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Hospital mill levy goes to voters

Adrian Hedden
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Hospital mill levy goes to voters

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

Artesia voters will decide starting next week if a mill levy will continue to fund up to $7 million in operations at Artesia General Hospital via mail-in ballots that are available for about a month.

The mill levy was first established in 1979, when the Artesia Special Hospital District was established, and renewed by voters every four years since. Mail in ballots will go out to voters for the latest renewal May 6, and can be returned until June 3.

The levy is collected by the hospital district, which functions as a government agency similar to a school district, and as such is allowed to place the levy on the ballot for voters. The funds are used to support operational costs at the hospital, which serves patients throughout Eddy County and in Chaves County.

Here’s what to know about the Artesia General Hospital mill levy.

Will it raise taxes?

A vote for the mill levy this year will not raise taxes but maintain the levy in place since 1979 of $2.70 per every $1,000 of a property owner’s net taxable property value for those within the district. The district is defined in state statute as “the Artesia public” which is most land within the city of Artesia.

Jarrod Moreau, chair of the Artesia Special Hospital District, said revenue from the levy mostly comes from commercial property owners – mainly large oil and gas corporations he estimated account for 80% to 90% of the funds. Oil and gas property values can also fluctuate drastically, he said, meaning the levy provided between $4 million and $7 million annually to the district over the past four to eight years.

Voting down the mill levy could cause residential property tax rates to decline “slightly,” but not enough for residents to “feel it,” Moreau said.

“The much meatier chunk of this is the property taxes that are paid by the large corporations,” Thoreau said. “It does have some property tax in there on the residential side but a much smaller piece. A big chunk of this is commercial.”

What is the money used for?

The hospital’s chief financial officer, Cory Yates, said the money funds operational costs, including salaries for medical personnel and recruiting of specialists. Having those expenses largely covered by the mill levy, Yates said, allows the hospital to focus more of its revenue on infrastructure and capital investments.

“The mill levy from the district to the hospital provides for our operations. It allows us to recruit staff and physicians,” she said. “It allows us to recruit specialties we might not be able to otherwise for a rural community.”

How can you cast your ballot?

Ballots are being mailed to the homes of registered voters within the hospital district. Ballots include instructions for mailing them back, or they can be turned in directly to the Eddy County Clerk’s sub-office in Artesia at 602 S. First St. or at the main County Clerk’s Office at 325 S. Main St. in Carlsbad.

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

Bill would undue Permian Basin lizard protections

Michael Smith
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Bill would undue Permian Basin lizard protections

Adrian Hedden
Carlsbad Current-Argus
achedden@currentargus.com

A pair of Republican congresspeople – one from West Texas and the other from Kansas – argued that without a legislative remedy, an imperiled lizard could threaten the U.S. oil and gas industry.

That’s why the Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling (LIZARD) Act of 2025 was introduced April 2 by U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) whose 11th Congressional District encompasses part of the Texas side of the Permian Basin in the Midland-Odessa area.

The bill, cosponsored by Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS), would undo the federal endangered species status of the dunes sagebrush lizard, a species that dwells in the sand dunes of southeast New Mexico and West Texas, amid the nation’s busiest oil and gas fields.

The LIZARD Act was assigned to the House Committee on Natural Resources, where it was awaiting a hearing as of press time.

Advocates for conserving the lizard argued its primary threat lies in the mining for sand used in the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process. Sand, chemicals and water are pumped underground during the process to break up shale rocks and extract oil and gas.

The fossil fuel industry’s use of land in the lizard’s native habitat for a variety of infrastructure such as pipelines and well pads was another threat to the species, conservationists warned, as the development could disturb the shinnery oak plants the lizard relies on to breed and hide from predators.

Those were the reasons given by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in May of last year when the lizard was listed as endangered, a designation that afforded it the highest level of federal protections.

An endangered species listing means the Fish and Wildlife Service believes extinction is imminent, requiring an agency recovery plan for the species and often restricting development on lands the agency believes are needed to restore the species’ numbers.

The alternative “threatened” status means a species is in danger and could warrant an endangered listing in the future.

“Oil and gas development, along with other threats like frac sand mining, continue to contribute to habitat loss and fragmentation, the primary threats to the dunes sagebrush lizard,” read the service’s listing decision published in the Federal Register.

‘Weaponizing’ a lizard

Since the listing, Pfluger and other oil and gas industry supporters have contended the dunes sagebrush lizard was “weaponized” by the administration of former Democratic President Joe Biden.

Current Republican President Donald Trump called last month for his administration to repeal the Endangered Species Act’s definition of “harm,” an action critics said could undue almost all of the critical habitat set aside for listed species.

But Pfluger’s efforts specifically targeted the dunes sagebrush lizard, and rolling back a federal decision he said could have dramatic consequences for the region’s leading industry.

He also said the listing undermined ongoing, voluntary conservation practices engaged in by landowners such as oil and gas companies and agricultural producers in the area.

“This listing, along with many others, was completely misguided and repudiates significant private conservation efforts in West Texas,” Pfluger said in a statement announcing the LIZARD Act.

The Fish and Wildlife Service in its listing decision noted that while voluntary efforts were beneficial, they had not resulted in adequate regrowth of the lizard’s population or restoration of its habitat.

“The conservation efforts in place have not mitigated or ameliorated the threats to the dunes sagebrush lizard such that it does not require the protections of the Act,” read the decision.

Pfluger and Mann also urged the Interior Department – parent agency of the Fish and Wildlife Service – to rescind the November 2022 listing of the lesser prairie chicken.

The grouse species was listed as endangered in the southern segment of its range, which overlaps the lizard’s range in New Mexico and Texas, and as threatened in the northern portion which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas.

“We look forward to working with President Trump and (Interior) Secretary (Doug) Burgum to reverse these ill-informed listings and unleash the American energy dominance 77 million Americans voted for this past November,” Mann said.

Yet that same agenda of boosting American energy development could put the environment and species such as the dunes sagebrush lizard and lesser prairie chicken in danger of dying out, said Jason Rylander, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.

The center filed a petition in March to intervene as a participating witness in a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the federal government, calling on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to overturn the listing.

Rylander said the national nonprofit intended to defend the decision to list the lizard, in hopes of seeing its population restored.

“The dunes sagebrush lizard deserves a chance at survival,” he said. “The tyranny of Trump’s drill-baby-drill agenda is no excuse for an endangered animal to disappear forever.”

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

Numbers

Michael Smith
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Numbers

Our lives are filled with numbers.

Each year we file our income taxes. Now that’s an exercise in numbers to end all numbers games. Pages upon pages of numbers: earned numbers, spent numbers, invested numbers, and saved numbers.

When it is finally prepared, we send it off to the Internal Revenue Service with our Social Security number on it. And the IRS takes all those numbers and puts them into a computer, along with the numbers of thousands and thousands of other people. And to them, we become a number.

The government knows us by our tax number. The state knows us by our driver’s license number. The bank knows us by our account number. And when we retire, we’ll be remembered by our Social Security number. And it goes on and on. In fact, sometimes I wonder if anybody knows us at all without a number!

And that’s why John 10:22-42 is so significant, because it tells us that God knows us. He knows us intimately, in fact, better than we know ourselves. And that’s important to remember. Although the image of sheep and shepherd may be foreign to our experience, the words of John encourage us to pay close attention to a truth that our human hearts long to hear.

Does the Shepherd know you?

There is an old story of a census taker who was making his rounds in the lower East side of New York, who interviewed an Irish woman bending over her washtub. “Lady, I am taking the census. What’s your name? How many children have you?”

She replied, “Well, let me see. My name is Mary. And then there’s Marcia, and Duggie, and Amy, and Patrick, and…”

“Never mind the names,” he broke in, “just give me the numbers.”

She straightened up, hands on hips, and with a twinkle in her eye, said, “I’ll have you know, sir, we ain’t got into numberin’ them yet. We ain’t run out of names!”

The image of God as the Good Shepherd tells us that is the way it is with God. He knows us by name.

So, who needs a Shepherd?

One Sunday morning, following the church service, a layman accosted the pastor and said, “Tom, this church has been insulting me for years, and I did not know it until this week.” The stunned pastor replied, “What on earth do you mean?”

 “Well,” said the layman, every Sunday morning the call to worship in this church ends with the words, ‘We are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.’ And I have heard ministers over the years call the congregation, God’s flock.’

“Then this past week I visited the Chicago stockyards and discovered that sheep about the dumbest animals God ever created. Why, they are so stupid that they even follow one another docilely into the slaughterhouse. Even pigs are smarter than sheep, and I would certainly be angry if my church called me a pig’ every Sunday morning. So, I’m not at all sure I want to come to church and be called a sheep’ any longer – even God’s sheep’.”

The man had a point. But whether we like it or not, that is the language of the Bible: both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament. We are called “God’s sheep.”

The favorite psalm of many people is the 23rd, and it begins by saying, “The Lord is my shepherd…” And if “the Lord is my shepherd,” then I am one of the Lord’s sheep.

Centuries before Christ, the prophet Isaiah said to his people: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

Sheep know their shepherd and their shepherd knows them. Do you know yours?

Have a great weekend!

Short-sighted taxation on oil and gas: a recipe for disaster

Michael Smith
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Short-sighted taxation on oil and gas: a recipe for disaster

Missi Currier

In recent legislative sessions, there has been a push to further tax the oil and gas industry in New Mexico. This approach is not only short-sighted but also detrimental to the state’s economic stability and growth.

The price of oil is notoriously volatile, subject to global market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions. Legislators seem to focus solely on the immediate revenue that can be generated from higher taxes, ignoring the long-term consequences. This myopic view fails to consider the inherent instability of the oil market, which can lead to significant economic disruptions. By not accounting for the cyclical nature of oil prices, policymakers risk creating fiscal policies that are unsustainable in the long run. This approach can result in budget shortfalls during periods of low oil prices, ultimately harming the economy and reducing the effectiveness of public services.

Over the years, New Mexico has developed a more sophisticated approach to managing its oil and gas revenues. By investing in funds designed to smooth out the economic ups and downs, the state has been able to mitigate the impact of price volatility. This strategy is rooted in sound tax policy and progressive philosophies that prioritize long-term stability over short-term gains.

The recent push for the Equalization Act, which aims to impose higher taxes on the oil and gas sector, flies in the face of these established principles. This “fly by night” approach undermines the progress made over years of careful planning and investment. It subjugates the state’s financial health to the whims of the oil market, rather than leveraging well-established financial mechanisms to ensure steady growth.

Further taxing the oil and gas industry in New Mexico is a misguided strategy that overlooks the lessons of the past. Instead of succumbing to the allure of immediate revenue, legislators should focus on maintaining and enhancing the financial structures that have proven effective in stabilizing the state’s economy. Only through thoughtful, long-term planning can New Mexico continue to thrive in the face of global market uncertainties.

Missi Currier President and CEO New Mexico Oil & Gas Association.

Five reasons the Artesia boys’ baseball team reclaimed the District 4-4A title

JT Keith
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Five reasons the Artesia boys’ baseball team reclaimed the District 4-4A title

Five reasons the Artesia boys’ baseball team reclaimed the District 4-4A crown

JT Keith

Artesia Daily Press

jtkeith@elritomedia.com

As the Artesia Bulldogs started the 2025 high school baseball season, they had a new coach and a new approach to the game.

Jackson Bickel said the first challenge he undertook as first-year head coach was changing how his team thought about baseball. He wanted to open the game up to the team at a higher and more complex level while keeping it simple enough to execute the fundamentals.

“We practice adversity constantly so that when those moments hit, they stay calm in the chaos,” Bickel said. “It’s a daily process of mental and physical growth.”

The process paid off as Artesia finished 20-6 with a doubleheader sweep (3-2, 2-0) of the Goddard Rockets on Friday and ended district play at 9-0.

Here are five reasons the Bulldogs won the District 4-4A title.

High expectations

The Bulldogs returned most of the players from a team that went 17-14 overall and 7-2 in the district. That Artesia team played in the state championship last year.

From the start of the 2025 season, Bickel made it known the goal from day one was to be better than last year’s team and to win a state championship.

“Honestly, we never set our sights on a district championship,” Bickel said. “The only thing we’ve discussed since day one is chasing that Blue Trophy.”

Tough schedule

To help establish a championship mindset, the Bulldogs played a challenging 5A pre-district schedule against teams such as Mayfield, Carlsbad and Hobbs at the Las Cruces tournament. The Bulldogs battled the Cleveland Storm, Albuquerque Academy and Rio Rancho.

“Those games forced us to compete at a high level early,” Bickel said. “Those games exposed things we needed to clean up before district. It was exactly what we needed.”

The team came together as one

This is a special group of kids because they’re a team year-round, Bickel said. They play multiple sports together, lift weights together every morning and compete in everything they do. That kind of shared experience builds bonds you can’t coach, he said. “They’ve learned how to navigate the ups and downs of relationships, staying close through it all, and it’s shown on the field.”

Good pitching

Bickel said pitchers Diego Morales, Charlie Campbell and Jack Byers have been outstanding. Pitchers Daleon Pacheco, Jett Whitmire and Brant Usherwood have all logged quality innings, and Artesia has a deep and competitive staff, Bickel said.

Winning the Blue Trophy

Going undefeated in the district was never the goal, Bickel said. The goal has always been to win state. Winning the district, however, is a considerable advantage in seeding.

And the Bulldogs played so well this season they earned the No.1 seed in District 4-4A. Artesia will host a best 2-of-3 series against Bernalillo at 7 p.m. Friday at Brainard Park.

“We have worked extremely hard to put ourselves in this position to have the No. 1 seed,” Bickel said. “It reflects the work these kids have put together all season.”

jtkeith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or an X@JTKEITH1

Artesia Double District 4-4A champs ands runner ups

JT Keith
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Artesia Double District 4-4A champs ands runner ups

Artesia District 4-4A doubles tennis champions and runner ups are Artesia’s Breckyn Miller, on the left, Kirklyn Miller, Adrian Harvey and on the right, Anna Neatherlin. Provided by Artesia tennis team.

Faith and government

Michael Smith
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Faith and government

Cal Thomas

Last week, President Trump announced the establishment of a White House Faith Office. Its purpose, as described in a White House announcement, is to “…empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities.” Don’t they already have access to a higher power?

There is no question that Christians, especially, but also Jews and Muslims have been targets of discrimination and bias. Some have been violent as we’ve seen at several universities that have tolerated, and in some cases encouraged antisemitism. Civil rights and other laws can address those instances.

Persecution comes with faith. Scripture says so. Totalitarian governments recognize only the power of the state.

Politicians have sought for millennia the approval of religious people to sanctify their agendas.

The Emperor Constantine did something similar to what President Trump has done. He legitimized Christianity and claimed to be one, but as Jasmine Alnutt writes for Calvary Chapel.com, “… many historians consider this a mere political conversion, noting that Constantine knew nothing of religion without politics…” Does this sound familiar?

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who will head Trump’s commission on religious liberty, said: “There’s never been a president who has invoked the name of Jesus more than you. There’s never been a president who has said ‘yes, I love Jesus, but I love people of all faiths…’”

Never? Jimmy Carter comes to mind. Carter went to church and taught a Sunday School class. Trump rarely enters a house of worship. George W. Bush was open about his Christian faith. Trump can’t recite a single Bible verse.

Last week during a speech in Michigan in which he touted his accomplishments during his first 100 days in office, Trump said “hell” 21 times. I counted. He said “b…s…” once and frequently uses similar language that most churchgoers find vulgar and offensive. Yet they seem willing to project their own faith on a man whose behavior doesn’t reflect what even nonbelievers think should characterize a person who claims to be a Christian.

Yes, some good can come out of the faith office and some grievances can be addressed, but is it really necessary? Does God need government to defend Himself, or does a too close association with government diminish the power and influence of the church?

As William Bennett has written: “Certainly there can be no question that Constantine was a great blessing to the church. Scarcely in history have we observed such a complete and rapid transformation of a state’s values as the one that occurred in the age of Diocletian to Constantine. In one generation, the church went from suffering its greatest interference to enjoying its greatest patronage.”

It is also clear that Constantine’s marriage of the church and state had detrimental ramifications that would create enormous controversies and problems for the church in future generations, including denominational and political divisions.

Jasmine Alnutt adds: “Although many Christian contemporaries considered Constantine the ‘man of the hour’ whom God had raised up, his conversion was both a blessing and a curse to the Church. As (Bruce) Shelley (author of Church History in Plain Language) puts it, ‘The advantages for the Church were real enough, but there was a price to pay.’ One historian noted that Constantine ‘proceeded to create the conditions we call ‘state church’ and bequeathed the ideal to Christians for over a thousand years.’”

A picture at the White House ceremony establishing the Faith Office shows a man kneeling before President Trump. It is a prayer practice known to Christians, but an unbeliever might think it appears the man is bowing down to a king. It is not a good look. Neither is the Faith Office.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).

Softball tournaments turned the season around for the Artesia Lady ‘Dogs

JT Keith
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Softball tournaments turned the season around for the Artesia Lady ‘Dogs

JT Keith

Artesia Daily Press

jtkeith@elritomedia.com

It had to be a great feeling for the Artesia Lady Bulldogs’ nine senior softball players when the last out was recorded against the Portales Lady Rams on May 1.

Artesia’s 12-0 win gave the Lady ‘Dogs a 19-7 overall record, an 8-1 district record, and the District 4-4A crown – a title they had been determined to regain since losing it last year to Lovington.

The district championship was coach Sandra Pulido’s seventh since 2015. And one of the challenges she faced heading into the 2025 season was the loss of 10 seniors from last year’s team.

Pulido said 2025 figured to be a rebuilding year with so many players moving up within the program.

“It is a testament to our staff and how much our junior varsity program contributes to the growth and success at the varsity level,” Pulido said.

Pulido said most of the current seniors have been playing since they were young but didn’t have much experience at the varsity level. She said they learned quickly during the March 7-8 Cleveland Invitational Tournament in Albuquerque where they lost three of four games.

“When we came back we adjusted our practice plans to put more pressure on the girls and narrow our focus each day,” she said. “I believe it was an eye-opening experience for us.”

Another reason for the season’s success, the coach said, was a combination of circumstances, including traveling to tournaments and staying overnight, that allowed the team to bond and make memories with each other.

“If I had to choose a specific time,” Pulido said, “I would say I noticed it during our tournament (Artesia Invitational). The girls came together as a team during that time.”

Pulido said she was excited and proud to win her seventh title and said the team has come a long way since the season started in March.

“I truly enjoy the process, and when it clicks or they implement what we’ve been working on it is exciting,” she said. “Over the last few years, our district has made us compete more, and losing district to Lovington last season after losing to them in the semifinal game at state in 2023 was a feeling we didn’t want to have again.”

Artesia is the No. 2 seed behind Silver heading into the state tournament. Pulido said she is proud of how far her team has come, and it does not matter where the team is seeded in the state playoffs.

“Moving forward, the number before our name doesn’t matter until the end,” she said. “It just determines what side of the bracket we fall on. It’s the postseason and teams will do their best, especially when they face Artesia.

Artesia will host Deming in a 10 a.m. game Saturday at the Mack Chase Sports Complex.

jtkeith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X@JTKEITH1

Women’s Health Clinic to open May 12

Michael Smith
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Women’s Health Clinic to open May 12

Staff reports

Artesia General Hospital is expanding its women’s healthcare services with the opening of the Vibrant Women’s Health Clinic, a new facility dedicated to comprehensive women’s services.

The clinic is set to open on Monday, May 12, and will serve patients from Artesia, Carlsbad, Roswell, and surrounding areas.

Led by Dr. Scott Beard, MD, FACOG, FPMRS, and Laurie Crockett, FNP, the clinic will offer a services, including well-woman exams, family planning, prenatal and postpartum care, menopause support and advanced gynecologic evaluations.

Beard is a board-certified OB/GYN and fellowship-trained urogynecologist. He is dual certified in obstetrics/gynecology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.

Laurie Crockett, FNP, is a nurse practitioner with a background in women’s health.

“Our goal with the Vibrant Women’s Health Clinic is to create a space where women feel seen, heard, and supported,” said Dr. Joe Salgado, CEO of Artesia General Hospital. “With Dr. Beard and Laurie Crockett at the helm, patients can expect exceptional care that’s both compassionate and accessible.”

The opening of the Vibrant Women’s Health Clinic is part of AGH’s ongoing investment in expanding local healthcare access and ensuring that women in rural communities don’t have to travel far for quality, specialized care.

Appointments are now being accepted. To schedule a visit or learn more, patients can call 575-748-736-8394 or visit www.artesiageneral.com.

Happy Mother’s Day

Michael Smith
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Happy Mother’s Day

While Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem He turned aside with His disciples.  It appears that the primary purpose was to prepare them for what was going to happen to Jesus when they arrived at their destination.  Their stay was probably at the home of one of the followers of Jesus.  In Matthew 20:17-19 Jesus makes very clear what was going to happen at Jerusalem.  “…the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests …they shall condemn him to death, …And shall deliver him to the Gentiles…to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”  After presenting this to His disciples, one of the most inappropriate requests was made to Jesus by the mother of James and John.  It is worthy to note that Jesus does not condemn her request.  In honor of mothers let’s investigate the mother of the sons of Zebedee and her prayer for her children.

She was a remarkable woman.  She is identified in Matthew 20:20 simply as the “mother of the sons of Zebedee.”  From an examination of the gospels we know that her name is Salome (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40).  We don’t know for sure, but it appears that at this time she was a widow.  Some think that she was the sister of Joseph the husband of Mary.  Others say that she was Mary’s sister.  If either case was true, then Salome was Jesus’ aunt and her sons His cousins.  We also want to note that she was a follower of Jesus.  It was no accident that she was present at this time.  She was a part of a group of ladies that followed Jesus and His disciples ministering to their needs (Mark 15:40-41).  So not only her sons were followers of Jesus, but so was their mother.  In fact, she followed Jesus all the way to His crucifixion on the cross and was in the group of women that discovered the empty tomb the day of His resurrection (Mark 16:1).

With these things in mind let’s look at the request she made of Jesus.  Notice how she and her sons approached Jesus. Salome and her sons came worshiping Jesus.  They knelt  or lay prostrate before Jesus.   “And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom (Matthew 20:21).”  We have to go back to Matthew 19:28 to understand the foundation of her request.  There Jesus speaks of the future kingdom when the twelve apostles would sit as judges over the tribes of Israel.  As a loving mother she sought the advancement of her two sons.   Salome’s request was bold, but ignorant.  Jesus gives her and her boys a mild rebuke.  “Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. (Matthew 20:22).”  Often in our prayers  we ask for things ignorantly.  She was ignorant of what she was asking,  she was ignorant of the nature of His kingdom, and she was ignorant of the ultimate consequences of her request.  Her intentions were good,  but the timing was wrong, the location was wrong, and it resulted in a conflict between her boys and the other ten disciples.

Jesus warned Salome and her sons, “Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with… (Matthew 20:23).”   What would she and they experience because of their commitment to Christ?  Salome saw the agony of Jesus dying on the cross with His mother Mary by her side.  Perhaps she was alive still when her own son James became the first of the apostles to be martyred, we don’t know.  But for sure her sons experienced the consequences of following Jesus in persecution, imprisonment, exile, and death.  Although John probably lived to die of natural causes in old age, he still suffered greatly for the cause of Christ.

This mother was a great mother.  Her faith in Christ was unshakable.  The desire for her children concerning the kingdom is admirable.  How many mother’s today would desire for their sons and daughters to be so close to Jesus that they would experience persecution and suffering for His name?  May God grant every Christian mother to be a Salome for her children.  May we bless all mother’s today that nurture and train up sons and daughters to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday.   Worship at 10:50 A.M.  We are located at 711 West Washington Ave.  Check our sermon videos on Youtube @ricksmith2541.  Send comments and prayer requests to prayerlinecmbc@gmail.com.

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