Opinions
Ideas
PAGE 4-A HOGANSVILLE HERALD - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017
THE HOGANSVILLE HERALD
USPS 620-040
(1911mm anti @prmteh (firth publications, 31hr
ROBERT E. TRIBBLE, President
JOHN KUYKENDALL
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
ANDY KOBER
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
JACK BAGLEY
LAYOUT EDITOR
Oflicial Legal Qfllie City of Hogaruville
Dear Santa This Is
CARMEN OUSLEY
BUSINESS MANAGER
Phone (706) 846-3188
Fax: (706) 846-2206
news@star—mercury.com
P. O. Box 426
Manchester. GA 31816
What I Really Want
Dear Santa,
It’s time for me to bother
you with my annual
Christmas wish letter.
First, let me state — for the
record — that Ihave been a
good boy this year. A very
good boy. Extremely good, in
fact.
Hm.
Well, maybe not that good.
Still, I haven’t been as bad
as some have been.
And in those areas where
I have been bad, my intentions
were good. (And yes, I do
know what they say about
good intentions. What I don’t
understand is who “they” are,
but that’s another topic for
another time.)
SO, if you have your pen-
cil and your scorecard ready
(as they say at Wrigley Field),
I’ll give you my Christmas
wish list for 2017.
First. I wish good health
or. myself for a change A and
for my family and friends.
Since I count every person
reading my scribblings as my
friend, that means everybody
who gets this newspaper.
I’d love to see that wish
extended to finding cures at
last for some of the really bad
things that people can get. But,
for now, I’ll settle for extort.»w
‘ sive research that will one day
lead to those cures.
I also would love for pros-
: perity to reach everybody
reading this. Since each per-
son defines prosperity differ-
ently, let’s just say that what-
ever would make them happy,
give it to them, Santa. That is
what you do, after all.
Santa, if you could see
your way clear, I'd love to have
the divisions amongst mem-
bers of our country cleared
up. Over the past couple of
years, I’ve watched people I
admire, people I love, fall out
I with friends and family mem-
‘ bers over silly things like pol-
itics. There’s no reason for
r that; people should be able to
disagree and still care foreach
other. How else can we make
this a better country, and a
better world?
I’ve even lost friends over
politics. My opinion may be
' a minority these days, but I
‘ don’t believe anybody should
lose friends over politics. If
they leave you over that, they
were never real friends in the
first place.
Heal that rift for all of us,
, Santa. Add in divisions over
J race, economics, and every-
’ thing else that separates us.
(Yes, I know there are real
issues in each of these. Let’s
address those issues, and
solve them, without resorting
to name—calling and insults.
Those are the last shots of an
argument that the user has
already lost. You’re never
going to solve anything that
way.)
As for myself, Santa, I
don’t really need anything in
a material sense. While I may
not be swimming in the lap of
luxury (how’s that for a mixed
metaphor?), materially I have
everything I need and pretty
much everything I want. As
for anything you have already
tagged for me, please give it
to someone who really needs
it.
My material needs, at this
point in my life, are few.
But since this is a letter to
you, Santa, and letters to you
should indicate some hint of
what the writer really desires,
let’s get into my list:
' I’d love another World
Series win for the Chicago
Cubs. It took 108 years to get
the one we enjoyed in 2016,
and I seriously doubt I’ll live
another 108 years, so how
about bringing another cham—
pionship for my favorite base-
ball team?
While we’re onthe topic;
of sports, let’s bringaSuper" "
Bowl win for the Atlanta
Falcons, too. I normally don’t
care 'about football, but it’s
nice when the team in my
adopted home state does well.
The Falcons have been to two
Super Bowls now and don’t
have anything to show for it.
If you have a spare NFL cham—
pionship in the bag, Santa,
drop it off at the Falcons’ new
dome. (They tore the Georgia
Dome down, in case you aren’t
sure where to leave it.)
Bring me a weight-loss
plan that not only works, but
keeps the weight off, please,
Santa. My weight ought to
have the word “Duncan” sten-
ciled on it, it goes up-and-down
so much.
(That’s a yo-yo joke.)
And I’dreally love one shot
at fulfilling my ultimate life’s
dream being a game show
host. If I can get that without
having to move to Los
Angeles, so much the better.
People tell me I’d do a great
job hosting a game show, so
let’s see if we can make that
happen, Santa. (You do know
people in the business, don’t
you?)
That’s pretty much it. My
list is simple, and shouldn’t
cause you too much trouble.
Of course, I will leave out
the traditional milk and cook-
ies for your visit. If I were
you, I’d get there early, and
maybeyoucanbeat Sassy (my
cat - remember her?) to the
milk this time.
Be safe! And please give
my best to Mrs. Claus.
Love as always,
Jack
P. S. - Can I have a pony?
THE HOGANSVILLE HERALD is published weekly by Trib Publications,
Inc. at 3051 Roosevelt Highway, Manchester, Georgia 31816. The
Hogansville Herald is published proudly for the citizens of Hogansville
and its goal is to produce quality, profitable, community oriented newspa-
pers that you, our readers, are'proud of. We will reach that goal
through
hard work, teamwork, loyalty, and a strong dedication toward printing the
truth.
C
USPS 642-040. Subscription rates by mail: $25 in Troup, Harris or
Meriwether Counties; $32.50 a year in state; $40 out of state. Prices
include
all sales taxes'Periodical postage paid at Hogansville, Georgia
30230.5ingle
copy 50¢.
FOR sunscmrnons call (706) 846-3188 or write to Circulation
Manager, Trib Publications, P. 0. Box 426, Manchester, Georgia 31816.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P. O. Box 426, Manchester,
GA 31816.
There was no evidence that
Jesus Is The Reason
Sometimes we get so
caught up in the hustle and bus-
tle of the Christmas Season that
we fail to celebrate its real pur—
pose. TWO ladies were shopping
for Christmas gifts and one of
them commented about a
manger scene, “Look at that
religion is trying to take over
Christmas.” We all know that
the birth of Jesus is the reason
for the season.
Luke’s gospel shares facts
about the birth of Jesus. Joseph
and Mary traveled from
Nazareth to Bethlehem. Mary
was pregnant and about to give
birth to Jesus, who would be
her first child and that Jesus
was born in Bethlehem. He
goes on to mention that there
was no vacancy at the Inn and
that Jesus was born in a stable.
If the innkeeper was insen-
sitive perhaps he turnedJoseph
and Mary away without caring
that she was about to give birth.
If the innkeeper really cared
he could have asked one of his
guest to give up their room by
explaining Mary’s circum-
stances and needs or he could
have given Mary and Joseph
his own living quarters.
Wishing
It seems as though we
just celebrated Christmas
and here it is again.
Since this is the last pub-
lication before Christmas
most columnists wrack their
brains trying to find a new
and different way of saying
Merry Christmas — I am no
different.
Over the years I have
used this column space to
track the history of
Christmas. I have noted some
of the historical figures from
which our celebration of
-» Christmas is drawn. But I
guess that nothing works bet-
ter than relating the story.
The Gospel of Matthew
tells us that Mary and Joseph
were married, but before
they consummated their
marriage, Mary was found to
be pregnant yet still a virgin.
We can imagine what
Joseph thought of this and
considered hiding Mary
away rather than see her
humiliated because no one
would believe She was still
virtuous. Today’s idea of have
more babies, get more wel-
fare, was not applicable then.
While Joseph was men-
tally wrestling with the issue,
an angel appeared and told
Joseph that Mary was in fact
pregnant with the son of God.
the innkeeper did not care.
Luke seems to leave it up to us
to decide. History does suggest
that inns of that day were sim-
ple and rustic. Many stables
back then were similar to the
inns. They were reasonably
clean, usually quieter and more
private than the inn. Guest usu—
ally brought their Own food and
the innkeeper would provide a
place to heat the food as well
as a place for the guest to sleep.
The innkeeper would also
provide a place for the animals
to stay and food for them.
Therefore, in Mary and
Joseph’s case the innkeeper
may have been caring by pro-
viding them with the most pri-
vate accommodations that he
had available.
Chuck vaindoll, a popular
and respected Bible teacher
and preacher, tells a story
regarding the presentation of
aChristmaspageant.Wallywas
a socially promoted fourth
grade student who desired to
be Joseph but had been chosen
to be the innkeeper because he
was larger than the other boys
in the fourth grade. During
practice Wally did as he was
told by responding to Joseph’s
request for a room with a gruff
voice saying “I have no more
rooms!”
However, during the
pageant’s first presentation
after Wally said gruffly “I have
no more rooms” he watched
Mary and Joseph as they
walked away. Suddenly, over-
came with emotion and teary
eyed, Wally cried out “Come
back Joseph and Mary you can
have my room!” For a moment
the Director and the audience
thought Wally’s emotional out-
burst would negatively affect
the pageant but instead it added
new depth.
Christmas is usually a busy
time for most of us and unfor-
tunately eVen we Christians
e Season
can get so busy that we do not
observe Christmas for the right
reason. Let us all make room
for Jesus in our life this
Christmas Season. More
importantly if you have not
already done so make room for
Jesus permanently in your life
as I did 72 years ago at age ten.
In closing let me share with
you this Christmas poem writ-
ten by Helen Sleiner Rice that
is titled “Gift of Love.”
Christmas is a gift of love
that cannot be bought or sold.
It is ours for the asking and is
worth more than gold.
And this priceless gift of
Christmas is within the reach
of all. The rich, the poor, the
young and Old, the greatest and
the small.
So take God’s Christmas
gift of love, reach out and you
will receive, and the only pay~
ment that God asks is just that
you believe.
May you all have a won-
derful and Blessed Christmas
Season and enjoy the time you
will have to spend with your
family always remembering
that “Jesus is the Reason for
the Season.”
You A Merry Christmas!
The angel went on to say that
Joseph and Mary were to
name the baby Jesus.
Matthew tells us that
Jesus was born before the
arrival of the wise men from
the east. In fact, when the
wise men found the baby
Jesus, Matthew tells us that
Jesus was found in a house
not in a manger — despite all
the ornamentations found in
yards.
The story continues that
King Herod wanted to know
the location of the child and
the wise men, would not
reveal it. In, addition, they
warned Joseph and Mary
about Herod.
When the wise men left,
an angel appeared to Joseph
and told him to flee to Egypt
where they stayed until
Herod died. With the death
of Herod, an angel told
Joseph to take his family to
Israel. But the political cli-
mate was not favorable and
with the warning of another
angel, Joseph, Mary and
Jesus traveled to Nazareth.
The Gospels of Mark and
John do not provide any
information on the
Christmas Story.
LUKE TELLS us a slight-
ly different version of the
From the pages of the December 18, 1947
Edition of the Hogansville Herald:
Local Firms Support Boy Scout Program
Contributions for the Boy Scout Drive in Hogansville total
$1 .631 .93. Among recentcontributors are Tarpley Grocery Company,
L.C. O’Neal, Dr. G.B. Head, Dr. F.J. Amis, J.R. Hines and Company,
Henson Furniture Company, J.O.Camp, Askew-Strain Company,
MP. Hill, Crawford Ware, RS. Ware, T.H. Cook, B.T. Pritchett, John
Wilkinson, Jr., Norris Dry Cleaners, Smith Gas Co., Burden Lumber
Co., The Citizens Bank, Burden Evans, Otis Humphries,-Hogansville
Motors, Crawford Hardware 00., Royal Theatre, Colonial Stores,
Jabaley’s Department Store, Askew-Trippe, B.H. Brock, P.W. Hipp,
F.C. Garden, The Leader, Campbell Drug Store, 33. Guy, M.T.
Shackelford, H.V. Hammett, Cheatham’s, Belk-Gallant Co., The
Herald, and the United States Rubber Company.
Local Mills To Close Four Days For Christmas
A.C. Link, manager of the local plants of the US. Rubber 00.,
announced on Tuesday that the Stark, Reid and Asbeston plants
would close down at 4 pm. on Wednesday of next week, for the
Christmas vacation. The mills will reopen to resume work of turn-
ing tire cord at 12 o’clock midnight on Sunday, December 28th;
Christmas Seals Sale Highly Succesle Here
Mrs. J.R. Hines and Mrs. Kenneth Tarpley, who are in charge
of the Christmas Seal sale here this year, reported Tuesday that
the sale was going over nicely, and each 'paid high compliments to
the generosity of the local citizens and expressed hearty thanks for
the cooperation they have received in their work.
Stores Will Close All Day Thursday For Christmas
Stores and business firms of Hogansville will remain closed all‘
day, Christmas, next Thursday, but will open for business as usual
Friday morning for the weekend shopping. Housewives are warned
to be sure to do all their shopping for Christmas meals before 8
pm. Wednesday night.
The stores will remain open until 8 pm. each evening next week
in order to accommodate all late shoppers, and those who may not
find it convenient to get their shopping done earlier in the day.
Teen Agers To Stage Show In January
The Hogansville Teen—Age Club are now busy making arrange-
Christmas Story than
Matthew.
According to Luke, an
angel appears to Mary and
tells her that she would bear
the son of. God and that he
would be named Jesus.
Pregnant, Mary went to
see Elisabeth, who was also
pregnant ’ at that time.
Elisabeth would give birth to
a son we know as John the
Baptist. Luke tells us that
Mary stayed with Elisabeth
about three months.
Luke tells that Caesar
Augustus demanded taxes
and that everyone had, to
travel to their own city to pay
the taxes. SO Joseph and
Mary traveled to Nazareth,
as Mary was nearing the end
of her pregnancy.
When they could not find
an available room at any of
inns, they had to stay in a
manger.
Luke recounts the story
Of an angel appearing to a
group of shepherds and
telling them about the birth
of Jesus and where they
could find him. It was the
shepherds who found
Joseph, Mary and Jesus in
the manger. After visiting
with them, the shepherds
returned to their flocks.
WHY ARE there two dif-
ferent stories?
We can surmise the writ-
ers of the Gospels were
recording ,a cambinatipn of
what they actually knew,
what they had researched.
and what had been passed
along to them in an oral form
— much as we pass along fam-
ily history.
In the historical perspec-
tive, are the differences real—
ly that important?
‘\ No.
Here is wishing each of
you a very Merry Christmas
and hoping you will do some:
thing nice for somebody else
without thought of reward. ; ll
That’s my opinion.
Andy Kober is a regular
columnist for Trib
Publications. He {can be
reached at
andykober@hotmail.com
History at Our Fingrtips The ‘Wayback Machine”
News In The Herald 70 Years Ago 1 947g?
ments to stage a laugh-provoking show, called “Komzapcppin,” dur-
ing January. The cast has been chosen and rehearsals have stari-
ed. The show will be staged at the high school gym, and tentative
dates have been set' for the 15th and 17th of January.
Items compiled by Jack Bagley
(Compilers note: Items presented here are copied exactly as
they appeared in the original newspaper pages.)
I l
rt :1 cut—o
’30
a
-u
tr
