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When God comes to town

Luke 1:26-38,46-56 God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth to speak to a young virgin named Mary. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” And what was Mary’s response? It was a very human response, she was both troubled and stricken with fear. The fear is understandable, I mean, an angelic being from God was standing right in front of her. But Mary was also troubled by his words because she couldn’t understand how God could so greatly favor a person like herself! Have you ever felt this way? I have. One of the biggest obstacles that gets in the way of ...

Trust that Jesus is always in control

Good morning, friends. This morning, let’s have some baby talk. Luke 1:69,70 tells us: “...and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.” Zechariah’s song, a Christmas song. When he was prophesied about the “horn of salvation” that God has “raised up,” he was declaring what this little baby in the manger was coming into the world to do...to deal with and defeat our enemies! Just as David said many years earlier, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, ...

Church service variety good for our churches

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together – Hebrews 10:25 If church attendance is not the same as righteous living or serving God, then why am I in favor of a traditional (conventional) church with a variety of services? If I am not going to obligate myself to attend all those services, then why am I in favor of them? The answer to that question is very simple and should not be hard to understand. I think we should have them as an outreach (ministry) of the church. Because of the different age groups and lifestyles of the people, the church becomes their family and a source ...

Christmas brunch buffet in Bev’s Kitchen

Hello from the kitchen! It’s almost Christmas. I love the holidays. Being with family is the best gift ever. And how about all that food? We cook, bake and share it with one another. A tradition I started with my family is an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet. My kids get to special order one thing for the buffet. Eggs to order, scrapple, quiche, bacon, sausages, sweet rolls, fruit, juice and coffee. I’m sharing a few pictures of Christmas at our house. I wish you all a blessed, healthy and laughter-filled Christmas. Eat well…from Bev’s Kitchen! ••• Bev Kauffman, of ...

Christmas in the Cabbage Patch

This is the story of the greatest Christmas present I never got. It begins in 1983, when toy company Coleco released an adorable new doll called the Cabbage Patch Kid. On its oversized head, a winning smile fought its way through pudgy cheeks. Its fabric body, arms open wide awaiting a hug, was covered in dimples. On the butt of each Cabbage Patch doll was printed the signature of originator Xavier Roberts, and included in each box was an adoption certificate with the doll’s birthdate and a name like “Virgil Boris” or “Honora Clytemnestra.” Caleco, though, underestimated ...

1968: Mifflin County’s plan for a new library

In the late 1960s, the Mifflin County Library was located at 35 South Brown Street, which was the corner of Brown and Water Streets. As I’ve mentioned before, the library was stuffed to the gills with books. Books were stacked everywhere, on tables, on the stairs, on the floor as well as on the tops of the shelves. We were once again in need of a new building and the library board, as well as the director, Mrs. Stuckenrath and the commissioners were aware of the fact. I found an article dated June 14, 1968 discussing the problems the commissioners faced; not only with the library ...