July 27, 2025

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Boiling a Toad Is Only Fun for the Boiler
A: Main, Columns & Opinion
July 14, 2023
Boiling a Toad Is Only Fun for the Boiler

Do this one. (If your spouse is a bit squeamish, then best accomplish this without them being in the kitchen) Catch a live toad. Fill a large pan with cool water and place the pan on the stove. Put the toad in the pan and then turn the burner on to low heat. The innocent soon-to-be-in-danger toad will sit contentedly in that water, never dreaming that his nice, personal paradise will begin to heat up and his lovely new home will steadily turn into a personal pit of death. He will sit there enjoying his little pond, not recognizing that is getting warmer, then entirely too warm, and then eventually will cook him to death.

Do this one. (If your spouse is a bit squeamish, then best accomplish this without them being in the kitchen) Catch a live toad. Fill a large pan with cool water and place the pan on the stove. Put the toad in the pan and then turn the burner on to low heat. The innocent soon-to-be-in-danger toad will sit contentedly in that water, never dreaming that his nice, personal paradise will begin to heat up and his lovely new home will steadily turn into a personal pit of death. He will sit there enjoying his little pond, not recognizing that is getting warmer, then entirely too warm, and then eventually will cook him to death.

Reminiscent of us contented humans. We have sat in a slowly-heating pan of tolerance and acceptance, where ‘anything goes’ and where absolutely nothing is deemed as wrong anymore. While we have been blissfully swimming in the nice warm water and enjoying ourselves, our play water has been steadily warming, and now seems to be reaching the cookyou- while-you-laugh point. So many do not sense the coming danger. Have we reached the point-of-no-return? Is our consciences and our moral compass so damaged by the play water that we as a nation can no longer grasp that there is a wrong and a right in the eyes of our Creator?

We definitely need a bucket of ice thrown in our pan. And some have been trying, but unfortunately, we can’t seem to throw in enough ice to cool things off. Sermons have been preached, parents lecture and discipline, concerned teachers attempt to guide, and speeches have been shouted by conservative political men and women in our government system, all clearly alarmed at the direction we have taken. The result? Absolutely no change in our downward spiral. No, that sentence is incomplete. It should read, ‘Absolutely no change in our headlong dive, it’s as if we are now being pushed downward by a twelve-million-ton locomotive.’

But why? Why do we no longer heed words of caution - words that earlier generations regarded as valuable wisdom? Today, most people have the defiant attitude, “You ain’t the boss of me, and I’m free to do as I please!” Well, yes, to a degree, I would agree with them. No person holds any more worth than another, worth which would give them authority over another in this world of humanity. Not one of us is God. So in that sense, they are free to rebel against society and do as they please.

But human worth is not the issue when it comes to ‘Who is Boss around here.’ The only issue is this: There really is a God. A God who is the Creator of everything that exists. And that makes Him the Boss. A Boss who wrote a Letter a long time ago, telling us how to behave and what He wanted.

And allowing that twelve-million-ton locomotive to destroy us is not what He wanted.

Send any responses to andybowman839@gmail.com.

New HPS Board Member Welcomed
A: Main, Lifestyle...
New HPS Board Member Welcomed
July 26, 2025
Willem Vandenborn is welcomed by Henryetta Public Schools Superintendent Jason Price after he was sworn in to fill the Ward 2 seat on the HPS board. The action came during a special meeting Thursday, ...
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Patrons Bank warns community of rising phone scams
A: Main, Lifestyle...
Patrons Bank warns community of rising phone scams
July 25, 2025
Patrons Bank is urging the community to be on high alert as phone scams targeting bank customers continue to rise across the country - and right here at home.Scammers are spoofing legitimate bank phon...
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Christmas in July is today
A: Main, Main...
Christmas in July is today
July 25, 2025
Downtown Henryetta is set to come alive with holiday spirit and summer sunshine today, as the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce presents its annual “Christmas in July” celebration. The event, scheduled fr...
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A: Main
Back-to-School excitement builds
July 25, 2025
As summer winds down and the school year quickly approaches, Henryetta Public Schools and Dewar Public Schools are rolling out the red carpet for students and families with a series of exciting back-t...
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Main Street Crossing Temporarily Closed
A: Main
Main Street Crossing Temporarily Closed
July 25, 2025
The City of Henryetta has announced that the Main Street railroad crossing is currently closed to all traffic. Residents needing to cross the tracks are encouraged to use the Trudgeon Street crossing ...
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Sales Tax Holiday returns Aug. 1-3
A: Main
Sales Tax Holiday returns Aug. 1-3
July 25, 2025
Shoppers across Okmulgee County and throughout the state will soon get a much-needed break on back-to-school expenses, as Oklahoma’s annual Sales Tax Holiday kicks off Friday, Aug. 1, and runs through...
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Editor Picks
A: Main
Historical Museum open Saturday
July 25, 2025
The Henryetta Historical Museum continues to welcome guests through its doors this summer with its special every-other-weekend schedule - and this Saturday is no exception. The museum will be open Jul...
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News
OCEM Report
July 25, 2025
This report is a summary of activities Okmulgee County Emergency Management participated in and does not reflect all activities performed by or participated in by Okmulgee County Emergency Management....
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Plans underway for Okmulgee County Fair
News
Plans underway for Okmulgee County Fair
July 25, 2025
Planning is in full swing for the much-anticipated 2025 Okmulgee County Fair, with the event officially set to take place Sept. 4-6 at the Okmulgee County Fairgrounds.Members of the Fair Volunteer Com...
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Lions Club celebrates new members, history and upcoming events
News
Lions Club celebrates new members, history and upcoming events
July 25, 2025
The Henryetta Lions Club held a lively and productive meeting on Thursday, July 17, at The Shack 2.0, welcoming new members, celebrating local heritage and preparing for several key community events o...
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News
Preston Schools announces Child Nutrition Program
July 25, 2025
Preston Public Schools announced they are participating in free lunch and/or breakfast program for the 2026 school year. All students enrolled in the district or the listed sites may participate in th...
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