Some things I know for sure are right, and others I know for sure are wrong.

And many other things I strongly believe are right or wrong, but can't say I know for sure.

The ones I know for sure usually fall into two groups.. Some I know for sure about because the Bible makes a clear and certain statement. Other things I know for sure about because I lived them.

I know about living in poverty, because I grew up poor in the edge of the Appalachian region. My parents were simple, honest, hard-working people, but we were poor folks.

We really didn't know it at the time, because most of our friends and neighbors were in the same shape we were in. My people were proud people. We paid our debts, worked hard, and held our heads up high.

We took care of our family and made sure they had clothes to wear and food to eat. We were not the only ones like that.

Almost all those around us were very much like we were. Our children excelled in school, even if we had small country schools with very little in the way of modern learning aides. Our teachers were not much better off than we were economically, and yet our students often went on to great things.

One of the chief engineers of the Hubble space telescope was my schoolmate Jimmy Carlock. Did you know that the genius who finally figured how to bring the almost doomed space ship Apollo 13 back into earth’s atmosphere without burning up was only a couple years ahead of me in elementary school? His name was Devon Dale.

These and many others made their mark in life. Well here is what I am getting at. These poor but proud Appalachian people made a difference.

Many of the sons and daughters of Needmore have continued to work hard, live well, be honest, worship God, and are still proud upright people. But I saw something else start to happen also.

The government started to become more involved in the life of the people.. Many were invited to become dependent on government handouts. This continued and grew stronger through the second and third generation.

Now among my beloved hill people, my roots and still my friends and family…. until now there are two very clear cut groups. The hard working, independent achievers and a second group and the second and third generation of non-working, loitering, often drug dependent poor.

Yes difficult words to say and accept, but I know whereof I speak. I speak their language.Their blood runs in my veins. And so I know for sure. Our government does us no favors when they place us on unending government support.

When the last word is said about me. Please say he never forgot his raising. I thank God for it.

We want to encourage all our readers to attend the annual Bible conference sponsored by Salem and Central Baptist Associations. It will take place this year at Whorton Springs Baptist Church March 5-7. Starting at six each evening.

Two preachers will be selected beforehand, and one name will be drawn from the hat to preach each night. Good singing. Good worship. I will be preaching at six on Friday night.

Y'all come, ye hear.