Skip to content

The Tulsa Beacon

 

Columns

Vacationing during the coronavirus scare is not normal

Tulsa Beacon

What’s it like to travel by air in the wake of the coronavirus? It’s different, awkward and inconvenient. Earlier this month, I flew to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on my way to Mitchell, South Dakota, home of my daughter, son-in-law, and my only grandchildren – a grand daughter and a grandson. You can’t fly to…

Making change has changed since the time when I grew up

Tulsa Beacon

After taking thousands of students to the mission field, I noticed a pattern. In days gone by, most of the students could count change in their head. With the inventions of computers and cash registers, the average cashier lets the machine do the work. Growing up in the ’50s and ’60s, learning how to make…

Oklahomans should vote no on State Question 802 June 30

Tulsa Beacon

Proponents of State Question 802—ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion provision—have kept much of their messaging quite simple: “More Oklahomans on Medicaid and more federal dollars.” But Medicaid expansion is little more than a house of cards, and one that will threaten to collapse on Oklahoma taxpayers, the truly needy, and the state’s rural hospitals. While it’s true…

The government should reconsider all energy subsidies

Tulsa Beacon

As governments struggle to recover from reduced revenue and increased costs caused by the coronavirus pandemic, they will be looking to eliminate non-essential expenditures. Energy subsidies that suck billions of dollars each year from the public purse should be a leading candidate for cancellation. According to Tim Gould, head of energy supply and investment at…

Trump used diplomacy to end the oil price war

Tulsa Beacon

The price for a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil delivered in May recently dropped into negative territory.   Prices have cratered for some simple reasons. When the coronavirus began reducing demand for jet fuel and gasoline, Saudi Arabia and Russia ramped up crude production. They deliberately drove prices to lows not seen since…

‘Wascally wabbits’ are way overpopulating my backyard

Tulsa Beacon

We have some “rascally wabbits” in our neighborhood. Earlier this year, Susan went in our backyard to start working on the raised garden beds she put in last year. While she was poking around, much to her surprise, she heard noise coming from the ground. It was a nest full of wild bunnies. Fortunately, our…

We have to place our happiness and joy solidly on Jesus

Tulsa Beacon

After being a grandparent for six years, I am losing my touch when it comes to keeping my grandsons happy. It was easy when I only had one; it was challenging with two; and it is impossible with three. I don’t even want to think about it with a half-dozen. Of course, I’m talking about…

How about a 38th anniversary trip to Madeira Beach?

Tulsa Beacon

On July 10, Susan and I will celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary. To mark the occasion, we have planned a long weekend trip to Madeira Beach, Florida. Madeira Beach is on the Gulf side of Florida, next to Johns Pass and St. Petersburg. It is just south of Redington Beach. We visited Madeira Beach several…

Here’s hoping for when my grandsons take a leap of faith

Tulsa Beacon

Three years ago, my wife and I bought a swing set. It was a small, inexpensive one.  We realized we needed something for our grandsons to play on when they came to visit. Up to this point, we only had small, inside toys, but Titus the Honorable was 3 and wanted to go outside to…

FBI investigates ‘Zoom-bombing’

Tulsa Beacon

With the coronavirus outbreak forcing many people to work from home, taking computer security measures to protect both themselves and their company has grown even more important. Video conferencing, for one example, isn’t always safe from intruders. The FBI has received many reports of “Zoom-bombing,” in which graphic images pop up during company Zoom meetings…