June 23, 2026

Kamala Harris has now been sworn-in and is officially our new Vice President of the United States of America. See updated coverage by Brandon Tensley including video under headline “The powerful duality of Kamala Harris’ ascent” first posted at 12:05pm on CNN. Official website for The White House has also been updated at this time.

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 (April 1, 2022)— "Inwardly strong, outwardly focused," by Mike Durbin, State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan: Legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, started the first day of the Green Bay Packers training camp in 1961 with a football in his right hand and these words:…

– April 10, 2022
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
via Baptist Beacon (April 1, 2022)— "Fusion Camp for 2nd-6th graders," by Rachel LaBelle, Resurrection Church, Lincoln Park Michigan: ... At camp, we get a short window to replace the busyness of their daily lives and invite them to a safe place where they can focus on Christ. Some would…

– April 24, 2022
via Baptist Beacon (June 1, 2022)— "A small church serves as a large witness in the wake of Taylor tornado," by Mike Durbin, State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan: An EF3 tornado ripped through Gaylord tragically taking the lives of two people and injuring more than…

– June 5, 2022
via Samaritan's Purse (March 28, 2022)— "Franklin Graham Meets with Samaritan's Purse Team in Ukraine": Work continues as fighting rages in eastern Europe. Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, traveled to Ukraine this past weekend to meet with our teams who have been at work there since the early stages…

– April 3, 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 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
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

When It Comes To US Elections, The Person Who Asked The Questions Doesn’t Get to Tell You The Answers

November 5, 2018

From the Editor— In the 1960s Batman TV series, the worst thing that could happen in any plot line was for the villain to reveal the heroes’ secret identities. Cue memories of Adam West, unmistakable intonation, laying out all that would be lost in his value as a crime fighter with such a revelation. [1,2] That had certainly started to change with the second =Batman motion picture starring Michael Keaton. And while audiences might not ....

Great Train Show 2022 at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi Michigan

Southeast Michigan appearance of Great Train Show set out a legacy interest not to be replaced by any virtual rendition

March 31, 2022

The introduction of railways in England dates to 1764, and were erected for military purposes “as a way to reduce friction in moving heavily loaded wheeled vehicles.” [1] Depending on definition of terms used, the earliest “model trains” may date to almost as far back — to a couple of centuries past. [2] “Electrified” setups appeared in the early 1900s, with a bias favoring true-to-life reproductions produced to scale in the 1930s. Minton Cronkhite is credited ....

There’s a Formula to Saline Craft Show Success and Community Value

March 29, 2018

Now almost two weeks after the Saline Craft Shows spring event, the time seems right to reflect back on what these attractions mean to our local community. Not just this year, but as a culmination of more than three decades. [1] The origin seems straightforward enough. As described on the organizer website, the “first show was held on November 14, 1987, with 66 craft booths and about 900 shoppers.” Ten years later, the number of ....

Like So Many Histories From Saline, Dress Rehearsals For Upcoming Cemetery Enactments Stretched Their Own Bounds

September 24, 2018

Tonight was the first dress rehearsal for in advance of September 30 enactments at Oak Wood Cemetery. Appropriately, the stage for this was comfortably within the walls of Brecon Village — where the audience was both invariably appreciative and sharp on necesssary eyes for content details. [1,2,3] Later this week, the troupe will present their stories to local elementary school classes here in town. Full costume, in character. It’s a bit deceiving to regard any ....

Arrival of COVID-19 in Michigan made for a different sort of “Coffee Hour” with Brian Marl and Donna Lasinski

March 13, 2020

Initial impressions of scheduled “Coffee Hour” held this morning in City Council Chambers would have found this hardly different from any other here. [1,2] Hosted by our Saline Mayor Brian Marl, accompanied by District 52 Michigan House Representative Lasinski, a lone podium was set in its usual spot — facing the dais. Table nearby with stacks of various, neatly stapled handouts. Familiar chairs for the audience, neatly lined chair-to-chair in rows. Typical. [3,4] And yet ....