I tend to overthink things to achieve the best possible result—try to minimize mistakes when possible. A friend asked why I agonize over arranging flights for upcoming trips. The friend’s city has two airports, a different world from rural living far from larger airports.

T his coming Sunday, Christians celebrate Pentecost – the empowerment of Jesus’ disciples to follow his command to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Last week we began our “get acquainted” series about Christianity’s apostles, the first missionaries. This week we will get to know three more of these extraordinary men.

A s I’ve written before, we can’t put off indefinitely most mundane, everyday chores. I do have some discretion over certain other “jobs.” I can occasionally delay some things for a bit. I’ve been known to procrastinate longer than any sane person should, because I find certain tasks frustrating and generally distasteful. Thank goodness Zack deals with customer service for his credit card, his Amazon account, and Direct TV—since he controls the remote.

T he Sunday School Kindergarten teacher asked her class, “What are the epistles?” An eager little girl quickly responded, “The epistles are the wives of the apostles!” Cute. And although the epistles and the apostles did go hand in hand, they did not go to the altar together.

Those of us who have always had an avid interest in history have been concerned about the lack of interest and knowledge that the general public –and the younger generation especially– has in family, local, state, and American history. While it is understood that there are only a few “called” to be interested enough to make a substantial effort to preserve it, it is dangerous to completely disregard it altogether. We can’t know who we are as a people and as a country unless we know of our origins and those things, both good and bad, that we have inherited from our forebears. Little does the general public understand how close we are to losing our American heritage and that American history is on the brink of extinction.

T here are things we put off because we don’t want to do them – sometimes for years. Or if we can’t procrastinate, the wily among us might try to palm off those jobs to a friend or loved one. Note this foreshadowing, folks.

I t’s taken a lotta years to admit I’m tired. Seems like there’s always something that temporarily drains me.

L ast week we began our study of Christianity by posing several questions about the world’s largest religion. Now let’s answer those questions while adding some interesting facts about this faith that serves more than 2.3 billion believers worldwide.

I ’ve come to realize and grudgingly accept that I can’t fully research everything I’d like to know. I’ll never finish googling endlessly or searching for all the details –can’t “catch all the mice.”

T he Texas House passed a bill promising $17 billion in tax relief, a measure that is at odds with the Senate’s tax break plan, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The House bill would lower by half a home’s cap on appraisal increases. It passed overwhelmingly, 141-9. However, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, said that body will not approve it, preferring its plan to raise property exemptions from $40,000 to $70,000.