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Answering Bible Questions with Bible Answers

Question: Why did Jesus come to this earth?
Answer: According to the Bible, Jesus came to this earth to save sinners. Jesus said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” One of the names of Jesus is “the Son of Man” so this verse is referring to Jesus coming for the purpose of saving everyone who is lost. Why is this so important? Because all of us are sinners and are lost in our sins. Romans 3:23. Without Jesus, everybody would still be lost. This is why we celebrate Christmas and Christ’s arrival as a baby born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2. Luke 2:10-12. Even though Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago, because He’s God and eternal, the sacrifice He made back then still has the same power today. Hebrews 13:8. The birth of Jesus Christ shows with crystal clear clarity how much God loves people. John 3:16. Romans 5:8. Knowing that our Creator and our God who has unimaginable and limitless power loves and cares for even the poorest of mankind is astounding and should create awe and joy in our hearts. 1 John 3:1. God is not a distant, impersonal God, no, on the contrary, He desires to be very close and personal with all His people. Another name of Jesus is Emmanuel which means, “God with us”. Matthew 1:23. This is all part of why Jesus came to this earth, to reveal God the Father to all people and let them know that He loves them and wants to save them from their sins. John 14:9-11. Jesus wants to save you from your sins, just pray and ask Jesus to come into your life and save you from all the bad things you’ve done, all the sins you’ve committed. Romans 10:9-13. It only takes one sin to make you a sinner, and Jesus came to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15. Jesus left His throne in heaven and put on human flesh so that He could save all humans. As you celebrate Christmas this week, don’t forget the real reason we celebrate, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Scout Me In!

Boy Scout Troop 72 offers free membership to the next 20 youths who join in 2024. This offer is for boys aged 11-17.
Adult volunteer membership is half-priced at $30 for the remainder of the year.
All are welcome to stop in at the regular meetings, which are held every Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. at VFW Post 3966, Devine.
For more information, contact Kenneth M. at 210-439-6327 or email devinetroop072@gmail.com.

Medina County Jr. Livestock showers selling tickets

The Medina County Jr. Livestock Show will have a drawing where prizes include a 2025 Kawasaki Mule SX and cash prizes on Jan. 25, 2025.
The Kawasaki Mule has a value of $8,799.00. The second and third place prizes are gift cards worth $750 and $250.
Participants do not need to be present at the drawing to win.
Winner of the grand prize are responsible for additional fees. See local students who have tickets for sale.

Shooting Star Museum

Toy and Antique Quilt Show this month

The Shooting Star Museum will hold a toy and antique quilt show from 1 to 5 pm on December 28 and 29.
Looking for a unique Christmas gift, shop our gift shop for jewelry (50% off including pearls) and quilts for a crib to a queen sized bed.
For information call (210) 386-6038.

LOOKING FOR A FIGHT

As I write this Tale the calendar says it is mid-December which means in our little neck of the woods in La Brasada, the whitetail breeding season is heating up. No matter the weather conditions, that pattern seems to be very consistent. I reckon Mother Nature has “seen it all” in terms of rain and temperature over the years and the rutting pattern has been consistent, at least for the 6+ decades I have tried to pay attention to it.
Taking advantage of the wind, I sat in a spot at our Family Place where the animals could easily hear my grunt call. I did not use any horns on this setting for the simple reason of NOT picking them up from the bed of my truck. Senility Reigns Once Again In My World!
After making a few “noises” I set back and waited to see what might happen. After a spell out came a 2.5-year-old that was sure enough walking stiff legged and looking to see what all the commotion was about. While a decent up and comer, this young fellow was in NO Danger from me or my trusty firearm. He passed within 25 yards of me, fully focused on finding the action associated with such a sound that I had made.
I doubt that youngster would understand that the animal I was seeking was at least twice his age and size from an antler development perspective. My guess is that he was hoping to “steal” a receptive Lady away from another male, or at least try and get into the chasing around that accompanies deer behavior during this time of year.

Continue reading “LOOKING FOR A FIGHT”

Former DISD student Harper Parson earns highest honor degree achievable in National FFA, the American FFA Degree

Devine High School FFA Advisors Adrianna Segura and Chad Saunders congratulate Harper Parson on his American FFA Degree.

Harper C. Parson, class of 2023 Devine High School Salutatorian is the first Devine FFA member in over a decade to earn the coveted American FFA Degree; Harper has set a new standard of excellence within his chapter and community obtaining the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization.
The gold standard. The American FFA Degree shows an FFA member’s dedication to his or her chapter and state FFA association. It demonstrates the effort FFA members apply toward their supervised agricultural experience and the outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited through their FFA career. American FFA Degree recipients show promise for the future and have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence.
Harper is currently a member of Texas A&M University class of 2027. He is pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree in Animal Science with a minor in Agricultural Economics and Political Science with the ultimate goal of becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. While attending college he competes with Fightin’ Texas Aggies Meat Judging Team ‘25 (FTAMJ ‘25), is a TAMU Animal Science Ambassador and was recently named the…

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Silent Night, Hold on Tight

 “The Herdmans moved from grade to grade through the Woodrow Wilson School like those South American fish that strip your bones clean in three minutes flat…which was just about what they did to one teacher after another.” book quote

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

 I like Christmas movies (and books).  There are few holiday traditions more enjoyable (after ingesting gluttonous portions of turkey, or ham, with all the trimmings, including fudge), than plopping the family down on the couch (surrounded by dogs) and watching a good Christmas movie.  I’ve written about Christmas movies before.  Older movies are the best.  Family favorites include the following:  White Christmas (1954 – starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, & Vera Ellen – this is the classic Christmas movie), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946 – starring Jimmy Stewart & Donna Reed – Frank Capra’s gem - one of the greatest films of all time), A Christmas Story (2012 – with Peter Billingsly as nine-year-old BB gun loving Ralphie), Home Alone (1990 – with Macauly Culkin defending his suburban home from nincompoop burglars), Elf (2003 – featuring hilarious Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf), Die Hard (1988 – a wonderful Bruce Willis feel-good movie), and Christmas Vacation (1989 – with Chevy Chase leading the side-splitting fun).  All of these movies I would include on my must-see holiday playlist.  
 This week I have a new movie to add to our list – The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  This film is the latest project from Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen TV series.  The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is based on the brilliantly written book of the same name by Barbara Robinson.  I think this movie is destined to become a classic.  Another movie was made in 1983 (same title), but this one (the 2024 version) is much better.  It is playing in theaters now – go see it!
 The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever tells the gut-busting story of the Herdmans (“the worst kids in the history of the world”) and their involvement in their town’s annual celebrated Christmas pageant.   
 The story is told through the narration of young Beth Bradley.  Beth’s mother Grace is drafted to direct the pageant after an unfortunate debilitating accident lands the busybody current director in the hospital with two broken legs.  Grace has big shoes to fill, which is even more trying because this year’s performance marks the much-anticipated pageant’s 75th anniversary.  Matters soon become complicated by the arrival of the dreaded Herdmans.
 The Herdmans are feral children who are used to terrorizing the town.  With absent parents, they roam the streets and schoolyard menacing all they meet.  They lie and steal and talk dirty and hit little kids and start fires.  They are just so awful Beth says that “you could hardly believe they were real – six skinny, stringy-haired kids all alike except for being different sizes and having different black-and-blue places where they had clonked each other.”  
 After a careless reference by Beth’s younger brother Charlie about all of the delicious treats available at the church for free, the Herdmans drop in one Sunday to graze, searching for snacks.        Coincidentally, their arrival corresponds with tryouts for the annual Christmas pageant.  Imogene Herdman, the cigar-smoking oldest sister of the family, decides that she wants to play the part of Jesus’ mother Mary, and the pageant slides downhill from there.  “I’ve got the baby here,” Imogene barks at the Wise Men.  “Don’t touch him!  I named him Jesus.”
 With meddling neighborhood moms stoking revolt behind the scenes, and the cantankerous Herdmans front and center, the story rolls on with hilarity.  
 The movie does a very good job of illuminating the true message of Christmas without being too “churchy.”  The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.  And that’s the whole point.  As Grace tells Beth, “Jesus was born for the Herdmans as much as He was for us.”  
 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a solidly entertaining movie that deserves a place in the holiday movie classics hall of fame.  I recommend you drag your family out of the house and go see it.  Merry Christmas!

© 2024 Jody Dyer
typewriterweekly.com

Arabians beat Carrizo Springs, Pleasanton

Arabian Dani Gutierrez playing defense

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The Arabians picked up a couple of District 27-4A victories last week to improve to 3-0 in the first round of action. They defeated Carrizo Springs 57-36 on Tuesday before downing Pleasanton 67-49 last Friday.
Led by Natalie Valle’s 25 points, including hitting all five of Devine’s successful three-pointer attempts, the Arabians defeated Carrizo Springs in the first official game on Sessions Court inside the DSAC on December 17.
Devine continued building upon an early 17-7 lead as they smacked the Cats for 17 additional hair-raising points in the second quarter to take a 34-13 lead into the break.
Valle’s first basket was a two-point shot then nailed three threes to give her 11 first-quarter points. She also made a shot beyond the arc in the second and fourth quarter.
Kenadi Marek was solid as well as she scored 8 of her 11 points in the middle two periods while Maddie DuBose chipped in 8 points.
Kyle Monreal scored all of her 6 points in the first half, Maddie De La Garza put in her 4 points in the fourth quarter, and recently named TABC All-State Volleyball player Airyanna Rodriguez hit 75% from the charity stripe for her 3 points.
Oakley Malone, Lynn Lawler, Jilliyn Guajardo, Dani Gutierrez, and Kyrie DuBose also contributed in their team’s 19-point lopsided victory.
Stats were not available for the Arabian’s 18-point win in the Pleasanton game.