Opinion
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 194
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Couche's Corner
This week for Couch’s Corner, I would like to spotlight a very special group of young Shafter/Buttonwillow residents and football players at Shafter High School. Every year before Buttonwillow’s harvest festival and parade,... — Updated 11/27/2022
Pastor's Corner: All mine
Christianity teaches a lot of amazing things: that God is triune, that God the Son became man, that our salvation was accomplished by a great exchange of Christ taking our place,... — Updated 11/20/2022
Pastor's Corner: True gratitude is more than words
As a young pastor in a small tribal village in Guatemala, I was always amazed at both the deep faith and the profound generosity of the Kaqchikel people I served. For what seemed to... — Updated 11/14/2022
Pastors Corner: I will still serve Jesus
On Nov. 8, the United States will have its midterm elections. The midterm elections have been the main issue on talk radio programs and nightly news channels. We have heard the... — Updated 11/11/2022
My View: A land sale has unintended consequences
This past week we have seen a vast change in the landscape alongside Central Valley Highway between Lerdo and Central Avenue, with the removal of the green belt of trees and grass planted a number of years ago by the city. That... — Updated 11/11/2022
Pastor's Corner: 'Community'
Over these past several years I've enjoyed being part of a "Zoom Cohort," comprised of pastors across the country. These groups are organized by our US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, and in the past, I've even had the... — Updated 10/31/2022
Pastor's Corner: Motivation for the momentous
Everyone in the world is on a quest for success. Many successful people in history accomplished great things; none more so than King Solomon (990-931 BC). Proverbs is where Solomon wrote divinely revealed wisdom for skillful... — Updated 10/23/2022
Pastor's Corner: Tis the season
Have you noticed that it’s that season again? The season I am referring to is the silly season we refer to around here as election season. Every two years we go to the polls ... — Updated 10/15/2022
Pastor's Corner: Changing plans
It’s always nice to be able to make and stick to plans. That isn’t always reality, though. If a flight gets canceled, we wind up making new arrangements on the go — sometimes... — Updated 10/11/2022
Pastor's Corner: A shelter for our soul
2nd Timothy 1:12 says, For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. This world is a dangerous... — Updated 9/27/2022
Pastor's Corner: #BetterTogether
When I was in college at Biola University, I remember making a statement to my roommate that went something like this: “I can live out my faith by myself and really don't need others to do that!.” Wow, was I wrong! In my zeal... — Updated 9/18/2022
Pastor's Corner - Sept. 1, 2022
How many of you know what a tattoo is? Before anybody gets defensive, I’m not preaching against tattoos. It is your body. If you want tattoos, more power to you. I don’t. But... — Updated 9/4/2022
Pastor's Corner: Stop and think
The book of Ecclesiastes has a number of texts that make us scratch our heads and wonder a little. To give just a few examples: “In much wisdom is much grief, and he who... — Updated 8/28/2022
Pastor's Corner: The abundant life: Feasting at the King's table
Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b) Yet many Christians have lives that are anything but blessed,... — Updated 8/22/2022
Pastor's Corner: He is faithful in His promises
Hebrews 10:23 says, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. In this world that we live in we are going to need spiritual... — Updated 8/14/2022
Pastor's Corner: The wise and foolish paths
Life often presents us with choices between two options: good or bad, right or wrong, wise or foolish. Not every choice is black and white, but biblical wisdom proposes that most of life falls into two categories: living wisely or... — Updated 8/7/2022
Editor's Note: Can you be a Horton?
I had the privilege of covering the Childrens Summer Theater production of “Seussical” over the weekend. It was a great show, and the kids did such a great job with it. It... — Updated 8/7/2022
Pastor's Corner: Time to set a new normal
My wife and I just returned from two weeks in the Frazier Park mountains for our church organization’s youth camp. The kids arrived at camp with anticipation of seeing friends... — Updated 7/31/2022
Pastor's Corner: Faithfully facing facts
Although a big chunk of the book of Genesis is devoted to Abraham's life, there is a great deal we don't know. For instance, 13 years go by between the end of Chapter 16 and the... — Updated 7/25/2022
Pastor's Corner: Repent and Be Saved
In Acts 17:30, the Bible tells us that God once winked at the ignorance of men but now (this day and time) “Commandeth all men everywhere to repent!” What does this word “repent” mean? Does it mean we must be sorry for our... — Updated 7/17/2022
Pastor's Corner: America's only hope
As the days go forward the world gets more vicious and crazy. 2nd Timothy 3:1 says in the last days perilous times shall come. God said that if we humble ourselves and pray and seek... — Updated 7/8/2022
Pastor's Corner: The real answer to gun violence
I am sure by now most of you reading this have heard about the many mass shootings throughout the last few decades. It is tragic all of the lives that have been lost to senseless... — Updated 6/27/2022
Pastor's Corner: The God of all comfort
2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 says: "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in our tribulations, that we... — Updated 6/8/2022
Pastor's Corner: Factoring in eternity
The Bible is very blunt about the fact that life in this world is quite difficult. Genesis explains that Adam and Eve, by their rebellion against God brought death into the world an... — Updated 5/26/2022
Pastor's Corner: A future and a hope
It feels like we just move from one crisis to another these days, doesn’t it? For the record, that feeling increases if you regularly watch the news on television. Remember, news programs get more viewers and sell more... — Updated 5/16/2022
