The Transylvania Times -

Writer John Powell, author of the book “Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am,” tells how he and a friend of his were strolling down a New York City street, a walk the two took frequently. They stopped at a newspaper vendor’s... — Updated 4/8/2020

By Dr. John Campbell I want to send a letter of resignation. Resign from playing God! Resign when I find myself trying to resolve imaginary problems that reside in the future. When I insist on solving ones that are unsolvable with... — Updated 3/12/2020

Editor’s Note: This column is written to honor Black History Month. When I called Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves’s office in early February a secretary answered the phone. After identifying myself, she asked me where I was... — Updated 2/26/2020

Are we not apt to judge people and ourselves as either good or bad or at the least a mixture of both? Jesus didn’t. Jesus made a profound psychological point about people in the parable of the good Samaritan. He suggested that... — Updated 2/12/2020 Full story

One of my joyful memories is history classes with Dr. Richard Zuber at Wake Forest University. I had been invited by history department professors to take part in the Senior Honors program in history. I became a member of a small... — Updated 1/29/2020

Over the holidays I saw the movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers. The movie is based on the story of Fred Roger’s relationship with a reporter who was assigned by “Esquire” to... — Updated 1/15/2020

North Carolinian William R. Davie was a delegate to the Federal Convention and a proponent of the impeachment clause in the Constitution. He said that, “If he (the president) be not impeachable whilst in office, he will spare no... — Updated 1/2/2020

A young boy had to read a line in class: “Sir Walter Raleigh was a gentleman. He laid his cloak upon the muddy road so the lady wouldn’t soil her shoes when she entered the carriage.” When he read the line, the boy stumbled:... — Updated 12/19/2019

l Have you heard the story “Welcome to Holland”? Written by Emily Perl Kingsley, the parent of a child with Down Syndrome, it’s about the experience of having your life’s expectations turned upside down: “When you’re go... — Updated 11/6/2019

Sunday, Oct. 6, was World Communion Sunday. Members of our congregation celebrated the Lord’s Supper with thousands of Christians the world over. That experience is always touching for me. When I hear the words of invitation-... — Updated 10/23/2019

Pumpkins and apples are plentiful. The air is slightly crisp. The sun feels different. School busses drop off children at school or home. School supplies line the aisles of Walmart. A few leaves are changing. Summer light at the... — Updated 9/25/2019 Full story

You may have heard brief reports about the plight of the Yazidis and Christian groups in Iraq when Islamic State fighters raided their villages. Nadia Murad was one of the many women and children who were captured and enslaved by... — Updated 9/11/2019

The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world, surpassing China, North Korea and Russia. In 2008 the United States had around 24.7 percent of the world’s 9.8 million prisoners but only 4.4 percent o... — Updated 8/28/2019

Sitting around the potbelly stove at Hemby Bridge Country Store a group of men, some chewing tobacco, others leaning in their cane back chairs, would offer homespun opinions, often humorous, about the news of the day. Solve the... — Updated 8/7/2019

The Biden-Harris dispute in the first Democratic debate is old news by now. Or is it? Didn’t that moment represent something bigger about our country and ourselves? Surely, that was a stunning moment. Kamala Harris, Senator from... — Updated 7/24/2019

A writer in the book, “Courage to Change,” caught my attention with this quote: “I will take time to clear my mind of unnecessary, hurried thoughts. There seems to be a limited amount of space in my mind until I do. But when... — Updated 7/3/2019

Caroline Weldon. Ever heard of her? I hadn’t either until I saw the movie, “Woman Walks Ahead.” The title is taken from a name given to her by the Lakota tribes of the Dakotas. After watching the movie, I wanted to find out... — Updated 6/19/2019

Several years ago, my son and I experienced severe turbulence on a flight back from Florida. He was only 10 at the time and as the plane was rocking back and forth, he asked me: “Will the plane crash?” His question is common wh... — Updated 6/5/2019

By Dr. John Campbell My wife says that I am a connoisseur of “Cracker Barrel” restaurants. “Is there a Cracker Barrel you haven’t tried?” she asks. The food is not like home-made, but their menu is southern. Mind you, I h... — Updated 5/22/2019

Tony was a Yankee from Pennsylvania. Don was a Southerner from Florida. Tony was white and prejudiced. Don was black and refined. Tony “Lip” Vallelonga was Italian; lived in the Bronx. His family was racist, often making deroga... — Updated 5/8/2019

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you... — Updated 4/24/2019

The trial of Jesus is one of the most dramatic episodes in the entire Bible. The scene is set, thusly. After he is questioned by the chief priests and legal scholars, he appears before the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate.... — Updated 4/10/2019

A woman posed a question to Dr. Maurizio Fava, editor-in-chief of “Mind, Mood, Memory” of Massachusetts General Hospital: “Ever since my daughter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I’ve become aware how often people... — Updated 3/27/2019

Oyster stew! Oh, how I hated oyster stew. On an occasional Friday night couples came over to our house to indulge in stew and afterwards play poker and gin rummy. Before being segregated to our rooms to make way for important... — Updated 3/13/2019

(This column is written in recognition of President’s Day.) One of the earliest books I read in elementary school was about George Washington. Of course, I remember the time young George chopped down his father’s cherry tree... — Updated 2/27/2019