Category Archives: Opinions
Marking a faith writing milestone
I wanted to take a moment to say how much I appreciate you, the reader, for taking time each week to read “Living On Purpose.” I’ve written sermons, songs and books, for 
more than 40 years, but only started this faith column on January 2016.
Each of my columns have file numbers, and as several editors have noticed, this week is No. 500. It’s hard to believe that 10 years has gone by so quickly. We know that
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
The Israel sequence
Matthew 27:24-25 “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I 
am innocent of the blood of this just person. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.”
There seems to be a great deal of confusion in the world concerning Israel. Around five billion of the world’s population is dead set against Israel but
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Van Yandell is a retired industrial arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary. He can be reached at vmy2121@outlook.com.
Courier Letters to the Editor 7-23-25
Saitta gives update to city council
Dear Editor,
I recently gave this update at a Pickens City Council meeting.
The Pickens County Courthouse has been overcrowded for a while, so last fall the county purchased the Carolina Investors building on Garvin Street.
The plan is to move the Department of Juvenile Justice, Probation, Parole and Pardons,
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Heroes without capes or superpowers
We hear a lot about heroes these days. Accomplished athletes are admired as idols for throwing around a ball, while actors in blockbuster movies portray individuals who can fly and use their incredible powers to save the universe.
However, in the real world, it’s encouraging to know there are humble and hardly noticed genuine heroes all around us. Without a desire to be praised or even
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Courier Letters to the Editor 7-16-25
VA officer election debacle
Dear Editor,
I want to personally thank Rex Rice and the Pickens County Legislative Delegation for showing me what democracy actually looks like.
Walt Carter garnered 51 votes to John Hembree’s 48 votes.
But he didn’t win, according to the wise folks who govern us. Since they can no longer count votes in a “smoke-filled room” and elect whomever they decide, they now say if the election has a low turnout and the vote is close, they get to choose who won.
Isn’t that nice?
How many decisions have been made with ONE vote to make a majority? Maybe Rex Rice and his colleagues should read more American history. They don’t even have to crack a book. Just turn on the TV and see how a recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” managed to become law.
But they appear to be a law upon their own and ignore the wishes of the veterans who actually voted.
Did Mr. Rice or any of his colleagues vote? Or have they managed to be “Big Beautiful Citizens” without ever serving their country in uniform?
Did they ever get shot at trying to protect “one man, one vote?”
And Mr. Hembree has demonstrated his absolute lack of integrity by even accepting the position he now holds.
The hypocrisy in this whole situation is mind-boggling.
David Peart
1 Lt. Infantry
Marietta
Is the Antichrist among us?
Daniel 7:24-25 “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High.”
Many have declared to believe a United States
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
The latest recalls
With the increasing number of food recalls lately, it’s very tempting to buy a few rural acres and grow our own food, isn’t it? A dozen chickens, a milk cow, a veggie garden … 
what else would we need? Unfortunately for the majority of us, that’s not a possibility.
However, we can keep up with the increasing numbers
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Beware pension poachers
The VA’s Office of Inspector General recently put out a fraud alert about a series of schemes known as “pension poaching.” Veterans, heads up. You have a lot to lose if you 
fall for one of these scams.
The Department of Veterans Affairs pension is for wartime veterans or their surviving spouses and
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
The sounds of freedom
Galatians 5: 1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of bondage.”
Out for my morning hike, I passed by an office building. There was a sloped area along the road and it was grown up with grass and small trees. Realizing I was hearing a sound that was unusual, I stopped and looked into the brushy area but saw no sign of life.
It sounded small; possibly like a chipmunk or maybe
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Compromise is the enemy of our faith
The Christian faith believes that God draws people to Himself when they hear the gospel “good news” message about how much He loves the world when He sent His Son to shed His blood on the cross as the only sacrifice that could redeem those who believe. This is why evangelism is important to the follower of Christ, as the idea is the more the gospel is presented, the more people might be convicted and respond to this gift of salvation. After a person has made their public profession in the Lord, and vows to love
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
