News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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The world as we know it is becoming slowly less and less stable. A simple observation when we look at the condition of the world clearly demonstrates the fragile moment we are all living through. Anecdotally I hear more and more cynicism, doubt, and despair about the future. Birth rates are dropping, marriage and nuclear families continue to implode, the economy is hanging by a thread and it’s beginning to psychologically effect our corporate psyches. These are actual statements I’ve heard from people in our town the last few... Full story
Merry Christmas to the people of our wonderful community here in Sisters Country. Just a few short weeks ago many of us gathered for the Christmas parade and the definitive marker that it is now officially Christmas in Sisters Country — the lighting of the tree at Fir Street Park. As our community ushered in the joy and excitement of the holiday season, I found myself asking some deeper questions that many wrestle through, especially those who aren’t necessarily feeling all that “Christmas cheer” due to the pressures of this... Full story
“Every man, whatsoever his condition, desires to be happy.” — Saint Augustine The pursuit of happiness is the unavoidable hardwired disposition of every human heart. We were designed to desire true happiness. We can pretend we’ve moved beyond such “selfish, juvenile” behavior, but the fact remains that everyone is driven to achieve maximum happiness. Blaise Pascal put it this way: “All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war... Full story
I’m at a loss — stunned, saddened, provoked. I’ve just finished reading a heart-wrenching, soul-sucking article about the latest algorithm update about an AI software called Replika. Replika is an AI chatbot that users can access to create an artificial chat buddy as a virtual companion. The company boasts the catchy (albeit depressing) slogan: “Need a friend? Create one now.” Many of us can hardly believe that our fragmented, individualistic, narcissistic age would ever come to such a troubling tipping point, but reg... Full story
As our world hits pause in just a few short weeks on Sunday, April 17 to celebrate Easter, there might not be a more important moment in our lifetime to consider the deepest questions of the human experience than right now. War, tragedy, and pain have a way of letting the issues of “first importance” rise to the surface while the silly rhetoric dissipates. My guess is nobody is debating masking strategies in Kyiv right now; there are far more urgent matters. As C. S. Lewis said: “We can ignore pleasure. But pain insis... Full story
We’ve been in what seems like an indefinite holding pattern with COVID-19 since March 2020. Clearly the first few months were a time to walk circumspectly, do good research, check the data, and make wise choices. What we learned is that COVID is real, some folks have a real adverse reaction, and for those who have suffered greatly through the virus, I grieve with you for what you have lost. What has been abundantly clear from the health officials is that they have seen COVID-19 as a clear and present danger in which we s... Full story
"Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?" - Proverbs 6:27 In the January 23 issue of The Nugget, T. Lee Brown stressed the importance of healthy male touching. Overall, the content was well-intentioned and helpful. She cites pornography as a hindrance to healthy touching, stating, "Some porn addicts lose the ability to become aroused with real partners...Even non-addict porn users often develop social and relationship issues." This is important and correctly identifies a huge problem. After all,... Full story
