Susan D. McFarland Rooks County Museum Coordinator 785-425-7217 The name “Benedict” may sound familiar to readers of this column.

“Listen to your father, who gave you life.” (Proverbs 23:22) This was an appropriate verse for a Father’s Day Sunday. As parents of children, we exhort our children to listen to our words. And as father’s, we hope that our words and actions will be a legacy that our children can follow and appreciate

BORN AGAIN. It's understandable. Some people, including wellknown public atheists, don't disguise their mockery of Christianity. Admittedly, there's no shortage of those who claim to be Christians acting as if they're more related to Satan than to God. Despite the so-called "negative press" toward "born-again Christians," the Bible does teach the necessity of a new birth for eternal life. Probably the most familiar example was actually spoken by the Lord Jesus when He was talking to Nicodemus. Jesus told him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). It would seem that anything coming from the eternal Son of God would be pretty authoritative and reliable. Just saying. We also see the Apostle Peter attributing to God the Father the same essential truth, saying, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Peter exhorts young Christians, saying, "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). The verb "desire" is a command. A more accurate translation would be something like, "Be continually desiring the pure milk of the word" (i.e. the Word of God). Babies don't grow without milk. And newborn spiritual babies (Christians) must also take in God's milk if they are going to grow unto spiritual maturity. The Apostle John also touches on this issue, saying, "We know that whoever is born of God does not (continually) sin; but he who has been born of God keeps (or guards) himself" (1 John 5:18). God has given us His Word to feed those born of Him so that He can strengthen them to resist sin and Satan. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matt. 5:6). May God give true Christians the grace to live righteously!

When I was a little girl, people used to talk about “breaking a hip” in the same hushed tones used to discuss cancers. It meant falling and breaking a bone was every bit as catastrophic to our health as cancer was at the time. They were each considered a death sentence. The treatment options weren’t as good as they are now. When people would fall and fracture, their life expectancy would drop off quickly, as they were less likely to be able to care for themselves. We are fortunate that today we have many medications that can prevent our bones from breaking if we do fall. And we have much more help available in our homes with home health services after our falls too. So falling and breaking a hip or your pelvis isn’t the death sentence it once was. But fracture can impact our ability to care for ourselves and stay in our homes. We have the benefit in our first world culture, of having medications and screening for our bone density. This allows people who are post-menopausal or aging to have every confidence that they will be able to avoid fracture in their future.

THE FAMILY OF JOAN BALDERSTON gathered at her home in Stockton on Saturday, June 4, to celebrate her 90th birthday, which was June 6. Those able to attend were, from left: Nicole Balderston, Andrea Niermeier, Millie Niermeier, J.D. Niermeier, Adline Niermeier, Bow (the rooster), Joan Balderston, Andy Niermeier, Ally Balderston, Deb Niermeier, Austen Niermeier, Kathy Balderston, Bill Balderston, Becky Balderston and Roger Young. Besides enjoying good food and conversation, everyone painted individual quilt squares which will be used in a memory quilt for Joan. A Mexican Train Dominoes Tournament was also part of the celebration with Joan’s granddaughter, Allison, the winner. (Courtesy photos)

Thank you to everyone who remembered me on my 85th birthday with cards, calls, or flowers. Your kind gestures helped make my day a memorable one. It was also great having my family home to celebrate the occasion. You are all very special to me! Darrell “Dee” Latham

Susan D. McFarland Rooks County Museum Coordinator 785-425-7217 George Washington Graves Co.

YOUTH HAD FUN LEARNING TO BUILD a rocket at Rocketry Day Camp held on May 15 at the Rooks County Fairgrounds, in the Harding Hall 4-H Building. Jeff, Jamie, and Lacey Keller were so much appreciated for sharing their expertise with the youth.

Several Kansas FFA members who will be attending the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) this summer in Washington, D.C., received scholarship awards at the 94th Kansas FFA Convention, June 1–3, 2022, on the Kansas State University campus. The scholarships were provided through donations from FFA alumni and from the Lehning family, the Casten family, Rick Malir and Bonnie Coley-Malir.

Hello, Friends! In times such as we are living in now, we face first hand the pressures of the pandemic, political and social division, war, and now runaway inflation. These are all big stressors, and leave us feeling out of sorts with our own species of mankind.