Opinion

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Home Country

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GUEST COLUMNIST Bob and Carol Burchell pulled into their driveway during the snowstorm, and were surprised to see their daughter, Katie, along with her boyfriend, Randy Jones, sitting on the porch swing, wrapped in a blanket. Both were shivering and smiling.

Land Commissioner blasts Biden Energy Department for Liquid Natural Gas export moratorium

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A USTIN— Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. sent the Department of Energy a letter regarding the recent decision to pause new approvals of liquid natural gas (LNG) exports. She outlined her grave concerns, such as the negative impact it will have on public education funding in Texas, harm to the environment by increasing foreign dependence on less clean energy sources, and the inevitable enrichment of countries involved in aggressive actions against Israel and Ukraine.
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From the Pulpit: How do you feel God’s pleasure?

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We can sometimes fail to distinguish between apathy toward God and apathy toward things associated with God. For example, a person may feel unmotivated to participate in worship or Bible study, and may incorrectly conclude that she no longer has a heart for God. This is like saying a person who no longer enjoys sushi has abandoned all desire for food. We fall into such fallacies because we assume God is only accessible through certain activities—things our traditions have labeled “spiritual.” Very often these activities are rich and transformative, but we must remember that they are merely vehicles for communing with God—they are not God himself. In a certain season, if these “spiritual” practices do not help you connect with the Lord, if you find no joy in them over time, wisdom says to seek him a different way.
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Balancing the Books

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Every year about this time my wife and I close out our books for the year. There are usually papers scattered all over and we are busy helping each other to get everything added up. I always hold my breath to see if we have given enough to the Lord. It is our goal, or we try to give at least a tenth of our income. (Psalm 76:11). Several years ago, we were really busy and I didn’t watch our giving and when we totaled our giving we found out we had given very little that year. I felt so ashamed, and I proposed in my heart I didn’t want that to happen again. God has been so good to us, and we want to thank Him and honor Him with our giving. It could even be a way of saying thanks.