. 17, farmer Thad Nearmyer, who lives north of Monroe, was across the road from his house checking pigs for the evening. They have a custom feeding operation. He noticed smoke billowing from the farm yard of his house across the road. He jumped in his truck and hightailed it for home. When he pulled in the drive, he saw flames shooting from the loft of the barn, and heard buzzing. Just then the power lines to the barn dropped to the ground like dead snakes. He immediately called 911, and within 10 minutes the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene with a pumper ...

Always watching

Do you worry that you're being watched? If you drive, you probably are. My new video covers the cameras that photograph the backs of millions of cars. A company called Flock has 80% of that market. Flock's CEO says the goal is to "eliminate crime." But lots of people hate the ...

Three easy ways to reduce pain at the pump

I've always argued that the easiest way for families to gauge the health of the economy is to check the daily gas price. Drivers see the 50-foot-high signs in every community in America. They stare us right in the face. I call it the affordability index. In recent weeks, gas prices have ...