Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Religion columnist We are in the midst of campaign season for the presidential election in 2016. The news is dominated by this caucus or that event. Reporters declare that so many thousands were in attendance at an event, all the while letting us know that poll numbers are going down. I have heard stories of people sitting from the pre-dawn hours just to get a look at one of the presidential candidates. When George W. Bush was running for a second term, my niece Jill Wooten...
While waiting in a doctor’s office, I noticed a headline about the greatest 500 songs of all time in Rolling Stone magazine. I thought I would take a look. The article listed the No. 1 song of all time as “Like a Rolling Stone,” by Bob Dylan. The second was “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” by The Rolling Stones. Third was John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Fourth was Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On.” Five was “Respect” by Aretha Franklin. I know when Susie and I were in college, we loved M...
Religion columnist My sister Susie and I often recall together some good times as a preacher’s kid in the late 1950s. Daddy was pastor of Central Baptist Church here in Clovis and in the ’50s, we had experiences that are a little different from what some preacher’s kids have today. I must say that I am most thankful for my upbringing and thankful for my role as “Preacher’s Kid.” I remember living in the church parsonage. In Clovis, the parsonage wasn’t next door to the church... Full story
Religion columnist Have you ever moved from one house to another? Over the years, our family has moved several times. Many families, especially in this area, move thousands of miles away. Whether it is on the other side of the world or the other side of town, the experiences are much the same. In preparation for selling their home, folks spend weeks painting, cleaning and decluttering so the house will have the best appearance possible. The focus becomes making the home... Full story
Religion columnist The Old Testament is rich in the record of its many well-known characters. The account of their lives, if we read them, can give us encouragement for today. Names such as Abraham, Joseph, and David are well known characters. Yet one character stands out to me. Even though he is not so well known, Enoch was known as one “who walked with God.” Who was Enoch? Enoch is first mentioned in Genesis 5:18. Not much is known about Enoch’s life except that he is descr...
Religion columnist I was in sixth grade at Highland Elementary school when I discovered the meaning of Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” Little did I realize it as a child, but that verse has proved to be an encouragement to me all of my life. I was a cafeteria helper in the sixth grade. Mrs. Foster was the supervisor, and I felt so important being her helper, and I felt privileged to be one of the sixth graders chosen to work. For this job... Full story
Religion columnist Have you ever been afraid you would fail at something? I have experienced that feeling at times in my life. Over the years, I have failed at many things and the consequences at times were critical. I have failed to get my oil changed on time, I have failed at diets, I have occasionally failed academic tests and sometimes I have failed to meet certain deadlines. But I really think those are common failings among people. Hopefully most people like me learned...
Have you ever been afraid you would fail at something? I have experienced that feeling at times in my life. Over the years, I have failed at many things and the consequences at times were critical. I have failed to get my oil changed on time, I have failed at diets, I have occasionally failed academic tests and sometimes I have failed to meet certain deadlines. link Judy Brandon But I really think those are common failings among people. Hopefully most people like me learned... Full story
Religion columnist Great philosophers have focused on the concept of God throughout the centuries. Many have philosophized about God the Creator of the universe, but some have just noted a “god” or “gods.” At times they have tried to define man’s purpose and our place in the universe. Through the centuries, there have been questions: Who is God? Who is man? David Platt, well known author and preacher, wrote something that summed this up beautifully with a telling statement...
Religion columnist I read a commentary from Breakpoint Ministries about the prevalence of busyness in our culture. The author quoted a story by preacher and author Kevin DeYoung. DeYoung told of a woman who was visiting the United States from another country. Each time she would introduce herself as “Busy.” DeYoung says in his book “Crazy Busy:” “It was, after all, the first thing she heard when meeting any American. Hello, I’m busy — she figured it was part of our traditional... Full story
Religion columnist Last week I was reading a Pew Research Poll. The poll was conducted in 39 countries and the results found that many people around the world think it is necessary to believe in God to be a moral person. It is interesting to see that the idea that one must believe in God to keep morality in place was a view more common in poorer countries than in wealthier countries. At first glance, one might wonder why poor countries would take this stance. Why would those...
Religion columnist When I was a child, I was in primary choir at church. One of the songs I remember well was “The Wise Man Built His House upon the Rock.” The context of the song was taken from the story in the Bible about a foolish man who built his house on sand, and the floods and waters came and the house, because it did not have a firm foundation, went with the waters. But the wise man built his house on the rock. When my friends and I sang the word built, we would mak...
Religion columnist The evidence of spiritual pride in the Christian life is a detriment to others as it manifests itself toward Christians and non-Christians alike. Overall, pride hurts the cause and the entire body of Christ. Self-righteousness or spiritual pride is the opposite of the Gospel message. Years ago, I was in a meeting with a woman who was known for her prideful, self-righteous attitude. Condescending and sometimes even verbally abusive, she was eager to tell...
Religion columnist I have had a few broken bones in my lifetime. When I was 9, I was walking with some friends on the top of a cinder-block fence not far from my house on North Gidding. I fell off and hit the ground and I broke my left foot. My parents took me to Dr. Alan Haynes Sr. After he did x-rays, Dr. Haynes confirmed my foot broken and put me on crutches. Then at 10 years old, I was swinging on the monkey bars at Highland Elementary School — yes Highland was around w... Full story
Not long ago I read a list of the most admired women in the world for the year 2015. Angelina Jolie topped the list as the most admired woman. She was followed by Malala Yousafzai, Hillary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II, Michelle Obama, Celine Dion, Oprah Winfrey and Julia Roberts. And the list went on. link Judy Brandon Columnist I have never met any of these women, but I am sure each one is outstanding in their own right. I look up to many women; but in truth, not one of these...
link Judy Brandon Columnist Several years ago, I read a book about George Mueller, an evangelist in the 1800’s in England. He was a disobedient young man and then when his conversion to Christ came about, he felt God’s call upon his life to minister to the poor and especially to orphans. So with that calling, Mueller opened a home for the urchins of England, establishing Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol. During his life of service to God, Mueller cared for 10,024 orphans. In...
For several years, I listened to Erwin Lutzer on the radio. He is the author of a book titled “Failure: The Backdoor to Success” (MoodyPress, 1975). In his book, Lutzer gives the following illustration: link Judy Brandon Columnist "Many years ago, a father and his daughter were walking through the grass on the Canadian prairie. In the distance, they saw a prairie fire, and they realized that it would soon engulf them. The father knew there was only one way of escape: They wou... Full story
link Judy Brandon Columnist It is vacation time and most people have trips planned out of town to see new sights and experience new adventures. When I was 8, our family vacationed in California and visited relatives. We were eager to see our cousins but really more excited about the new attraction in Los Angeles: Disneyland. We struck out early one June morning from New Mexico in our 1956 blue Ford Fairlane en route to California. I was eager to finally experience Disneyland....
link Judy Brandon Columnist By: Judy Brandon There is much to be learned from the Acts account of Saul, who later became Paul, persecuting the followers of Jesus who were in the early church. Finding these believers in Christ, arresting and throwing them into prison became the focus of Saul’s activity. The Bible notes that: “But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.” (Acts 8:3) He did this becau...
link Judy Brandon Columnist By: Judy Brandon For many years, I have been interested in the concept of Fort Knox and the wealth that it holds. All my growing up years, I have looked at Fort Knox as the bastion of wealth. In fact, sayings have originated around the term “Fort Knox.” For instance, think about these sayings: Rich as Fort Knox … I would not give you all the gold in Fort Knox for that … with all that jewelry she looks like Fort Knox! Why the comparison? How much go... Full story
link Judy Brandon Columnist By: Judy Brandon Thomas Campbell, a Scottish poet in the 1800s, wrote: “The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree.” Let us meditate on that saying as we observe this Memorial Day. I remember my grandparents putting much emphasis on Memorial Day as one of the most revered weekends of the year. If we were visiting my grandparents in Arkansas on that weekend, we were part of that celebration. But back then they referred to this Memoria... Full story
link Judy Brandon Columnist By: Judy Brandon The CEO of a famous company spoke at a church in another city one Sunday after the economic crisis in 2008. The gentleman was a skilled business leader, a husband, father, and a dedicated Christian. His words were forwarded to me by a person who attends that church. Here is basically what he said: This week I received a printout of my investment earnings. I was in total disbelief when I realized that my IRA had taken a nosedive and...
link Judy Brandon Columnist By: Judy Brandon The ancient Proverbs 31 woman of the Bible amazes me. She was a multi-faceted, multitalented superwoman. Everyone praises her and even her children “rise up and call her blessed.” I am far from her on many levels. She had business sense. I don’t. She bought and sold land; I’ve done neither. I don’t sew or mend things like socks. I own no business and I am not in the city government. But she and I do have one thing in common; we are...
link Judy Brandon Columnist By: Judy Brandon What is the difference in a mistake and a sin? When I think of mistakes and think about goof ups like these: Putting the whites in with the dark colors in the wash; adding five eggs to the cake batter when the recipe only calls for two; forgetting to carry the 2 in a math problem; or entering $2.51 in online bill pay when the real bill is $25.11. But what is a sin? Some people clearly consider sins only mistakes. But I would say...
By: Judy Brandon link Judy Brandon Columnist It was 1977, a few months after Buffy was born. Annie and John Scott had chicken pox, and Buffy was just beginning to break out with the same. Fever medication, ointment, little sleep at night and each new day seemed to offer only another lonely vigil. On this particular day, I remember sitting at our kitchen table, feeling exhausted and sorry for myself. The house was a mess, and I had no energy to tackle it. Feeling overwhelmed, I...
