As the nation’s top infectious disease specialist expressed optimism amid the omicron surge, Kansas doctors continue to warn of challenges hospitals face amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 14,270 new COVID-19 cases, 71 new hospitalizations and 17 new deaths over the weekend.
February, a month for love. Valentine’s Day, a time of expressing sentiments toward that special someone you like a lot. But how do we really show our love to our family and friends? Is love supposed to be just a feeling? Most people are surprised to find out ‘love’, as it appears in the New Testament is expressed with three words, each with their own meaning.
In the Holy Bible we read in 1 Cor 2:11-14 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
God is known for taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. Throughout the Bible, God used ordinary people to thwart evil and affect His mission on Earth. Any situation we may find ourselves in has the potential to become extraordinary (Blackaby). The Scriptures say that God is no respecter of person [Acts 10:34], meaning He will use anyone of us to accomplish His purpose and demonstrate His power if we are agreeable. In the case of Jesus Christ, He selected 12 ordinary men to be His disciples who later became world-changing apostles [Acts 17:6]; by and large, they were no different than many of us. At times they were weak in faith, misbehaved occasionally, made terrible decisions, argued with each other, and wrestled with fear and doubt (Blanscet). In human terms, the disciples Jesus Christ chose and the host of personalities mentioned in the Bible that God used for His work and glory lacked the qualifications to do extraordinary things. However, it is God who qualifies men and women for His service and glory; the key is to be open and available to Him (Furtick).
God is faithful and is always with you, protecting and watching over you whether you believe He is there or not. Just because you cannot sense Him intervening, it does not mean He is distracted working on the other side of the world. There is an old saying, “God’s care for His children is like the Sun: It’s constant. Even though the clouds often obscure it, this does not mean it’s not there.”
South Central Community Foundation (SCCF) is excited to offer nearly 40 scholarships to its seven county service area. New this year, the Foundation will be accepting all applications on an online portal, which will allow students to submit a universal application and then apply for each individual scholarship they are eligible for.
Agape Health Clinic at the Hope Center Feb. 5 - The next Agape Health Clinic will be Saturday February 5th.
Winter weather blasted into Kansas last Tuesday with snowfall amounts totaling over 20 inches in some parts of the state. Pratt County dodged double-digit totals but still recorded 4 to 5 inches on the far western side of the county and 3 inches three miles west-northwest of Preston, according to the U.S. National Weather Service at Dodge City.
During the January 24 meeting of Pratt County Commission, Director of the Pratt County Health Department Darcie Van Der Vyver reported to the commissioners that the Kansas National Guard is assisting Pratt County with the operation of a COVID-19 mass testing site. This site has been established in the Pratt Community Building located at 619 N. Main Street. The National Guard will be on site until February 24 with operating hours between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Pratt Regional Medical Center is sponsoring a COVID-19 Mass Testing Site, assisted by the Kansas National Guard January 24 through February 18 at the Pratt Community Center. Every Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.