August 19, 2026
Opinion
A healthy Lake Anna is a worthwhile investment in Virginia’s future
For many of us, Lake Anna is more than a destination on a map. For decades, it has supported homeowners, visitors, local businesses, and communities throughout central Virginia. Today, Lake Anna demonstrates how sustained, science-based investment can restore and protect one of Virginia’s greatest economic and recreational assets.
A town means community
The Mayor of the Town of Mineral is presently advancing an effort to annul the Town Charter. If successful, Mineral would cease to exist as an incorporated municipality and would instead become an unincorporated square‑mile area within Louisa County—known only as “formerly the Town of Mineral.” This initiative stands in stark contrast to Mayor Pam Harlowe’s 2025 campaign messaging, in which she asserted that her goal was to “save the Town.” She was also very vocal against this idea when it was briefly considered in 2021.
Blessed Assurance – Money lessons
Think back to when you were first taught about money…what do you remember? For me it was learning how to save money. I would get money as birthday gifts, tooth fairy leavings, an allowance, odd jobs for people. Mom and dad would ask that we give 10% to the church and then put the rest in the bank in a savings account. I can remember pulling up to the bank with the old pneumatic tube system and putting my money and my passbook into the tube and watching it whisk away like magic. My passbook would return with not only the new deposit added, but the new total in my savings account! It was a feeling of pride to know that I had money in the bank that I could use for things that I wanted (i.e., a bike, a puppy, a new baseball glove, etc).
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Animal parenting
Dear Readers, you may want get out your hankies before reading any further. This column is going to be heavy on the AWW factor. You’ve been warned!
When government decides the church’s mission
An opinion article regarding government oversight of church-run humanitarian shelters
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Laundry
Irecently saw the movie “The Odyssey” at the theater. As you are probably aware, the hero Odysseus and his fellow Greek soldiers fought the Trojan War for 10 years; it then took them another 10 years to travel home. It was a good movie, but I couldn’t help but wonder: “How did that group of men handle their dirty clothes while fighting and traveling, for 20 years?” After all, when I travel for a mere two weeks, I bring home heaps of laundry!
Blessed Assurance – Truth in myths
Ihave always loved a good tall tale, myth, fairy tale, or other metaphorical teaching story. From my earliest childhood I was captivated by Hans Christian Andersen, Aesop, Thorton W. Burgess, The Brothers Grimm, J. K. Rowling, J. R. R. Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, etc, and their power to weave a captivating story that had a deep human truth or truths embedded in them. Stories of hero journeys and fanciful monsters, overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, returning home wiser and more competent gave me hope in some challenging times in my life.
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Signs
Recently I saw one of my favorite Far Side cartoons, first published by Gary Larson back in 1986.
Blessed Assurnace – Getting even
It doesn’t take too long in our lives before the first time we are wronged by another person. Maybe we’re not chosen when picking sides for kickball, maybe the teacher makes an example of us for things others were doing, maybe we’re not chosen for a job advancement because we’re not as well connected politically as another candidate, maybe our girlfriend or boyfriend dumps us for someone else. No matter what the cause, in our hurt we can often want to “get even” with the person who wronged us. Revenge is a normal human reaction to being hurt by another and contemplating how we are going to get even distracts us from our woundedness.