Morning at the Office

General Convention

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Dear Sweet Joan

Joan Gibson Tate, 43, of London died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville.

She was born March 12, 1968, in Texarkana, Texas, to John Arthur and Jane Pauline Markey Gibson of London, Ar. She was a registered nurse, having graduated from the nursing department at the University of Central Arkansas and was a member of St. John Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her maternal grand-parents, Jim and Pat Markey formerly of Lake Charles, LA and late of London, Ar, and her paternal grand-parents, Chester and Mary Gibson of Georgetown, Ar near London.

Survivors include her son, John Gibson “Jack” Tate of Searcy; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Joe Jimenez of Russellville, Jane and Gary Storment and Kate and Jason Harness, all of London; and seven nephews and nieces, John and Patrick Jimenez, Rachel, Megan and Emily Storment, and Miranda and Hannah Harness; her Aunt Pat (Ida Mae) Bewley of London, Ar, and many cousins.

A memorial service by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at St. John Catholic Church, officiated by the Rev. Ernest Hardesty. Burial in Price Cemetery at London will be private.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church parish hall.



Memorials may be made to Price Cemetery Association Fund, c/o Darwin Price, 11568 U.S. Highway 64 West, London, AR 72847.

The online obituary and guestbook are available at 
Shinn Funeral Service.

Paid obituary

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Whatever is pure and worthy of praise


The ancient Greeks believed their plays would give  a "purification" or a "purging" (catharsis) of strong emotions such as sorrow, fear, pity, or even laughter to those watching .
Do the violent video games we play today or the soap operas and crime dramas so many watch have the same effect in our society?
Our miiitary trains soldiers with violent  video games to desensitize them to the violence, the killing of others. 
Are the soap operas and crime dramas similar in effect?
Do these videos take away our humanity or enhance it?
St. Paul said,  “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. “ Philippians 4:8 (NRSV)

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