Severe storms and tornadoes wreaked havoc across southeastern Oklahoma Saturday night, causing major damage to property, dozens of injuries, at least four deaths, and prompting the governor to declare an emergency.

The older we are, the more we can see how the world has changed. The Bible reveals the human race fell from God’s favor when Adam and Eve decided to disobey God in the Garden. Since that separation curse, all humans are now born with a depraved nature. Our spirits and minds can be transformed through God’s power, but this does not mean the optimist ignores reality or has blind faith. So how can we regain a positive attitude and discover restored spiritual security with our Creator? For those who are truth seekers, God’s word explains the problem of sin, and also reveals the solution is found in Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life.

It’s a beautiful Monday evening here on the Eicher homestead. We had such a nice sunny day, which made for a good laundry day. The solar eclipse was today. How amazing is God’s creation. The temperature reached 72 degrees. Our rhubarb is coming up very nicely. Before long, we should be able to use it. The asparagus is peeping through.

Though many people prefer the flavor and texture of dried beans, canned beans have a leg up besides convenience. The super-starchy liquid in the can is like an ingredient itself. Reserving the liquid to add to a soup or stew as it simmers lends body and creates a creamier, velvety consistency. The cooks at Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street use the liquid to help transform canned chickpeas into an elegant pureed soup built on the beans. Slowly simmering a whole head of garlic in the soup adds sweet depth. Cumin, cayenne and garlic add a bold kick to complement the chickpeas’ earthiness, while carrots and onion add sweetness.

Dear Toni: I am turning 65 in June, self-employed, and my income together with my wife’s is over $300,000. Recently I received a letter from Social Security telling me that my monthly Medicare Part B premium of $174.70 would double to $349.40 per month due to 2022 reported income. That was no surprise, but Social Security also said that the monthly adjustment for prescription drug coverage would be an additional $33.30 a month. What is this all about?

Dear Dave, I have a roommate, and we’ve shared the same two-bedroom apartment for about three years. During that time, we’ve always had an agreement that we would split the bills fifty-fifty. But for the last several months, he’s been very late paying his half of the bills. There have even been a few times when he didn’t pay his part at all, and I had to cover the entire bill. We both work good jobs, so money isn’t an issue. He says he’s broke, but when I ask him where all his money goes, he just shrugs and acts like he doesn’t know. We’re good friends, so I don’t want to be cruel. How can I approach him about the situation?

Mental health disorders are more common than one may think. Despite dramatic strides in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, there are some who remain hesitant to bring up mental health issues. However, the World Health Organization says one out of every eight people around the world lives with a mental disorder. Considering there are nearly eight billion people in the world, that equates to one billion with a mental health condition.