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The authority in the gospel is the inspired Word of God

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5 In our study of church growth, we are considering the traditional church in the area in which we live, and the Sunday morning worship service. What are a few of the key elements that we find in the early New Testament church? We will begin by mentioning the primary element, which is the proclamation of God’s Word or the gospel message. According to the Webster’s Dictionary of 1828, the gospel is a joyful message. That joyful message can be ...

No matter what — First, last and always, is God!

There’s an unassuming little book that has charmed its way up the bestseller lists. Over 1.2 million copies are now in print. It’s Children’s Letters to God by Stuart Hample and Eric Marshall. In it you’ll find the surprising pleasures and provocations of what happens when kids decide to send a letter to God. Whether posing a question, begging a favor, or expressing doubt or joy, these letters are notable for their refreshing directness, unexpected humor, and startling clarity of thought. It’s like seeing the world through a child’s bright eyes—eyes untouched by cynicism, ...

April is sandwich season in Bev’s Kitchen

Goodbye to Easter and hello to April! As a child, we had the usual Easter dinner. Baked ham, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy and filling. It was good eating but sometimes I just want a sandwich. Like now after all the dinner leftovers are gone. So let’s talk sandwiches again today. Being married to a truck driver, I have to use my imagination when it comes to packing his cooler for the road. And yes I still do that. I’ve sent anything from meatloaf to rotisserie chicken sandwiches to plain old Lebanon bologna with cucumbers on top. I believe the roll or bread makes the sandwich. ...

Easter brings new perspectives

The Easter season is the one time of year when our minds turn to thoughts of hope, renewal and new beginnings. It is time to say goodbye to the long, cold, and dark days of winter and hello to the sun’s warming rays. Flowers and trees burst into bloom, the grass dons its lovely green coat, and the air is sweetened by the scent of spring rains, drawing us outdoors. Everything looks fresh and new, and it feels as though anything is possible, and I suppose it is. That, at least, was my recent experience. I just returned from a few days spent in Philadelphia with my son and his family, ...

Library’s history interesting, important

I really hope you like being on this Library History journey with me. Many people tell me how much they love reading my columns and learning about the library and how it came to be. I think it’s very interesting but also important. And here is why. Before all of our renovations started, there was a plaque hanging on (well, really, screwed into) the cement block wall of the Children’s Room. Just inside the door. You probably passed it many times and never noticed it. I’m going to post a photo of the plaque on our Facebook page. The plaque reads: In memory of Nancy Margaret ...

Safely shred your documents at the Juniata County Library

Do you have boxes of papers that you need to safely get rid of? The Juniata County Library has an industrial shredder that can handle any kind of document, even including ones with staples, paperclips and rubber bands. Back in 2019 when we looked to add this new service, I asked around to see if anyone else did this kind of thing. I discovered that there were no places here you could take your documents to be shredded. We knew then that there was a local need that we could meet. Courtesy of our Friends of the Library, we have a P5 security level shredder that turns your documents ...