January 2022

In Titus 3:5 it says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” So, we cannot save ourselves, no madder how hard we try. But first we have to see our short comings and we can just see it through our eyes, not God’s eyes. We have to be convicted by the Holy Spirit, and then and only then see how far the human race has fallen. In John 16:7-9, Jesus says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me” We can tell people about sin and unrighteousness but It takes the Holy Spirit through us to verify that we need regenerated.

Thank you for following along in my series of Good Trouble identified from the life of Laura Haviland in my book, Underground Angel. Abolitionists in the 19th century sought to bring slavery to an end. They assisted slaves to freedom from their slaveholders on the higher truth of the Constitution and from the Word of God. They firmly believed the Declaration of Independence applied to all people, slaves included. The nineteenth century abolitionists risked their lives to uphold these truths. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

In Ecclesiastes 7:20 Solomon observes that “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.” The observation is simple but has far reaching implications. Paul picks up the same theme in Romans 3 in which he rapidly quotes Psalm 14:1-3; 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; Isaiah 59:7-8; and Psalm 36:1 to prove that all humanity is guilty of sin and stands in need of divine grace. In Romans, Paul goes on to explain that, because all have broken the Law of God, there can only be salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. In Romans 3:24-25, Paul uses the words justification, redemption, and propitiation to describe the saving work of Christ on our behalf. Propitiation describes the fact that Christ’s death satisfies God’s just anger against sin. Jesus, who never sinned, bore the anger of God in our place in order to be able to offer salvation to all who would believe in Him. Redemption means to buy something back, especially, in the first century, to buy someone out of slavery. Christ has purchased us from slavery to sin by the payment of his own blood. Justification refers to being declared righteous in the sight of God. This must be the righteousness of Jesus credited to our account.

Letter to the Editor: Dear Friends and Family, Dear Friends and Family, The family of Serena Blaske would like to thank YOU for everything. The support that has been provided since her death in early December has been overwhelming.

“LaSada.” That is said to be a Native American term for “place of peace.” It is also the name of a beautiful hunting lodge, shooting range and event venue located in rural Kansas. Ethan and Morgan Jones are the owners of LaSada Lodge near Russell.