The Artesia Downtown Lions Club’s Students of the Month include Paisley Phillips, Lucas Atkins, Karli Horner and George Blackburn. Their accomplishments span 4-H, FFA, sports, student leadership and National Honor Society.
Pastor David Grousnick reflects on how dwelling on past hurts can imprison relationships and prevent us from enjoying the present. Through Peter’s question about forgiveness and Jesus’ parable of the debtors in Matthew 18, he explores the call to forgive generously, the consequences of “measure for measure,” and how forgiveness ultimately saves us from our human failures.
A pastor’s column contrasts a grudge rooted in Sherman’s Civil War destruction with a story of two feuding brothers. When a carpenter is asked to build a fence, he builds a bridge instead, restoring their relationship. The lesson is clear: our lives are measured not by possessions or barriers, but by how many people we help and bridges we build.
For 50 years, Jim and Nancy Johnson have made 1408 W. Bush home, creating a distinctive Yard of the Week. Nancy maintains the plush lawn, while Jim tends the xeriscaped areas decorated with rocks, metal flowers and artwork. A family heirloom horse-drawn tractor and windmill have graced the yard for four decades.
Consider Rabbi Feldman, who had been having trouble with his congregation. It seemed they could agree upon nothing, and controversy filled the air until the Sabbath itself became an area of conflict, and unhappiness filled the synagogue.
Isn’t it tragic that some people go through life so negative and sour and bitter? And if you don’t watch out, they will infect you with their thinking.
