GRACE. Within the nature of every person is the mindset that living a "good life" is what will make them acceptable before God. This was certainly true of the Israelites who believed that obedience to God's Law is what made them acceptable to Him. However, God never intended the Law to mark the path to acceptance. God gave the Law to shine light on the reality of one's life. A mirror in a dark room reveals nothing. Turn on the light and the filth on our face is obvious. A mirror doesn't put the dirt on our face. And we cannot wash in a mirror. But the mirror prompts us to seek the cleansing water. Likewise, the Law does not make us sinful - it only reveals the "filth" of our utter sinfulness in order to lead us to Jesus who alone can cleanse. Changing the metaphor, we can also look at the Law as an abusive husband. One little slip, and he slaps you around. Only total submission and absolute obedience satisfies. Anything less and he beats you and belittles you. Yet you stay married to Law, but only because you think there's no other option. There's no joy, no love. You try your best to please but there's never any love shown back. Life is hopeless, pointless, worthless. However, one day Law dies. You're set free. And you meet the most wonderful "man" in all the world and remarry. His name is Grace. Grace loves you in return even though you're not perfect. Grace understands your failures. Grace brings true love and joy to your life. And the life you now live finds you doing all the nice and good and loving things you did while married to Law, but now you don't do them out of fear of failure or fear of being abused. Now you do those things out of love for Grace who loves you in return and gives himself to you. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Thank you, Lord, that your forgiveness is all of grace and nothing of ourselves!

Harry and Willardene Purdum were expecting their daughter, Ellen Bateman, to arrive on Aug. 4th, as she returned the family Suburban that had been on loan to other family members for the past two years. But the surprise was that accompanying Ellen was granddaughter Jessica Scott with sons Ezra and Charlie James from Port Orchard, WA, having recently moved there from Guam. Cameron Scott is on-board ship at the Kitsnap Naval Base. After staying the afternoon and over night, Harry and Harry C. took Ellen, Jessica, Ezra and Charlie James to Liberal to meet Dewey Bateman. There they transferred the family to Dewey’s truck for the ride back to Lubbock, TX. Jessica and the boys are staying in Lubbock for a few days so other family members may visit with the little fellows. Charlie was born in Guam in Dec. 2019, so the family has only seen him on Facebook and Skype. The Purdums and other family and friends are very happy to have the Scotts back in the USA.

Conflict is a part of our daily lives. We may have conflict with someone with differing political views. Or, we might have conflict with someone at work, or possibly with family members. Some people avoid conflict while others may thrive on it.

Jean Saum: “Don and I had the pleasure this week of presenting to the Rooks County Historical Society Museum a classic horse saddle and cowboy boots belonging to Don’s grandfather, H. C. Sweet. The items were purchased by “Colonel” Sweet in 1941.

Dan and Michele Melton, Walton, spent part of the weekend with Michele’s family at a birthday gathering on Saturday, August 1, at Lenora for Michele’s cousin, Jim Goeken’s, birthday. Dan spent Saturday night with his folks. He and Michele attended church at Prairie View and returned to have dinner with Meltons. Michele reported Hillsboro schools will be opening September 9th.

Several People: “The weather this week is ideal Fair weather!” Rooks County Fair Board member Leonard Bristow: “We have a nice turnout of animals at this year’s 4-H Fair.” Raven Long: “We have an alphabet theme for our 4-H animals every year and this year we went with the letter M. Our chickens’ names are Mike D., Martha (Stewart), Meredith (Grey) and Miley (Cyrus).” holds, median home value and average property tax rate to calculate a per capita property tax collected for each county.

JULY 25, 2020 Scott and Kalee Voss of Overland Park are happy to announce the birth of their first child. Luke Andrew Voss was born on July 25, 2020, at KU Medical Center in Kansas City.