Opinion
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Pastor's Corner - Jan. 16, 2020
Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a Roman statesman who lived from 5 BC-65 AD, made a statement that should be written and remembered in 2020. He said, "We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our...
Editor's Note - Jan. 16, 2020
Well, 2019 is in the rear view mirror, and the next decade is underway. This past year has been such a busy one for me. It has been full of some great times, like having a job that I just love,...
Couch's Corner - Jan. 16, 2020
Much thanks to the Valley Ag Voice for their article “Local Leaders React to Passage of USMCA,” in their January issue. For those of you who may not know, USMCA is an updated NAFTA, and stands for United States Mexico Canada Trade Agreement. It...
Pastor's Corner - Jan. 2, 2020
Years ago (more years than I care to remember) I started an Insurance agency with my main company being one that was less than 15 years old at the time. It was a company rather unique in its...
Pastor's Corner - Dec. 12, 2019
“…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…” --Philippians 3:13, 14 George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “A life spent making...
Editor's Noe - Nov. 14, 2019
Veterans Day was this week. It was recognized with a parade in Bakersfield and a large crowd came out to honor the men and women who have served or currently serve in our branches of the military. It...
Pastor's Corner - Nov. 7, 2019
Few passages have caused as much fear and anxiety as the verses where Jesus states that there is an unpardonable or unforgivable sin, which is mentioned in all three Synoptic Gospels (see Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10). Many questions...
Couch's Corner - Nov. 7, 2019
I got the chance to speak at the second Annual Civil Rights for Immigrants Conference recently in October at Hodel’s. It was an honor to be invited by the host, the Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA), to welcome the attendees (about 280...
Pastor's Corner - Oct. 31, 2019
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” -- The Golden Rule “For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be...
Editor's Note | Jamie Stewart
I recently wrote a piece about new legislation that makes it illegal for schools to suspend students for “willful defiance.” This phrase includes noncooperation, such as cussing out a teacher,...
Couch's Corner
I recently learned of the Housing Authority of Kern’s concept of using farm labor camps they own in Shafter and Lamont to house about 50 homeless women from Kern County temporarily this winter. [Editor’s note: The county has since eliminated the...
Couch's Corner - Oct. 10, 2019
I recently learned of the Housing Authority of Kern’s concept of using farm labor camps they own in Shafter and Lamont to house about 50 homeless women from Kern County temporarily this winter. Having no more details than that, I let a member of...
Pastor's Corner - Oct. 10, 2019
No, I am not going to preach you a sermon this morning; this verse is just apropos to what I have been thinking about and dealing with -- thought maybe some of you have, also. Have you ever just...
Pastor's Corner - Oct. 3, 2019
James, the half-brother of Jesus, shared a bold statement that causes one to question whether he was in His right mind: "Count it all joy, brothers, when we face various trials” (James 1:2-3). Has...
Pastor's Corner - Sept. 5, 2019
Do you find it difficult to find peace in a chaotic world? At the rhythm that our world is spinning it is difficult to pump the brakes and simply breathe. I know that I have been there various times...
Couch's Corner - Sept. 5, 2019
The Board of Supervisors adopted the fiscal year 2019-20 budget last week. In addition, we also adopted a resolution declaring the end of the County of Kern’s fiscal emergency. By the end of this fiscal year – June 30, 2020 -- the county will...
Pastor's Corner - Aug. 29, 2019
Do you find it difficult to find peace in a chaotic world? At the rhythm that our world is spinning it is difficult to pump the brakes and simply breathe. I know that I have been there various times...
Couch's Corner - Aug. 29, 2019
The Board of Supervisors adopted the fiscal year 2019-20 budget on Tuesday. In addition, we also adopted a resolution declaring the end of the County of Kern’s fiscal emergency. By the end of this fiscal year – June 30, 2020 -- the county will...
Letter to the Editor - Aug. 15, 2019
To the editor: I considered it an honor and privilege to have served the City of Shafter for 20 years as a member of the City Council, eight of those years serving as mayor. Throughout those 20 years, the council worked together to maintain a...
Can't wait for sequel
You can smell it in the air. The green grass is being tended, the fields being prepared for another season of gridiron battles. This is my favorite time of the year, as the football teams begin practi...
Pastor's Corner - Aug. 8, 2019
“…Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 This is one of my favorite Psalms and one that has helped me through some tough bumps in the road of life. We all have...
Pastor's Corner - Aug. 1, 2019
A lawyer once asked Jesus, “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied, “Love God with everything in you, and secondly love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40). Who...
Pastor's Corner - July 25, 2019
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” --Genesis 6:8 I am not going to bore you with how I happened upon this verse concerning the time of the great flood and righteousness of one man;...
Letter to the Editor - July 25, 2019
After reading Stan Voth's "Letter to the Editor" in the June 27 Shafter Press, I feel compelled to state a few more facts. The Richland School District is in a sorry state of affairs, with approximately a half-a- million-dollar deficit. The Richland...
Pastor's Corner - July 18, 2019
In the fall of 1958, it was the day of our an annual athletic physicals in our small rural community. On this appointed day every would-be athlete walked down to the local clinic to see Dr. Helmut...
