Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
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We have probably all heard this joke which some people like to tell with different variations: How do you know when a politician is lying? How do you know when an attorney is lying? How do you know when a used car salesman is lying? How do you know when a cable news reporter is lying? Etc. The answer: When they open their mouths. Ha, ha, ha! I apologize for this “cheap shot” joke which makes fun of some honorable professions. However, it does remind us that people often feel taken advantage of, deceived, or lied to in life. This, in turn, can...
This past Sunday I had the privilege of helping baptize eight people at Bridgeport Lake. During the 33 years that I have been a pastor in Sidney, I have been blessed to help baptize over three hundred people at Bridgeport. It is always a wonderful experience for those being baptized and for those witnessing it. However, before we baptize children, young people, or adults, we always make sure they first understand the significance of this event in their lives. We focus on three basic baptism truths which we believe the Scriptures teach: First...
It finally happened in the heat of this Summer. Our Sidney High School Seniors were able to have their graduation ceremony this past Saturday morning. It was a very unusual ending to a most unusual school year. Hopefully our graduates were encouraged with this final event of their school careers after the disappointment of not being able to enjoy so many other year end activities. As a community we want to once more congratulate our Seniors, and wish them the very best in the days to come. As a community of faith in God, we are also praying...
Americans are stunned. In the first five months of 2020, not only have we been discouraged by political battles and world-wide pandemic devastation, but most recently we have also been shocked and angered by a racist crime which has resulted in nation-wide protests, as well as lawlessness. This latest tragedy has exposed the fact that “we the people” are still struggling to be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” As in other times of national upheaval and crisis, the problems are once again being well documen...
Busy! Busy! Busy! That describes the lifestyle of so many people. We’re busy at work – busy at school – busy at church – busy in the community. And soon we will be busy with all of the holiday events of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Too often our calendars fill up so quickly and leave us feeling exhausted. We over commit ourselves and seem to constantly live “life in the fast lane.” The urgent things crowd out the important things. Even the good things we do are done at a frantic pace. And when the dust finally settles, we often don’t have...
The Gospel of Luke records this familiar account during the ministry of Christ on earth: “As Jesus was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? W...
FOR SALE: One grave – slightly used – just like new. Here is an advertisement that you will probably never see in this newspaper or hear on our local radio station. That’s because graves and tombs are not normally used for just a brief amount of time. However, this advertisement could have appeared in the “Jerusalem Sun-Telegraph” two thousand years ago. The crucified body of the Lord Jesus Christ had been buried in a tomb just outside of Jerusalem, but his body was there for only three days. And even though a rumor had been started which acc...
The Holy Scriptures reveal that God in heaven wants you have a happy new year. Look at the kind of “happy newness” he offers us both now and forever if we put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…” - 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and m...
As all of us are aware, our U.S. Supreme Court ruled last June that same sex couples can now be legally married throughout our country. The court claimed that it was an issue of equality, dignity and civil rights granted by the Constitution. In this opinion, five Supreme Court justices essentially redefined marriage for all Americans. However, those who claim to be Christians should continue to let God define marriage for us based on the unchanging truths of the Holy Scriptures. It is a very simple description of marriage given to us by God at...
It’s been said that pride can be something you feel when your children earn $143 from their garage sale – until you realize that your car is missing. That is when parental pride turns into panic. Nevertheless, most parents still have numerous opportunities to be proud of their kids. The same is true for the many grandparents who brag about having the cutest and smartest grandchildren. They even have pictures to justify their pride. We also know that people can take pride in their country, community, ancestry, their work, awards, victories, and...
Most of us as parents have taken family car trips with our children and heard these impatient words: “Are we almost there yet? When will we get there? How much longer will it be?” Often those agonizing questions are asked when there is still a long way to go. Parents then try to assure their kids that even though it might seem long, it won’t be too long. Life for us as God’s children can be like that, too. As we deal with real life circumstances in our journey of faith, from time to time we will ask the Lord, “How long, how long will it be?” I...
How well do you know the true story of Christmas? Did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to pay taxes? Did Mary ride on a donkey because it was too difficult for her to walk? Did an inn keeper tell Joseph and Mary that there was no room for them in the inn? Did they spend Christmas night in a stable surrounded by animals? Did angels sing about the glory of God in the night time sky for a group of shepherds? Did noisy cattle wake up the sleeping baby Jesus who did not cry? Did three wise men come to the stable and see Christ lying in a manger? Did...
The month of October is almost here, and by now students in our schools and universities should be back into the routine of daily education. They should all be back to their books. The time they spend reading and studying these books can be valuable for a life time. Obviously, reading alone will not guarantee learning, but it is a crucial first step toward knowledge that can change a person’s life. The same is true for those who claim to have a relationship with God. Reading, knowing and obeying the Word of God is crucial for any l...
One week ago we celebrated another Fourth of July, and once again we were reminded of the precious freedoms that we possess as a nation. The United States has been blessed by God with the kind of freedom that most of the world has never experienced. We cherish our declared rights of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” However, at times it seems like Americans can be almost obsessed with “freedom.” Too many people want to do whatever they want – whenever they want – with whomever they want – no matter what the cost. As a result they a...
“Nothing says, ‘I love you,’ like a half-mile wide heart made out of manure.” That was a news headline on the internet just before Valentine’s Day four years ago. The headline was in response to a romantic display of love by a farmer for his wife in Minnesota. Bruce Andersland created the half-mile wide heart outline in a snow covered field using his manure spreader. The brown colored heart which included a cupid arrow was then photographed from the air by a local pilot. Bruce’s wife, Beth, thought is was “cute” and confessed that she wasn’t...
Congratulations to the class of 2013! You have now completed your high school education and are moving on to the next exciting phase of your life. As you embrace the future I want to challenge you to do three things. First: Always be grateful for the good things you have been blessed with. As Americans everyone of us owes a huge debt of gratitude for the incredible privileges we enjoy living in the United States. God has blessed our country in amazing ways, and many men and women have sacrificed much to maintain that blessing. You should...
The story is told of a young man who wanted to become famous by starting a new religion. He wanted it to be a world-wide religion that would be embraced by millions of people. So he first sought some advice from an older and wiser man of faith. He asked, “Sir, what advice could you give me for starting a very successful religion?” The older man thoughtfully replied, “The best way would be for you to be killed, buried and then rise up from your grave three days later so that people can see you alive again. Now it might be hard to find someo...
It’s in the news every day: Our economic problems, the growing U.S. debt, recession worries, out of control government spending, our “paying problem,” sequestration, unemployment rates, budget cuts, tax hikes, and more. As a result many people in our nation have very little trust in how our government leaders view and spend our tax dollars. That’s why we should always put our trust in God, especially when it comes to our personal finances. Here is just some of what the Bible says should be our life- guiding principles concerning money: Blessed...
