Straight From The Hart

A 6 day old baby panda died today and the entire world is mourning.  But what about the 4000 babies murdered in their mother's womb today (and every day)?  Surely God's heart is so sad.

              Former Justice Souter: ‘Pervasive civic ignorance’ in U.S. could bring dictatorship (via Raw Story )            Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter thinks the decline of civic education is putting the United States in danger. During a question and answer session last week at University of New Hampshire School of Law, Souter described “pervasive civic ignorance” as one of the biggest problems…        

Straight From The Hart Joan Rowden Hart Do you remember what you were doing on July 20, 1969, the historic day when Neil Armstrong set foot on the surface of the moon? I hope you had the opportunity last week to watch some of the televised coverage of his memorial service at Washington National Cathedral. Fellow astronaut Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, gave an emotional eulogy, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house (nor in my office) when Diana Krall walked to the piano and accompanied herself beautifully as she sang “Fly Me To The Moon”. In some ways people my age pretty much grew up with our space program, and I can remember where I was when some of the notable events occurred. As a freshman in high school, I remember sitting in my classroom  on October 4, 1957 as we discussed the news that morning that Russia had launched the Sputnik satellite, and how disturbed our teachers were that they were now ahead of us in the “space race”.  L...

When the summer days are waning and the air has just a hint Of the coming chill of autumn, and you faintly catch the scent Of  a pile of leaves aburning, and you know what’s just ahead Then your hungry soul starts thinking of fall turnips and corn bread. There’s a pork roast in the crockpot, with potatoes on the side And sliced apples swathed in butter, in a skillet they’ve been fried With some sugar and some cinnamon, to the table you are led Cause you know that supper’s waiting with fall turnips and corn bread. Somehow I’m sure that round God’s table angels will be waiting there With a smile of eager welcome as they point you to a chair And they hand you a holy menu, full of items that you’ll be fed And you’ll find that heaven’s manna is fall turnips and corn bread. Written by Joan Rowden Hart, September 18, 2012

STRAIGHT FROM THE HART By Joan Rowden Hart This is not the type of column I usually write, but I believe it is the most important one I’ve ever written, even going back to 1983 when I began writing for the Springfield News-Leader. My purpose is to encourage you to read a book called The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn.  It has been on the NY Times Best Seller list for 35 weeks now and was No. 9 when I checked the list this morning. Three caveats for you before you read further.  The current movie promotion by the same name you may be seeing on television is not related to this book at all.  And I also want to assure you that this book is not political in any way and does not promote nor denigrate any candidate in the current political campaigns.  Nor does it have to do with the Book of Revelation or any of the signs and prophecies portrayed therein. Jonathan Cahn is a Messianic Jew, a Jewish rabbi who has converted to Christianity by accepting Jesus C...

HELPFUL HOUSECLEANING HINTS...         Windows:        Layers of dirty film on windows and screens provide a helpful filter        against harmful and aging rays from the sun. Call it an SPF factor of 15        and leave it alone.        Cobwebs:        Artfully draped over lampshades reduce the glare from the bulb,thereby         creating a romantic atmosphere. If someone points out that the light fixtures            need dusting, simply look confused and exclaim "What? And spoil the mood?"            (Or just throw glitter on them & call them holiday decorations.) &nb sp;      Pet Hair:        Explain the mound of pet hair brushed up against the doorways by      ...

Straight From The Hart Joan Rowden Hart I have had several weeks of unrelenting pain lately, and haven’t felt much like coming up with  something on my own, so for this week’s column, I am borrowing from my dad’s autobiography again.  Many of you mentioned  to him at the Hughes Center and elsewhere how much you enjoy reading his memories. This episode occurred the summer of  1928 when my dad (Francis “Fritz” Rowden) was 5 years old.   My Grandpa Lloyd Rowden had brought the family, which consisted at that time of my Grandpa and Grandma (Amanda Smith) Rowden and my dad and his younger brother, Russ, into town to see my great-grandparents, Walter and Jane “Bee” Rowden. They approached the city limits from the west and entered through Young Addition.  They turned right at 2nd St and passed Frank Kimball’s blacksmith shop and three blocks farther was the Lebanon Water and Power Plant.  One block more and they turned r...