November 17, 2024

Food aisles in Walmart marked with one-way directional arrows on floors to direct shopper traffic flow. Appears to be part of a corporate directive to reduce impact of COVID-19.

via Lifeway Research (February 15, 2022)— "Most Pastors See Racial Diversity in the Church as a Goal but Not Reality," by Marissa Postell: Most Protestant pastors say every church should strive to achieve racial diversity, but few are achieving it .... There are also differences between what African American pastors are…

– February 20, 2022
Good Friday— "By no means is Good Friday an isolated event, said Winn Collier, the pastor of All Souls Charlottesville, a partner church with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. "Following the church calendar is a congregation’s way of following the footsteps of Christ throughout the year. And for both…

– April 15, 2022
re United States Supreme Court decision in Carson v Makin— Lifeway Christian Resources referenced Article 12 of the Southern Baptist Faith and Message, which "deals specifically and uniquely with the topic of education. ... our confessional statement affirms, Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. As we shall see, one…

– June 21, 2022
via Baptist Beacon (February 2, 2022)— "Words without wisdom," by Coye L Bouyer, founding pastor of Kingdom Life Church, in Lansing, Michigan: A life-giving tongue creates a positive environment, and even brings joy to a community. However, too often many of us choose conversation that is callous and criticizes as opposed…

– February 27, 2022
via Lifeway Research (April 5, 2021)— "Americans Most Want to Avoid Fear and Anxiety, Gain Freedom and Safety," by Aaron Earls: After what was a scary year for many, more Americans say they want to avoid fear. According to a study from Lifeway Research, when asked which feeling they seek to…

– January 2, 2022
via Baptist Beacon (May 2, 2022)— "Be the Church in the marketplace" by Coye L Bouyer, founding pastor of Kingdom Life Church, in Lansing, Michigan: This is a classic story of what God can and will do when lay people begin to take seriously the Lord’s call on their life to…

– May 15, 2022
via Samaritan's Purse— "Samaritan's Purse is operating multiple medical facilities in various parts of Ukraine and providing food and non-food relief items through church partners in both Ukraine and Moldova": Samaritan's Purse continues to provide medical relief to displaced Ukrainians, serving them at our Emergency Field Hospital on the outskirts…

– March 13, 2022
Mother's Day— via Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (September 16, 1953): "Sermons – Billy Graham on the Need for Godly Mothers," 13:27-minute audio recording, free online. 'If we had more Christian mothers, we would have less delinquency, less immorality, less ungodliness and fewer broken homes.' Listen to Billy Graham’s Mother’s Day…

– May 9, 2022
via Lifeway Research (April 6, 2021)— "Americans' Views of Life's Meaning and Purpose Are Changing," by Aaron Earls: As Americans attempt to move past the life-altering effects of 2020, their perspective is shifting on some of the most significant questions facing humanity. [Compared] to a decade ago, U.S. adults today are…

– January 9, 2022

Fourth Annual Michigan Humane “Mega March” Provided a Fun Way to Help Dogs

October 6, 2009

Each year Michigan Humane Society holds a signature walk-a-thon through the streets of downtown Detroit to raise funds that will help find homes for dogs in need. This goes toward financing support for more than 100,000 animals each year. [1,2,3] The organization describes this as the largest walk on behalf of animals in Michigan. This march also helps raise awareness about cruelty and neglect. I arrived for this event on Sunday thinking there would be ....

IRS Form 1040 Schedule A Charitable Donations 2018

There Are Concerns That Tax Reform May Change The Way Families Approach “Spring Cleaning” And Giving

July 9, 2018

Springtime marks a point each year when people tend to pause and reflect on how much they should keep in all that’s accumulated in their households. But it might actually be better regarded as the start of a process for thoughtfully dealing with such stuff. The improved weather is undoubtedly a factor. Another factor could be the prospect of moving everything into a new house now that the old has closed. Those who are downsizing ....

Some Photographs Require You To “Go Where Other People Wouldn’t Think To Go, At Times They Wouldn’t Want To”

August 31, 2018

Years ago, Agnes Dikeman proferred the notion above to explain how Saline Journal parent D² Enterprises had itself amassed a thirty-five-year archive of photography featuring so many unique local images. It’s an important observation. One of the most important. The photograph above was the planned image to run with our behind-the-scenes article that was itself a different perspective on Saline Celtic Festival. An incredible amount of work goes into delivering a consistently excellent local experience ....

First United Methodist Church Started Its Preparations For Christmas Yesterday, With “Operation Christmas Child”

October 8, 2018

“Operation Christmas Child” is a way to provide gifts for the upcoming holiday season to young people in need around the world. [1,2] Coordinated through local organizations such as First United Methodist Church (FUMC) here in Saline, intended recipients include boys and girls in three age brackets: 2-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years old. In addition to making logistics simple and efficient, detailed suggestions for gifts — and a Do Not Include advisory are available online. ....

Make Sure Your Dress Is Right Before Stepping Onto The Saline’s Summerfest Trolley For Tour Guide Duty This Year

August 2, 2018

What comes to mind when you think of Saline’s Summerfest? Or its car show? Or, in this case, its trolley? [1] Sometimes it’s nice to pull back the curtain and show a bit of the process that goes into the seeming effortlessness of delivering wonderful substance. Sometimes it’s the littlest things — things you might never notice, unless they weren’t there. Other times, they’re bigger. Last month, for example, we told one such story as ....