Articles written by Andy & Renie Bowman
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 184
Springtime lilacs or skunky memories
Ever suddenly been transported back in time by just a whiff of a lingering smell in the air? The sight of a house? A quick glimpse of a stranger’s profile who instantly reminds you of someone in...
Trapped with nowhere to run
Enjoy feeling anxious and blue? Concentrate on what is happening in the world now, that’ll do it for you – the impossible price of food and housing, crooked politics, illegal drugs, riots,...
You definitely are not Gibbs
How do you navigate in this scary world? The way I see it, for most of us it is a matter of one of three possibilities. You either walk by sight – looking at what is in front of you and making a dec...
I yam who I yam
Remember the old TV cartoon “Popeye The Sailor Man?” He had a favorite saying: “I yam what I yam and dat’s all I yam.” And poor old Olive Oyl could never get him to see himself any other...
Why so many 'thou shalt nots?
Does it seem to you that God is always saying “No” or “Don’t do that” or “Thou shalt not”? If you think that, you are not alone. Many people feel the same way. Seems as if all He wants...
Your heart's a liar
If you are in the habit of consulting only yourself, trusting your own instincts and believing that you will know in your heart what to do when the time comes, then you have a big problem. In Proverbs...
Deliberately stomped on? Learn to laugh
You probably woke that fateful morning, assuming everything would probably run along on the accustomed track. Never dreaming – or nightmaring – that particular day would be so much different than...
Never, never, never give up
Have you ever watched a volleyball game and witnessed an entire team suddenly duck under the net and join the other team? Gasping for a breath of hope that isn’t there, they had finally thrown up...
The opposing thumb guy
Take a good look. It’s always there, part of a healthy, whole hand. Hold up your hand and you’ll see it – the one digit that is pointing the opposite of the other four fingers every time. Oh...
Bad memories have a long shelf life
Have you ever had a bad day, when everything you touched just soured? Sure, we all have had those kinds of days, nothing new to any of us. And when you had one, didn’t you find that it was...
Asking, assuming or demanding
This is a gripe taken from the lips of one frustrated lady who was recently overheard in a public place. “I had the family holiday dinner at my house last week, just like I have for years. My...
A little girl named Hope
Grandma lay in the hospital bed, a shadow of the vital, energetic woman she had been just a year ago. Her strong hands that were endlessly involved in her family’s life, providing, comforting, and...
The heartache season
It’s arrived – the Holiday of holidays for many, the month-long season of excitement, fun and anticipation. But there is another perspective on the Christmas season, and it’s not one of joy and...
Just flappin' his gums
The old man is sitting on his front porch is his favorite rocking chair and talking to his freshly minted 21-year-old grandson – attempting to encourage him to think things over clearly before decid...
Mom's cantaloupey boyfriend test
Mom and her teen-age daughter were grocery shopping together, preparing for the family dinner on Friday night. The family always enjoyed fresh fruits, so before paying out at the cash register, they...
Don't put flowers on their grave
Here’s what happens so often. A person becomes an adult, marries, has children, grows ill or old, and dies. Then the family of the deceased comes together to grieve, and to then plan the funeral....
CoffeeTime
It’s a faraway country, a poverty-stricken area with hard-working citizens, who don’t have much chance to see things change for the better. My hero rides his Honda into their part of his world...
Ungrateful people are losers
It seems like I am noticing a trend – and not a healthy one. As a whole, our nation is losing the ability to pronounce some words. In fact, people seem to have forgotten some words exist in the...
Fame and fortune can be expensive
The young lady had gigantic dreams. Visions of becoming a movie star filled her daydreams constantly. From the very first movie she saw as a child, she was entranced as the female lead lit up the big...
The anti-anxiety med that works
There are lots of medications out there to fix problems. And a lot of them are aimed directly at anxiety. Am I here to poke fun at people for feeling anxiety? To tell you that it is your problem and...
Sipping a sewer water slushee
What is a Sewer Water Slushee? Put any of your favorite fresh fruits into the blender. Add a bit of vanilla or cinnamon. Then pour in a splash of your favorite milk and some sparkling clean ice...
Dirt swept under the rug is still dirt
In our country there are entire families who will suffer through a severe issue that eventually severs family relationships for many years. Eventually, someone might tentatively extend an olive...
Courage in a crumbling culture
No credit taken for this column’s title today. Before it hit File Thirteen, I read it on the front of a magazine that was promoting one of the articles inside and it stuck with me. Courage in a...
Lonely and hurting
She finally looked up from her computer and stretched her neck after several hours of working nonstop. As she glanced around the room, she noticed the blinds were still open on the window of her home...
God-fearing people lie perfectly
Don’t kid yourself. It’s not just criminals attempting to escape punishment. It’s not just a teenager who missed curfew and is coming up with excuses. Not just the employee who walks in the door...