Glenn Martin Murphy
December 17, 1948 – February 11, 2026
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 16, 2026 at 1pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta.

Curtis Brasco
February 14, 1955 – January 31, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday February 21, 2026 at 11am at New Hope #1 B.C. in Hanna.

 Mardi Gras season in North Louisiana is in full swing. See areas parade information below:

Coushatta:
Coushatta Mardi Gras Parade Sunday, February 15. Rolls at 3pm from Red River Parish Fairgrounds and ending on Front Street. Line up at Red River Parish Fairgrounds at 2pm. Jerry Guye III will serve as Grand Marshall. All vendors will be staged at the Coushatta Ball Park. A festival celebration will be held post-parade with live DJs, entertainment, and vendor booths. 

Surrounding Area:

Krewe of Gemini Parade February 14 at 3:30pm in Downtown Shreveport.
Krewe of Dionysos Parade postponed to February 15 at 6pm in Natchitoches.
Krewe of Highland Parade February 15 at 2pm in Highland Historic District Shreveport.
The Krewe of the 9 Parade has been postponed until February 21 at 12pm in Natchitoches. Bennie Logan will serve as Grand Marshall.
The Krewe of Aquarius Parade has been postponed until February 21 at 6pm in Logansport.

It was a weekend to remember for Riverdale Academy as student anglers Jase Johnson and Riley Keith delivered a strong two-day performance on Toledo Bend during the Louisiana Youth Bass Nation tournament for high school and junior qualifiers. Organizers reported a record number of anglers competing, making the accomplishment even more impressive.

The weekend began with the two competing in the North Division, where 214 high school boats took to the water. Against a tough field, the Riverdale duo finished 28th out of 214. Supporters said the pair stayed motivated and immediately began working on a plan for the next day.

On Day 2, the team returned for competition in the West Division, determined to improve their standing. The day didn’t come without challenges. Battery issues popped up over the weekend, but they were able to swap equipment and stay in the tournament. Sunday also brought another hurdle when a trolling motor prop broke, but Jase and Riley kept their focus and continued fishing through it.

Out of 219 registered boats on Sunday, the duo weighed in 18.14 pounds, earning 9th place overall and officially qualifying for the State Championship, set for the first weekend in May.

The weekend included additional highlights. They placed 5th in Big Bass with a 6.05-pound catch, and Riverdale Academy also earned recognition with a 25th-place school finish.

With a top-10 finish in a record-setting field and a spot secured in the state championship, Jase and Riley proved that preparation, perseverance, and steady decision-making can pay off in a big way.

Information shared by Kim Johnson.

Matt Vines

Riverdale girls continue state title push, boys fall in quarters
The Riverdale girls basketball team rolled in the Class A state quarterfinals with a 64-17 handling of No. 4 seed and host Columbus Christian on Wednesday.

The Lady Rebels (27-5) surged to an early 22-4 lead by mid second quarter and never looked back.
Riverdale might have revenge on the brain today in the semifinals today against No. 2 seed Marvell Academy, scheduled for a 2:15 p.m. tip.

Marvell ended Riverdale’s quest for a state championship this past season with a 59-56 win in the semifinals.

The Lady Rebels led 56-55 with 20 seconds left, but two missed free throws led to a Marvell opportunity for a game-winning bucket, which did have a tinge of controversy. A Marvell player stepped out of bounds and came back in before making the shot.

Riverdale did go on to win the third-place game and advance to the overall MAIS state tournament that includes all classifications, but the Lady Rebels were denied a 2025 state banner.

Now a group of five seniors led by point guard Mary Claire Jones will take one more swipe at a state banner.

Jones, who surpassed 2,000 career points this season, has virtually every individual honor imaginable, but adding a state title in the return of coach Trey Pittman (third season back at the helm) would be the feather in this senior class’s cap.

The Riverdale-Marvell winner would play the victor of No. 1 seed Desoto School and No. 3 seed Tunica Academy in the Class A state championship game Saturday at 1 p.m.

On the boys side, Riverdale showed their vast improvement from the beginning of the season to the end, but it wasn’t enough Wednesday in a 62-40 loss to No. 1 seed Columbus Christian.

The No. 4 seed Rebels fell behind early 19-9 and never could climb back in the quarterfinals loss.
Lone senior Tanner Carlisle ended his career well past the 1,000-point scoring mark.

Red River basketball ends district play Friday
The district titles are no longer in contention – both the Red River boys and girls basketball teams have written their names down on that ledger.

But today’s doubleheader against Lakeside will close out the district schedule for both squads, and the entire regular season for the girls.

The Lady Bulldogs (18-12) have climbed all the way to No. 8 in Division III Non-Select but might slip a spot or two because of Lakeside’s 5-16 record.

The girls are trying to add to their streak of six wins in their last seven heading to the playoffs.
The boys (17-8) have won eight straight contests and are standing firm at No. 5 in the Division III Non-Select power rankings, although the Bulldogs could also fall because of Lakeside’s 1-20 record.
Red River finishes its last week of the season with a flurry, which includes five games from today to Feb. 21 (next Saturday).

Games include a Saturday date at Parkway, Monday at Calvary Baptist, Tuesday at home against Loyola Prep, Wednesday at home against Homer and Saturday at Ruston.

Red River baseball splits first two games
The Red River baseball team logged its first win of the season Tuesday with a 12-2 decision against Florien after a 5-1 loss to Zwolle on Monday.

The Bulldogs host Converse on Tuesday in a one-game week coming up.

Riverdale anglers capture ninth in West Division tournament
One day after a 28th finish on Toledo Bend in the North Division, the Riverdale pair of Riley Keith and Jase Johnson hooked a ninth-place finish in the LYBN West Division Tournament this past Sunday.

The duo hauled in a catch of 18.14 pounds of bass, learned lessons from the previous day (12.36 pounds).

Services will be offered on February 18th at 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM, each lasting about 25 minutes.

Ash Wednesday is the traditional beginning of the season of Lent; a 40-day period of prayer, reflection, and repentance before the joy and celebration of Easter Sunday. On Ash Wednesday, we will gather to read Scripture, pray, and receive the sign of ashes on our foreheads in remembrance of God’s Word in Genesis 3, “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Ash Wednesday is a wonderful opportunity to be reminded that God’s love is given to us not because of what we can do for him, but because of what Jesus has already done for us.

No dress code, no membership requirements, no judgement – come as you are and see that the Lord is good!

Lately, during the extremely cold weather that we experienced a couple of weeks ago, I took some time to watch a few fishing podcasts. There are a handful of programs that I follow from top anglers within the world of professional bass fishing.

One of these is “After the Cast” with Major League Fishing pros Andy Montgomery, Edwin Evers and Ott DeFoe, strong personalities and great reputations for not only being outstanding anglers, but good Christians.

Their podcast is a behind the scenes look at the daily rigors that tournament anglers go through from the travel they face, to practice and tournament days.

But they’ll also sit down and talk about hot topics going on in bass fishing. They’re not afraid to voice their opinions and share their thoughts which makes the podcast very interesting to watch.

Another podcast I follow is “Zaldangerous,” also known as “The Bilge,” a program with Elite Series angler and Texas pro Chris Zaldain and his wife, Trait. These two do not shy away from controversial topics and are not afraid to challenge the establishments of B.A.S.S. or Major League Fishing (MLF) when it comes to rules violations or recent decisions that have been made with regards to a tournament organization.

Both podcasts, “After the Cast” and “Zaldangerous,” are programs that anyone would enjoy. They’re both great at shedding light on the hot topics in professional bass fishing while discussing possible solutions.

These are people “living the dream” by fishing for a living. They travel like gypsies and caravan across the country, fishing the best fisheries in America. They discuss today’s anglers and how to navigate the demands of professional bass fishing.

But their biggest concern is trying to provide for their families as a pro fisherman. So many of today’s anglers face obstacles that previous generations did not. First and foremost, how to navigate social media. This is a problem the older generation of anglers never had to deal with.

All three professional bass tournament organizations require that all anglers participate in social media. This can be in many forms like a podcast, Facebook page, YouTube videos, Tik Tok or maybe an Instagram account.

In today’s business world, it’s important that anglers have a social media presence as a way of promoting sponsor product and themselves as well. Of course, we all know that social media can be a place of controversy with people who are looking to discredit or cast blame on others for a particular situation.

Having a great social media presence is all about how many “clicks” or “likes” you’re getting with the posts you’re making. A really good account can translate into valuable dollars. It’s also another avenue where anglers can make money to help supplement their income.

But here’s a question — can the average angler make it as a professional bass fisherman today? The biggest issue facing anglers today are with sponsors; there just are not enough to go around. Sponsors are a critical part of how anglers make a living and provide for their families. Tournament winnings are just a bonus for anglers and are not factored into their annual budgets.

The fishing industry in general is just not big enough to support all the anglers looking to fish professionally. Most are stretched very thin with regards to how many anglers they can afford to sponsor.

The industry is short on sponsorship dollars with there being three major professional bass fishing organizations — Major League Fishing (MLF), B.A.S.S. and the new National Professional Fishing League (NPFL).

Anglers today are having to think outside the box and look at nonendemic companies that may have never had a presence in the bass fishing market.

Back during the old FLW days (2000 to 2012), there was Walmart, Land of Lakes, Kellogg’s, Snickers, Castro Motor Oil and many more that sank huge amounts of money into many of the old FLW Tour anglers.

But ever since the demise of the FLW Tour around 2012, these sponsors have chosen to walk away and are no longer interested in this market, leaving a huge sponsorship void for anglers to pursue.

Less sponsors means a bigger strain on anglers’ budgets as they try to navigate the costs involved with making a living as a professional.

Bottom line is this: with a shortage of sponsors it makes it very difficult for the average angler to participate on the professional level. It’s sad but it’s starting to look like only those anglers who have money, have a good financial support system like mom or dad, or wealthy grandparents will be the anglers who can compete on bass fishing’s highest level.

As the old saying goes, “money can’t buy happiness,” but it can buy you a spot on a bass pro tour!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.

Friday:

Areas of patchy fog early then sunshine and clouds mixed throughout the day. High 78F. Winds light and variable.

Overcast overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.

Saturday:

Cloudy with an occasional shower in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Thunderstorms likely in the evening with rainfall locally heavy at times. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 55F. Winds SW at 5 to 10mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain is expected.

Sunday:

Cloudy skies with high of 66. Winds NW at 10 to 15mph.

Partly cloudy skies overnight with a low of 44F. Winds light and variable.

 As Americans exchange flowers and chocolates on Valentine’s Day, February 14 also serves as National Donor Day, a time to honor those who give the ultimate gift of life through organ and tissue donation.

While the holiday is best known for celebrating love, it also draws attention to the pressing need for organ donors in the United States. According to recent data, most organ donations come from deceased individuals, though living donors can also step forward — most often giving a kidney or a portion of their liver.

The impact of these gifts is profound. A single deceased donor can save up to eight lives, with transplants most commonly involving the kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs.

This year’s observance comes as the nation marks remarkable medical progress since the first successful organ transplant in the U.S. in 1954. Today, the scope of transplantation is far greater. In 2024 alone, approximately 24,000 organ donations were made, leading to more than 48,000 transplants across the country.

However, the demand for organs continues to far outstrip supply. Over 100,000 people are currently waiting for transplants on the national list, and thousands die each year before receiving the call that a match has been found. Despite wide public support for donation, only about 60 percent of American adults are registered donors, and not every donated organ is viable for transplantation.

Health advocates are using National Donor Day to remind Americans that by checking the organ donor box on a driver’s license or registering online, they can make a lasting difference. Each sign-up increases the odds that more lives can be saved.

As Valentine’s Day reminds us of the power of love, National Donor Day reminds us of the power of generosity—a gift that can outlast a lifetime

In 1957, after years of bit parts in numerous films and television shows, Thomas was cast as Lana Turner’s love interest in the film “Another Time, Another Place.” In the second week of October 1957, Lana’s boyfriend Johnny Stompanato, a former marine who was a bodyguard and enforcer for mob boss Mickey Cohen, flew from Los Angeles to Cornwall, England, to be with her for the remainder of filming. For three months, Johnny watched from the sideline as the chemistry between Thomas and Lana grew. Thomas and Lana played their parts so well for the camera that Johnny became increasingly suspicious and jealous. Around New Year’s Day 1958, while Lana and Thomas were filming an intimate scene, Johnny’s jealousy could take no more. He rushed on screen, pointed a pistol at Thomas’s head, and threatened him to stay away from Lana. In a split-second move, Thomas forcefully disarmed Johnny. Thomas was aware of Johnny’s underworld connections and knew to expect a reprisal of some sort.

Lana was not a pushover by any means. When her marriage to Lex Barker broke down six months earlier, she forced him at gunpoint to leave her home. Lana had Johnny removed from the film set and contacted police who quickly deported Johnny from England. He was back in Hollywood by January 4, 1958. Despite this incident, Lana and Johnny remained on speaking terms. According to letters between Lana and Johnny, Lana wanted space. In a letter dated January 15, 1958, Lana wrote to Johnny, “You must let me alone in my own world for a while, to rest, think, rest, think… I need the time and a different place to funnel thru all the emotional turmoil I’ve been through.” Johnny had no intention of giving her the space she requested. He wanted to marry. Johnny wrote to Lana, “Let me prove that you and I belong together.” In another letter he wrote, “Every second of every day since you have been gone, I’ve thought of nothing but you and your kisses.” Johnny persuaded Lana’s 14-year-old daughter Cheryl to help convince Lana to marry him. On a letter dated April 3, 1958, Cheryl wrote to Johnny, “I just got your letter this morning because I was home for the weekend. How have you been? …When are you all coming back? Soon, I Hope. Mother and I really had a wonderful time in Europe.” She ended the letter, “Love ya and miss ya loads, Cherie.” She only had a short time to wait.

On the following day, April 4, Cheryl and Lana were at their home in Beverly Hills when Johnny stopped by for another attempt at convincing Lana to rekindle their romance and marry him. Johnny’s sweetness quickly turned to rage when he realized she could not be convinced. Johnny grabbed Lana and shook here while he cursed and threatened her. Cheryl heard Johnny yell, “I’ll get you if it takes a day, a week, or a year. I’ll cut your face up. I’ll stomp you. And if I can’t do it myself, I’ll find somebody who will.” As Johnny continued his tirade over Lana, Cheryl grabbed a 10-inch butcher knife and sank it to the hilt into Johnny’s abdomen. He died moments later. Cheryl was not prosecuted because a coroner’s jury deemed the killing a justifiable homicide. Mob boss Mickey Cohen linked Johnny’s death back to the altercation in which Thomas disarmed Johnny in a move similar to what we would expect to see in a James Bond film. Well, Thomas eventually became James Bond. His full name was Thomas Sean Connery.

Sources:

1. San Francisco Chronicle, October 1, 1957, p.25.

2. Berwick, PA., Enterprise, October 15, 1957, p.4.

3. The New London, Connecticut Evening Day, January 4, 1948, p.16.

4. The Akron Beacon Journal, April 5, 1958, p.1.

5. The Oregonian, April 11, 1958, p.10.

6. Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1958, p.1.

Red River SWCD is having its 4th annual Tree Sale. The sale will be held on February 25, 26, 27th.

Buyers can choose from assorted hardwoods and fruit trees on sale at the Coushatta office, located at 1311 Ringgold Ave. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Do not miss your chance to purchase.

Tree Sale
February 25, 26, 27, 2026
Red River SWCD
1311 Ringold Avenue, Coushatta, LA
8 AM to 3 PM

The BC | Bank Bank of Coushatta needs your help in deciding which Mardi Gras mask is the best. Head over to MyBCBank.com and check them out. Cast your vote my Feb 16.

Due to inclement weather predicted for Saturday, The Krewe of Dionysos parade in Natchitoches has been rescheduled for Sun Feb 15 at 6pm.

Lawmakers advance a bill to intercept casino winnings for child support.

A 1000-pound female Great White shark has been detected off the Louisiana Coast east of New Orleans.

Willis Knighton Health broke ground on its new $50 million medical office building in Ruston.

Drew Brees will ride in the Krewe of Bacchus in New Orleans Sun Feb 15.

Peggy Friday Danielson
June 18, 1940 – February 11, 2026
Visitation will be held Friday, February 13, 2026 from 2-3pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta with graveside services immediately following at Wallace Cemetery in the Wallace Community.

Curtis Brasco
February 14, 1955 – January 31, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday February 21, 2026 at 11am at New Hope #1 B.C. in Hanna.

Town of Coushatta Boil Water Advisory is now lifted for all customers. The samples were cleared by the Louisiana Department of Health/Office of Public Health on February 10, 2026.

Matt Vines

COUSHATTA — The hot streak that Red River girls basketball is on lifted the Lady Bulldogs into the history books this week.

With Tuesday’s 57-46 home win against Winnfield, Red River clinched the District 3-2A title.

All that stands in between Red River and the start of the playoffs is a Friday date at Lakeside, whom Red River beat 71-20 in the first meeting.

It’s the regular season finale with the playoffs starting next week for a Red River squad that improved to 18-2 and 6-1 in district play.

Tuesday’s win came after a huge 42-39 win at perennial district power Mansfield, securing a season sweep over the Lady Wolverines.

The Lady Bulldogs, winners of six of their last seven games, entered Tuesday as the No. 12 seed in the Division III Non-Select power rankings.

The Red River boys were already district champions headed into Tuesday’s matchup, and they cemented their district dominance with a 72-32 thumping of Winnfield.

It’s a Winnfield bunch that pushed the Bulldogs in the first meeting, a 69-58 win.

Red River (17-8, 7-0) have won eight straight contests.

The Bulldogs are at No. 5 in the Division III Non-Select power rankings

Riverdale basketball ready to leap into Class A state tournament
The Riverdale girls and basketball teams continue their playoff trek Wednesday at the Class A state tournament at Columbus Christian in Steens, Miss.

The Lady Rebels (26-5) ripped through the South Region tournament and will be one of two No. 1 seeds in the eight-team tournament.

Riverdale plays host and No. 4 seed Columbus Christian at 6:30 p.m.

The Rebels (4-13) enter as a No. 4 seed and will also play host Columbus Christian, who is a No. 1 seed, at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday.

The boys put their growth season on display with a win against Mt. Salus Christian before an eventual loss in the third-place game against Briarfield Academy.

The Rebels trailed by just seven points with six minutes remaining before Briarfield Academy made a flurry of 3-pointers to run away with a 73-49 win.

That same Briarfield squad beat Columbus Christian, 58-15, in late December, which means Riverdale certainly has a chance despite the seeding.

“We did a lot of good things at the regional tournament, and we brought a lot of energy and played with a ton of heart,” said coach Ty Jones. “They’ve worked so hard to get here, and I couldn’t be more proud of their effort.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I believe this is an opportunity for the young guys to gain some confidence finishing this season and going into the next.”

The top two teams in each state tournament will advance to the overall MAIS tournament, which feature teams of all classifications.

The Lady Rebels, with their five seniors led by stalwart Mary Claire Jones, are eyeing this group’s first state championship after a heartbreaking 59-56 loss to Marvell Academy in the state semifinals.

Riverdale did appear in the overall state tournament this past season.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will soon begin the process of removing tree debris from the right-of-way along certain state routes in the northwest region that accumulated as a result of the recent winter storm.

The contractor anticipates beginning work this week, which includes the following parishes and routes:

Red River Parish:

– US 71 from Natchitoches Parish line to Bossier Parish line
– US 371 from US 71 to Bienville Parish line
– LA 783 from US 71 to US 371
– LA 786 from US 71 to LA 507
– LA 514 from US 71 to LA 515
– LA 507 from US 71 to LA 514
– US 84 from LA 1 to I-49
– LA 510 from US 84 to LA 177
– LA 155 from US 71 to Natchitoches Parish line

Bienville Parish:

– LA 4 from Ringgold to US 71
– US 371 from Ringgold to Red River Parish line
– LA 607 from LA 9 to LA 154

DeSoto Parish:

– I-49 from Caddo Parish line to Natchitoches Parish line
– LA 346
– LA 175 from Sabine Parish line to Caddo Parish line
– LA 5 from LA 175 to Logansport
– LA 3015 from LA 175 to Marshall Road
– LA 191 from US 84 to Sabine Parish line
– LA 509 from LA 175 to Red River Parish line
– LA 789
– LA 172
– LA 764
– LA 765
– US 171 from Sabine Parish line to Caddo Parish line
– LA 483 from LA 175 to Sabine Parish line
– LA 513 from Gibbs Street to Oxford Cut Off
– LA 169
– US 84 from Mundy Road to Logansport
– LA 522
– LA 3248

Intermittent lane and shoulder closures will be necessary to allow for debris removal operations, though major impacts to traffic are not anticipated.

Motorists should be on the lookout for contractor equipment and personnel, and proceed with extreme caution through the work zone. These operations will continue until the debris is removed from the right-of-way of the affected areas.

Additional information:

Call 511, visit http://www.511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app for additional travel information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at http://www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MyDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.

The Red River Parish School Board will meet at 8:30 am Wednesday, February 11, 2026.  

Wednesday:

Mostly cloudy skies early then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Slight chance for a shower. High 72F. Winds light and variable.

Partly cloudy during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.

Thursday:

Partly cloudy. High 73F. Winds light and variable.

Partly cloudy overnight with areas of patchy fog. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.

Joshua David Smith, born April 29, 1990, passed away on February 1, 2026, at the age of 35, following a lengthy illness.

Joshua is survived by his loving wife, Shauna Salard Smith; his cherished daughter, Aubrey Grace Smith; his mother, Monica Maggio Smith; and his father, Jerry David Smith “Peanut” (Christy). He is also survived by his paternal grandparents, Jerry and Elaine Smith; his mother-in-law, Michelle Rolen (John); and his father-in-law, Michael Salard. Joshua leaves behind his uncles, Richard (Becky) and Paul Smith “BooBoo,” as well as his sister-in-law, Meagan Salard Busby (Austin), and his nephew, Hudson. He is further survived by his stepbrothers, Colt and Caden. Joshua was deeply loved by his aunts, Michele Todtenbier, Aimee Fontenot (Greg), and Marla Prince, who were like mothers to him throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Charles “Charlou” and Myrna Maggio and his uncle, Randall Smith.

Joshua was a Certified Ford Master Technician and small engine mechanic who took great pride in his work. He loved working on vehicles and tractors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time working in his yard. Above all, Joshua treasured time with his daughter, especially playing board games together.

A devoted Christian, Joshua loved the Lord and prayed faithfully, particularly throughout the past three years during his illness. He drew strength from his unwavering faith and the constant support of his family. His faith never wavered as he trusted God to carry him through each day. The family is deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend meaningful time with Joshua during this past year.

Visitation will be held at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 4th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Services will be held at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home on Thursday, February 5th at 1:00 PM with Pastor Benjamin Keele officiating. Joshua will be laid to rest at Davis Springs Cemetery in Fairview Alpha.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Todtenbier, Greg Fontenot, Michael Salard, Austin Busby, John Rolen, and Blake McNeely.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff of The Courtyard of Natchitoches for their compassionate care during Joshua’s illness, with special appreciation to Karen, Martha, Sylvia, Anissa, Homada, Dr. John Hogg, and Hospice of Natchitoches.

Joshua often leaned on the words of Joshua 1:8–9:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Every so often, Scripture taps us on the shoulder and whispers a truth we’d rather not admit out loud—especially not in front of the church council. It’s this: if there’s a polished saint on one side of the room and a repentant rascal on the other, the Lord tends to wander over to the rascal. And He does it with a kind of divine twinkle that says, “Watch what grace can do.”

This is not a minor theme. It’s practically the Bible’s greatest hits album.

Take Jacob. If your church had a background-check policy, Jacob wouldn’t even get to hand out bulletins. He lies, cheats, manipulates, and still God says, “That one. I’ll build a nation from that one.” Esau is out there doing CrossFit and being responsible. Jacob is stirring soup and plotting. And God chooses him anyway.

Or Rahab—whose résumé would not get her anywhere near the nursery sign-up sheet. Yet she becomes the hero of Jericho and ends up in Jesus’ family tree. God seems to delight in saying, “Your past doesn’t disqualify you. It’s the very place My grace shines brightest.”

And then there’s David. A man after God’s own heart… and also the star of several episodes that would make Dateline blush. Yet God keeps restoring him, using him, singing over him. Meanwhile, Saul—tall, impressive, polished—gets sidelined for trying too hard to look holy.

Peter is the apostle who could derail a committee meeting in under thirty seconds. He denies Jesus, misunderstands half the parables, and once cut off a man’s ear. Jesus hands him the keys to the kingdom anyway.

Zacchaeus? A professional cheat. A man who would overcharge you for your own tithe envelope. Jesus sees him and says, “Lunch at your place.” The crowd is scandalized. Jesus is delighted.

And the woman at the well—five husbands, a complicated story, and a reputation that made her the talk of the town. Jesus chooses her as the first evangelist of Samaria. The disciples are baffled. Jesus is not.

God consistently gravitates toward: the messy over the manicured, the repentant over the respectable, the hungry over the holy-looking, and the honest sinner over the polished saint

Why? Because saints tend to bring their résumé. Scoundrels bring their need.
Saints say, “Look what I’ve done for You.”
Scoundrels say, “Lord, have mercy.”
And God has always been drawn to the sound of mercy being asked for.

If you feel like a spiritual overachiever, God loves you—but He may ask you to scoot over so a tax collector can sit down.

If you feel like a spiritual disaster, God loves you—and He’s probably already pulling up a chair.

The gospel is not “God helps those who help themselves.”
The gospel is “God helps those who can’t even pretend to help themselves.”

And thank the Lord for that, because most of us are one bad day away from enrolling in Jacob’s School of Holy Mischief.

The Minden St. Jude Auction raised a record breaking $2,718,301 for St. Jude at their recent weekend fundraiser.

Mark your calendars—Riverdale’s Spring Thaw is set for Sat Mar 28 at the Coushatta Country Club.

Family Harvest Church is hosting a Bass Tournament Sat Apr 11 at Grand Bayou Resort.

Northwestern State University Professor of Art Corbin Covher and NSU alumna Hannah Fulton will join officials for the unveiling of the latest sculpture in the Natchitoches in Bloom series. The unveiling will take place at Susan Harling Robinson Memorial Park at the corner of Pine and Cypress streets at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb 12. The latest sculpture honors the story and legacy of “Steel Magnolias.” Natchitoches in Bloom is an ongoing public art project created by the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission and the Cane River National Heritage Area in partnership with NSU’s School of Creative and Performing Arts.

The Louisiana Art & Science Museum will host its next Free First Sunday on March 1, from 1 PM to 5 PM. Visitors can enjoy free admission to the museum and a special $5 rate for unlimited shows at the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium. With general admission generously sponsored by BASF, this monthly event promises an afternoon of exploration, education, and entertainment for all ages.