Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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It was a year many of us will remember for all the wrong reasons. Never has there been so much change in so little time. The coronavirus took us all by surprise, never realizing how it would affect our lives. How could we have expected everyone to wear face masks and asking those close to us to stay away (well, at least six feet). Or the stock market to reach new records every day of the week the last week of a year in which we hit over-the-top levels of unemployment and spent trillions of dollars we didn’t have to keep the economy from s...
For the past couple of weeks there have been "dense fog" alerts on my phone's weather app. With that in mind, each morning I've looked out the window of my home to see if it's foggy or clear. Although many mornings have been clear, there have been a few with pretty thick fog for our area. As we look back on this past year it may feel like we've been living in a "fog" since the first changes happened due to covid-19. As many medical experts shared their insights concerning the pandemic, after awhile we probably all thought the same thing; they...
It’s 2021, and with 2020 in the rear view mirror, let’s all hope these vaccines, our social distancing, and our personal protective measures help eradicate this pandemic in the New Year. As we look back upon some of the heroes from 2020, I can’t help but recognize the work of the California Farmworker Foundation and their executive director, Hernan Hernandez, who has been working most of the year out of the spotlight making sure his farmworkers are protected and that the farmers have a healthy workforce. Were it not for the hard work of our f...
After a tumultuous year, we as a community will hopefully get to relax and enjoy Christmas with our loved ones. During this Christmas season, I am thankful for the opportunity to reflect and contemplate about the negative and positive aspects of this year. Although communities in Kern County are not holding large gatherings with friends and family members, we are still finding ways to make adjustments to enjoy this annual holiday. Whether it is reading a new book, singing Christmas carols, driving around your neighborhood to enjoy the shining...
4 was both our worst and best year ever for Truth Church! Let’s not focus on the worst. Let’s review the best. This year, we purchased and moved into our very own building. Shutting down provided us many unique opportunities to reach outside of our walls such as learning how to live stream and have outside services and be a beacon of light to those in darkness and distress. In addition, we were able to partner with the CAPK Youth Center, the food bank, and the blood bank to help our com...
After a tumultuous year, we as a community will hopefully get to relax and enjoy Christmas with our loved ones. During this Christmas season, I am thankful for the opportunity to reflect and contemplate about the negative and positive aspects of this year. Although communities in Kern County are not holding large gatherings with friends and family members, we are still finding ways to make adjustments to enjoy this annual holiday. Whether it is reading a new book, singing Christmas carols, driving around your neighborhood to enjoy the shining...
If you have ever watched a documentary about wild life on the Discovery Channel you would have seen the hunting habits of the predators in the wild. When the predator sees his/her prey, they watch, they wait and then at the exact perfect time they attack. The predator does not attack the strongest of the herd, nor does the predator attack the herd as a whole. The predator will wait for the young, an injured, or one of the herd to wander off and isolate themselves from the herd. The predator...
Winter is coming, and I’m not just quoting my current favorite series. With winter and series binging comes the long-awaited Christmas break. Last year at this time, parents would be shopping for their children, trying to find the perfect holiday program attire. Teachers would be working tirelessly to fit in as many festive lesson plans as possible. College students would be solidifying winter recess plans; a ski trip with friends or family bonding. Seeing that Cal State Bakersfield will be o...
District 4, we now have a vaccine that offers us hope that we can finally begin to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, but we still have a stay-at-home order we need to follow, at least for a while, until the vaccine starts to make a difference. At the beginning of this month, Acting State Public Health Director Erica S. Pan announced a Regional Stay-at-Home Order that supersedes the state’s tier based “Blueprint for a Safer Economy.” In an effort to reduce the rise of test positivity rate and hospitalizations, Gov. Gavin Newso...
We sing the song To be Like Jesus but it’s not easy sometimes. God is working in our lives and using circumstances to conform us into the image of Christ. It does not happen all at once. Growing into conformity can be rough. It’s not easy being like Jesus. It’s not easy being like Jesus, he was a servant. Matthew 20:28 said he came to minister and to give his life for many. The Bible says He took up him the form of a servant. Christ said I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. W...
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 How does a person live a sacrificial life? It is rather simple to live a minimum life. We give the minimum to God and to our families. When you analyze your spiritual life you might at admit that you are only surviving spiritually. You can look at your position as a spouse or parent and admit that you are doing the absolute minimum for your loved ones — no s...
Here comes the bride, all dressed and white … Congratulations to Santiago and Kristy! At their wedding, I told them, “You’ve actually made my year!” It really was a very beautiful day. In the midst of hate and chaos, their wedding demonstrated a beautiful love and sense of order that I believe God was well pleased. While things may crumble all around us, the love of God still builds and rises in the midst. Many people will remember all of the negativity and ugliness of 2020. However, Santiag...
And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5 What a peculiar statement by Abraham! Here he is about to sacrifice his only son on the Altar of God, and he calls it worship! When the story is examined further and thought thoroughly the statement and proclamation of worship makes perfect sense. For in this event in the lives of Abraham and Isaac we find a perfect definition of what is true Bib...
If faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17); why are only a few churches overflowing? I understand the regulations of the pandemic but pre-pandemic. Why does coming to church at times feel like a chore? The Bible tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), which brings us to realize that faith is a big deal. Faith is such a big deal that it is required for salvation. We are saved by grace, which is a gift from God. We receive this gift...
Recently the City of McFarland opened a new animal shelter with 15-20 kennels. The facility is equipped with several amenities including a medical room, laundry room, and food sorting area. McFarland, like many cities throughout the district, remains resilient in the midst of an economic uncertainty from the pandemic. I am thankful for City Manager Maria Lara and the Community Development Department working tirelessly to obtain the USDA Community Facility Loan/Grant funds for the development of an indoor animal shelter that will make an...
In this time of uncertainties, pandemic, election year, social unrest, and financial difficulties one thing we are sure of is that God is still on the throne and in control. We live in an earthly world, but we are immigrants passing through till we can be with Him. We are citizens of God's Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), God is the King, the constitution is the Bible, and the Holy Spirit is the Governor of The Kingdom. "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you." In this season I find myself...
For the past 11 summers we’ve had the privilege of hosting SMBC Sports Camp for sports such as volleyball, wrestling and basketball. I don’t need to tell how big sports are in our culture and are a great “connecting point” into our community. Every camp is followed by a theme that we talk about each day. Our theme last year was “TRAIN,” taken from I Timothy 4:7-8: “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, hol...
I have lived in Shafter for 30 years and have seen many positive changes for the city. Let me say that I usually don’t get involved in local politics because we elect people whom we feel will get the job done for the people who elect them. The last few years we have seen a turn of events to suggest that some of our elected City Council members have not served this community well. The division of Council Members has been very apparent to the citizens who voted to put them in office and attend council meetings. We have seen them pursue their own...
It is becoming a sad commentary for Shafter residents to see their city ignored when it comes to services in Kern County. I received a few phone calls from residents who were not happy with Shafter being passed over for a ballot location when the sites were recently announced. There are more than a dozen locations throughout Kern County in each community it seems, except for Shafter and McFarland. These ballot locations make it possible for residents to turn in their ballots without having to...
To protect public health and community standards in District 4, my office works in partnership with Kern County Code Compliance to mitigate land use violations, public nuisances, and violations of property conditions. Taking proactive measures to reduce safety hazards ensure our friends and neighbors have an equitable living standard. Kern County Code Compliance provides a uniform procedure for code enforcement that ensures all residents of Kern County are equally represented. Supporting the Kern County Public Works Department develop technique...
God does not slumber or sleep. He is aware of all things. He sees time different than we do. 2 Peter 3:8 says one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Peter was warning his hearers that in the last days scoffers would ridicule the promise of the Lords coming. He taught us that a flood did happen in Gods time. Thousands and even millions of years are nothing to God. Jesus told the Jews, before Abraham was, I am. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Go...
As Fourth District supervisor, I work with Kern County Animal Services on efforts to reduce the euthanasia rates in our county. Recently, KCAS announced for the first time on record, that the shelters operated by the department reached no kill status. No-kill shelters prevent the killing of animals based on arbitrary criteria such as color, age or breed. Furthermore no-kill shelters find a placement for 90% of their population. Reaching this important community achievement took unified leadership and was a personal goal of mine when you...
The establishment of a home varies from one family to the next. For example, a family rents a house and their home is filled with hate, family problems, financial stress, and absolutely no concern for healthy living. Another family later rents that very same house and their home is quite the opposite. This house is filled with a loving family, financial strength, and a well-balanced home concerned about good nutrition and physical wellness. Most people desire a home like the second family. A...
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 Have you ever considered the power of words? Of course, you have if only subconsciously. Our lives are shaped, molded, directed and designed by words, phrases and directives, aren’t they? Sometimes those words are uttered in love, harmony and peace, yet at other times in anger, discord and frustration. How, when and in what setting they are given lends to the power and lasting effects for which they arrive and s...
In recent months, Kern County has taken measures to reopen the economy and support small businesses with CARES Act stimulus funds. In May, the Kern County Public Health Department rescinded the local emergency health order to coincide with California’s transition to reopening the economy. That same month, Governor Newsom modified the states’ stay at home order to allow county variance in economic reopening. This step allowed counties to reopen at their own pace provided they abide by public health guidelines prescribed by the California Dep...
