Lifestyle

CHURCH SCHEDULES

SUNDAY: Sunday School 9 a.m.; Worship 10 a.m.; Evening 7 p.m. Wednesday: Teens 5 p.m.; Young Explorers 6:30 p.m.

Prairie Notebook

Sadly, this is the last entry for the Prairie Notebook journal for the American-News in Monte. As a freelance writer, I’ve got to focus writing within markets that will at least provide a little pocket change for the effort on my end as well as the news, information and stories people hopefully enjoy reading on their end.

Prairie Notebook

Looking up into the lofty, leafless crowns of our city trees, have you noticed the round clumps of leaves gathered together in the forks of some of the branches? You might think they were remnants of bird nests but since birds don’t use leaves to construct there nests - what are they?

News from Milan

I keep checking the weather forecast for next week and can’t decide to ride out whatever comes or get in the car and head south. If you don’t see me for a couple of weeks, you know I booked out.

CherryRoad owner elected to NNA board

Jeremy Gulban, owner of CherryRoad Media group of newspapers, was elected in October to a two-year term on the board of the National Newspaper Association. Gulban has over the last two years purchased and started newspapers across the nation and now owns more than 70 papers.

Live Well, Age Wisely:

Prairie Five Community Action has wonderful options to help fill any holes in your holiday shopping list! Give the gift of safety with a punch card or monthly pass for our RIDES transportation system. Winter weather driving can be so dangerous and even going out to warm up the car and scrape the windows gets tedious.

CHURCH SCHEDULES

Assembly of God, Clarkfield SUNDAY: Sunday School 9 a.m.; Worship 10 a.m.; Evening 7 p.m. Wednesday: Teens 5 p.m.; Young Explorers 6:30 p.m.

Love is more than an emotion or feeling

When I was about seven, I was invited to a friend’s birthday. For his gift, my mom showed me two choices; a Hot Wheels matchbox car (super cool), or a card game (super lame). She told me to choose one for him, and said I could keep the other. Of course, being a selfish seven year old I chose the card game for my friend. Though I can sheepishly laugh about that self centered decision now, it contrasts starkly to God’s approach to gift giving. You see, in sending Jesus to live among us, he sent his very best; There was no holding back…. because he loved us. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 The “Why” of his gift to us is so important to understand: For God so loved…it led to his unselfish action on our behalf: that he gave… Love is so much more than an emotion, or feeling. In spite of what many think, it’s not something we fall “in” or “out” of either. My favorite Chip Ingram quote is: “Love is not a feeling; Love is giving someone what they need most, when they deserve it least, at great personal cost to yourself” Wow. Isn’t that exactly what God did in sending his Son, knowing that someday Jesus would pay the price for our sin, so our relationship with our Heavenly Father could be restored? We didn’t deserve what God did, but we certainly needed it! How wonderful to know what motivated God’s actions towards us was his love for us.