February 22, 2025

United States Department of Commerce has reported that retail sales “jumped 5.3% in January” 2021. “Excluding autos, sales rose 5.9 percent.

That also topped expectations for a rise of just one percent. Excluding gasoline and autos, retail sales rose 6.1 percent, far outpacing the 0.5 percent expected gains.

The control group retail sales — which is used to calculate GDP — rose 6.1 percent ….

Read more on “Retail Sales Surge Higher” by John Carney, today at Breitbart.

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 Southern Baptist Convention (February 26, 2019)— "Who's Your One?" Day 13: Genesis 12:1-3, "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will…

– July 31, 2022
via Lifeway Research (September 1, 2021)— "Most Americans Know and Trust Their Neighbors," by Aaron Earls: Despite quarantines and social distancing keeping people in their homes during the pandemic, Americans still say they know their neighbors. Almost 7 in 10 U.S. adults (68%) say they trust the people who live in…

– January 17, 2022
via Lifeway Research (February 22, 2022)— "Most Open to Spiritual Conversations, Few Christians Speaking," by Aaron Earls: Americans are curious about the religious devotion of others and are willing to discuss the topic, but most say they rarely have conversations about faith with their Christian friends .... Half of Americans (51%)…

– March 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
via Southern Baptist Convention (February 26, 2019)— "Who's Your One?" Day 1: John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. 'No one comes to the Father except through me.' [English Standard Version] "An Online Bible Commentary You Can Understand" titled "Bible Ref"…

– July 17, 2022
via Got Questions (January 4, 2022)— "What is the god of self?" "A god is what we run to when we need validation, help, or encouragement because we believe it has the power to give us what we need. Self is a compelling god because it arises from our deepest…

– August 7, 2022
National Day of Prayer— "How to Pray for America," via National Day of Prayer: Why pray for America? God is sovereign and nothing comes as a surprise to Him. Whether we face fluctuating economics, threats from abroad, unrest at home, or other troubling circumstances, our Heavenly Father is not caught…

– May 5, 2022
Holy Saturday— "Why is Holy Saturday so sacred? What happened on the day between the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ? ... Holy Saturday is the name assigned to the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Many Christians acknowledge Holy Saturday, the seventh and final day of Holy Week,…

– April 16, 2022

Exclusive interview with Brian Cox, former journalist with “The Saline Reporter,” on loss of local media: Part 1

September 16, 2019

Our Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber is set this week to tackle the challenge of remaining “informed and engaged” at a time after “The Loss of Local Media.” Saline Journal is set to cover the presentation, offered as part of their September “Early Edition” breakfast. [1,2] Professional journalism and the press is an important subject of scrutiny on a broader stage today. But one of the best examples in advance of the upcoming Chamber ....

A perspective on past service as part of Saline City Council, Part 3 of 3: Our discussion with former mayor Donald E Shelton

October 25, 2019

The final installment in this series concludes with a public servant better known for his role as our mayor than his single term immediately prior as City Council Member. Most know him as his subsequent time on the bench with the Michigan 22nd Circuit Court, now Criminal Justice Program Director for the University of Michigan – Dearborn. [1-5] The Honorable Donald E Shelton moved to Saline only two years prior to being elected to Saline ....

The Boundaries and Substance of What it Means to be “Saline” Continue to Expand, and We’re There with You

June 4, 2018

From the Publisher— For many years I was one of those moms who brought water for the boys who’d marched in the Memorial Day Parade to Oak Wood Cemetery when our son was a Boy Scout with Saline Troop 446. [1,2] I remember they’d always end up sort of southeast of the lecturn, behind some of the veterans from the Legion. I tried not to let myself imagine that those men had more in common ....

Experts outlined advice for retailer survival through next six months of COVID-19, during A2Y Chamber “Virtual Early Edition”

October 28, 2020

Outdoor dining was never anticipated to serve as ultimate path to survival for restaraunts as the world adapts to ongoing science and social impacts of COVID-19. Recent onset of frequent rain coupled with dropping temperatures suggest a more inhospitable environment than when this pandemic first hit Michigan back in March. [1-4] Mainstreet retailers are in much the same boat. [5] And thus came the Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Chamber “Early Edition” breakfast this morning. Succinctly ....

Novi Police presentation emphasized vulnerabilities in faith-based facilities – Part 1: Defining the problem

September 7, 2019

It’s not enough to argue — or, for that matter, even to provide irrefutable evidence — that religious gathering places are uniquely vulnerable and attractive to active shooter attacks. [1-3] Citing a 2018 FBI Active Shooter Study, the Novi Police Department again noted earlier today that 4.1% of these incidents took place in churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and affiliated properties. These are among a broader category of “soft targets.” [4,5] In leading this presentation titled ....