What is a "tiehacker"?

"Tiehacker" is a term originating in the Ozark hills of southern Missouri. It referred to a class of people from WAY back in the hills that made a living cutting trees into ties for the railroad. I first heard the term from my wife shortly after we married. I had been working outside all day and was dirty and stinky. When I came inside, she told me I looked like a "tiehacker" and had to get cleaned up. She had learned the word from her father, and thought it just meant "a bum". Never having heard it before, I looked it up. Although I am not really a bum, I thought it was interesting, and I do have a life-long love affair going with the Ozark hills, so ... there you have it!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

"Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays"

Image via Google images

For a long time I was one that would get aggravated by the "politically correct" usage of "Happy Holidays" and rant about "the reason for the season" and so forth. But my thinking has changed somewhat. Let me explain.
First, I am still opposed to hard-core "political correctness", the kind that enforces "speech codes" and "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces", and fines people tens of thousands of dollars for refusing to decorate a cake, and all that crap. Like it or not, this IS a free country, and people should be able to believe and say what they want.
But, that goes for those on BOTH sides of the divide. If I will not allow them to force me to be silent, then I must not force THEM to be silent, either. They are perfectly within their rights to believe and say anything that they wish. If I demand the freedom to think they are wrong, then I must allow them the same freedom.
OK, that dispenses with the secular reasons for my change of heart. Now for the theological ones. I now think that saying "Happy Holidays" is actually more appropriate for many people, and that they shouldn't be given a lecture or cold shoulder for it. A peaceful and loving response is the only appropriate response.
Many of us choose to celebrate December 25th as the birthday of Jesus Christ. Sure, it is highly doubtful that our Savior was born on that date. Unlike the dates of His death and resurrection, we were never given that information. It is still good to celebrate his nativity, though. Although Scripture does not provide the calendar date of his birth, it does detail it at length in both Matthew and Luke's gospels. So, the early church chose that date in December to celebrate the event. There are many theories to explain why it was chosen. Some make sense, some are bizarre. But now, 2000 years later, it is what it is.
However, the majority of the population are not Christian. They are Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and pagans, and atheists and agnostics of all stripes.
This is also the season of the winter solstice, a time when cold and darkness is at a peak in the northern hemisphere. It is normal for people to want to have feasts and celebrations during this period to ward off the winter doldrums. People in the our hemisphere have been doing this for long before Christ was born.
For those that want to celebrate just to be celebrating, I say go for it! Eat, drink, laugh, and be merry. But, for those that do this just for the fun of it, I also say, "Please, DON'T say 'Merry Christmas'. I'd much rather you say 'Happy Holidays'. Not for reasons of "political" correctness, but for reasons of "spiritual" correctness. Individuals that have not trusted in Jesus as Savior, that have not acknowledged his Lordship, truly have no business saying "Merry Christmas". In a very real sense, by doing so they are taking his name in vain. Not a good thing.
So, far from getting angry about people saying "Happy Holidays", you should consider the possibility that it is probably better that they do so. And when they do, just smile and wish them well also. And maybe find a way to tell them about the birth of the Suffering Savior rather than yell at them.
Anyway, such is my opinion.
Y'all have a good day, and come back and visit with me again!

Monday, December 4, 2017

"A Cold Treachery", by Charles Todd. An Ian Rutledge mystery

Setting is northern England, shortly after the end of the First World War. Inspector Ian Rutledge, from Scotland Yard, is sent to the remote sheep-herding village of Urksdale. A peaceful ranching family has been slaughtered. Husband, wife, young daughter, and infant twins, all shot dead in their kitchen. Their young son is missing, and after much searching, is given up for dead, either killed by the murderer, or perished during the blizzard.

Buy it HERE


Rutledge had been an officer during the War, and had been almost killed by a mortar shell that did kill Corporal Hamish MacLeod. Inspector Rutledge has been haunted by Hamish ever since, the man's Scottish accented voice a constant companion, helping, and sometimes interfering, with Rutledge's thoughts.

The list of suspects is long. The brother of the dead man. The sister of the dead woman. The dead woman's first husband, father of the dead girl and the missing boy. A man that the dead rancher had helped prosecute during a military court-martial. The local hotel-keeper. A couple other local folks. And, even the missing boy himself.

Charles Todd's prose is full of local color and dialogue. The characters are well-drawn. The plot is not very intricate, but it is quite deep in psychological suspense. The ending comes as a bit of a surprise.

This is the first book from the author that I have read, but it sure won't be the last!