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Don’t be afraid

While watching the Redskins (Oh, I mean “The Commanders”) game over the weekend, I noticed a lot of the commercials seem to want to scare you into buying their product. At the very end of the commercials, fear seems to be the overriding motivation of why you should buy their product. I counted five pharmaceutical commercials, each warning us that if we didn’t take their shots, use their pills or apply their ointment, we might never be cured of the sickness that was coming our way. In another commercial advertising a different product, one couple warned us if we didn’t ...

Challenging times to speak God’s truth to ourselves

The Bible encourages Christians to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The verse’s context is spiritual maturity and church unity (vv. 12-15), and many Christians apply its truth in counseling others. They share what they’ve learned from the Bible, and what is beneficial to hearers to build them up “according to their needs” (Ephesians 4:29). While it’s true we are to teach and disciple one another with truth in love, we first need to lovingly but firmly speak the life-changing truth of Scripture into our own lives and then act on it. It’s an authentic way to ...

Local church briefs

Trombone Concert HOWARD — Howard United Methodist Church will host the Penn State Trombones in a mini-concert at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, and on Sunday, Feb. 16. The Penn State musical students will be playing during the church service. Come hear the students playing and drop a few dollars into their trombone case to encourage them and to help with their expenses. Grief Support LOCK HAVEN — Community Grief Support is a new opportunity for men and women to gather and seek help together. The next meeting will be on Jan. 28. The group will meet the second and fourth Tuesday of ...

‘Peace, Peace,’ when there is no peace

I have been doing my quiet time in the book of Jeremiah, intentionally going slow to meditate on and ponder the words of this ancient Old Testament prophet. Although it is certainly a heavy read and often not so encouraging; he is even referred to as “the weeping prophet.” I can’t help but think how similar the days he prophesied are to today. Just as he is calling God’s people back to faithfulness, he describes how many claim “Peace, peace, when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). Have you ever noticed how the subject of peace is in vogue, in-style today? There are ...

Local church briefs

Spaghetti Dinner MILL HALL — The Sons of Italy will be hosting a fundraising dinner to help the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall with their winter heating expenses. The spaghetti dinner will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 4-6 p.m., at the Sons of Italy, 1 N. Henderson St., Lock Haven. The meal includes spaghetti and meatballs, bread and dessert for $10. Tickets are required to obtain a meal. Grief Support LOCK HAVEN — Community Grief Support is a new opportunity for men and women to gather and seek help together. The next meeting will be on Jan. 28. ...

Bejeweled crown stolen from Virgin Mary statue at Philadelphia church

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A man broke into a Philadelphia church and stole a 125-year-old bejeweled crown from atop a marble statue of the Virgin Mary, city police said Monday. The burglary at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church occurred around 1:10 a.m. Saturday when the thief smashed through a stained-glass window, police said. The break-in was captured on surveillance video that police released Monday. The man then climbed into the upper nave of the church and went straight to the statue and crown, the church’s archivist, Anne Kirkwood, told The Philadelphia ...