Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU), Houston’s largest not-for-profit credit union, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sabine State Bank and Trust Company
Sabine State Bank & Trust Company, a commercial bank headquartered in Many, LA with more than $1.2 billion in assets. The combined entity is expected to provide access to a broad variety of lending products to all communities served by TDECU and will expand TDECU’s presence in lending to small business owners in oil and gas, agriculture, and energy.
At closing, the combined institution will be expected to have approximately $6 billion in assets and 471,000 Members. The acquisition will expand the field of membership for TDECU, which has a significant presence in Greater Houston, and a growing presence in the Dallas, Fort Worth and Victoria areas.
“TDECU is on a growth journey to expand across the state of Texas and beyond,” said President & CEO Isaac Johnson. “Our mission is helping people navigate their financial journeys, and be financial solvers for our Members’ everyday needs. This acquisition extends our reach to more communities, diversifies our commercial portfolio, and makes our balance sheet even stronger. If our balance sheet is stronger that will enable TDECU to continue to deliver and do more for our existing Members. Together, we will strengthen ties with our membership, partners, and local communities”
A strong performing commercial bank
Founded more than 120 years ago, Sabine has a footprint of 51 branches across Louisiana and east Texas. It specializes in commercial loans with industry concentration in oil and gas, forestry, timber and agriculture, and has many long-standing depository relationships.
“We are excited to become a part of the TDECU family and we share their commitment to strengthening our communities and empowering our customers to build better financial futures,” said Lee H. McCann, President and CEO of Sabine. “Our customers can rest assured that they will continue to experience the best-in-class service they count on from us. Best of all, that service will be enhanced with an even wider array of financial products to help them better secure their futures.”
Strengthening the credit union movement
TDECU has a healthy balance sheet that is focused on consumer deposits and lower-risk investment strategies. Sabine’s strong commercial operations will further diversify the credit union’s loan concentration and support TDECU’s overall growth strategy, bolstering stability and resiliency to provide compelling service offerings to its Members during economic and market fluctuations. The transaction is anticipated to be completed early 2025, subject to receiving all required regulatory and shareholder approvals and satisfying all other closing conditions. TDECU members and Sabine customers should continue to conduct their business as usual until the closing.
Red River Parish Sheriff Glen Edwards, Deputy Joshua Adams, Deputy Timothy (Ethan) Kellogg, Red River Parish Chief Criminal Deputy Greg Moore
Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office May 15, 2024
Red River Parish Sheriff Glen Edwards is pleased to announce the addition of Joshua Adams and Timothy (Ethan) Kellogg to his patrol staff.
Deputy Adams previously held Level 3 Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification and served as a corrections officer at our agency. Deputy Kellogg is new to the law enforcement field. Throughout the training, both deputies represented our agency and community with professionalism, determination, and pride. On April 29, 2024, the cadets successfully completed the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Academy, earning Level 1 Certification for Basic Law Enforcement Peace Officers as outlined by the Louisiana POST Council.
A graduation ceremony was held on May 14, 2024 to recognize the accomplishments of the twenty-two member graduating class. During the ceremony, Deputy Adams was recognized for his firearms proficiency by receiving the coveted Firearms (Top Gun) Award! Great job Deputy Adams!
Under the direction of Captain Richard Corbett, the academy consisted of fourteen weeks and more than five hundred hours of intense training. Topics covered included officer survival, active shooter response, officer-down scenarios, firearms proficiency, physical fitness, and chemical weapons. The training also included legal aspects, criminal justice, defensive tactics, driving, diversity, professionalism, law, patrol/traffic, report writing, investigations, and first aid/CPR.
In today’s world, training is vitally important for law enforcement officers. Our goal is to continually build upon the foundation that our deputies receive in the training academy to ensure that we perform our jobs professionally and safely while striving to serve our community.
Congratulations on a job well done and welcome to the team!
The students selected from public schools in the parish as Students of the Month were recognized at the May board meeting on Monday. Students for both March and April were recognized, presented certificates, and given gift cards to Lott Oil/Chevron.
The Students of the Month for April were: Red River Elementary School – Nahia Wiggins Red River Academic Academy – Byron Harris Red River Junior High School – Jonathan Czupich Red River High School – Jemarcus Latson
The Students of the Month for March were: Red River Elementary School – Shartech Venious Red River Academic Academy – Kaiden Humphrey Red River Junior High School – Daniel Grigg Red River High School – Journey Lin
Each month during the school year students from all schools in the parish are recognized for the contributions they make to their schools, fellow students, and their community. Coushatta VFW Post and Auxiliary 7287 presents the program and gives each student a certificate of recognition. Lott Oil/Chevron provides a gift card to each student. For more information on the Student of the Month program, call VFW Post 7287 at 318-932-6557.
Just like NBA Basketball player Alan Iverson once said…. ”We’re talking about practice?” Yes, today we’re talking about practice and how important it can be for an angler to be successful. With my recent 11th place finish at Sam Rayburn in the ABA Pro League, it was a reminder of just how important practice can be.
The problem with practice this time of year (spring) is that conditions can change overnight, or worse, by the hour. But nevertheless, we will see how time on the water is important to being successful and how we as anglers must keep an open mind, especially on tournament day.
Let’s start with day one of practice, as conditions were very mild with warm daily temperatures reaching the lower 80’s and a mild northwest wind at 5 to 10 MPH. But one thing that would be a definite factor in this event was the rising water level.
The East Texas region had been inundated with torrential rain the week of this event with as much as 10 inches falling just north of Sam Rayburn. This created a much-needed steady rise all across Sam Rayburn. The lake had been approximately 6.5 feet low prior to this tournament, creating all sorts of obstacles for anglers to navigate around making for some nervous boat rides.
So, I made a decision to go shallow and shrink the lake by limiting my options and fishing fairly close to the tournament site. I wanted to really get into an area, learn it, and figure out what the bass were doing in this particular part of the lake. This proved to be a very productive move on my part as there was plenty of cover with patches of lily pads and hydrilla in several pockets I had chosen to concentrate on.
Now with rising water on any lake, bass have a tendency to move up and head for the shallows. First thing I realized on day 1 of practice was there were a good number of quality bass roaming the shallows as I caught a few fish in the 3-to-4-pound range. Based off a previous event I researched from the week before, I noticed the weights were down and that 12 to 14 pounds would probably be good enough to get a check.
Over a two-day period of practice, I found three areas holding quality fish and decided to rotate through each over the course of my tournament day. But one area was especially promising as I caught three good fish and shook off 10 others late on the final day of practice. So, what does it mean to shake fish off? It’s where an angler fishes a bait with either a bent over hook or fishing the bait hookless, making sure he never hooks the fish.
Years ago, a fellow angler showed me this tip that I now use when practicing for a tournament and I don’t want to hook fish prior to the event. It’s called a screw lock and allows me to fish a soft plastic bait, like a worm or creature bait, without using a hook. The fish still bite the bait and in most cases I can see or feel if they are quality fish or not.
Hooking bass a day or two before an event will cause them not to bite. Anglers call this “sore mouthing” them. But there are times when I’m on a new body of water that I’m not familiar with that I will hook a few fish just to see what size bass are in that area.
During my 2 days of practice, it did not take long for me to figure out that a weightless fluke, a speed worm with an 1/8-ounce weight, and a chatterbait would be my top baits for this event. Wind was a huge factor as well and was an important key to certain areas being more productive than areas with little to no wind.
As tournament day rolled around, I headed for my best area that I felt I could catch my five fish limit rather quickly. This held true as I boated 5 decent keeper fish before 8:00 AM and began to cull up for the rest of the day. The day started out with calm winds, but that all changed by 11:00 AM as winds shifted out of the south at 20 to 25 MPH for the rest of the day making it tough to place the bait where you wanted.
But it was on those windy banks or pockets, with scattered hydrilla patches in 2 feet or less, where fish seemed to be feeding heavily on shad. Therefore, the chatterbait became my main bait for the rest of the day. I was able to cull several fish, but my culls were only in ounces and not in pounds. I finished with around 13 pounds total for this event placing me in 11th overall. Most events are decided by who gets the kicker or bigger bites of a 5- or 6-pound fish. That big bite never came for me in this tournament which is why I finished 11th.
The best part of this event for me was that I moved up in the ABA Pro League Angler of the Year standings from 27th to 7th. Only the top 10 for AOY at the end of the season qualify for the Ray Scott National Championship which will be held at Lake Eufaula, Alabama in April of 2025. So, from my perspective, this was a very important event and now I must continue to do well in order to put myself in position to make another Ray Scott Championship.
Till next time, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt…. set the hook!
For Immediate Release May 16, 2024 Contact: Griffin Neal
WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson hosted an unveiling ceremony for a statue depicting Reverend William “Billy” Franklin Graham Jr. of North Carolina and was joined by Members of Congress, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and members of the Graham family. The statue, part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, will be displayed in Statuary Hall for decades to come.
Billy Graham preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to more people than any single person in human history. While Graham’s primary focus was to preach the Gospel to the world, he also provided spiritual counsel to presidents, championed desegregation, and was a voice of hope and guidance in times of trial. Speaker Johnson called Graham, “one of America’s greatest citizens and enduring heroes.”
Learn more about Billy Graham’s life here and about the statue depicting Mr. Graham here.
Read Speaker Johnon’s remarks below:
What an exciting day this has been, and what a fitting ceremony. You’ve heard emotion. You’ve heard authenticity. You’ve heard humility, and he embodied that for so much of us. He was the model in so many ways.
We want to thank you all again for being here. I have a couple of thoughts I want to share. Just briefly, first of all, of course, Scripture reminds us always to give honor where honor is due, and we give special thanks to the North Carolina State Statute Committee, Governor Cooper, of course, the North Carolina delegation. It’s an awesome group—you guys have sent an awesome group to Congress. And they’re ably led, of course, by the delegation dean, Miss Virginia Fox, and she’s amazing. And of course, the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, which has a massive, untold impact, an immeasurable impact around the world. Thank you for going through this lengthy process and making today possible.
I know here with us there are lots of dignitaries and many of my personal heroes. Senator and Secretary Elizabeth Dole from North Carolina is with us. by Billy Graham, Vice President Mike Pence. And he was mentioned earlier just briefly, but Chaz Fagan is the sculptor of this magnificent statue. I mentioned earlier, there’s only four Americans who have achieved the three highest honors here. One of the other men that achieved that great honor, I mentioned earlier, was President Ronald Reagan, and he’s another of my personal heroes. What you may not know is Mr. Fagan also created that statue, and that’s pretty awesome. It’s positioned prominently there in the rotunda.
While I stand before you as the Speaker of the House I’m more importantly here today as so many of us are as a believer, as a Christian, as a follower of Christ, and one who has been deeply impacted by the ministry of the Reverend Billy Graham.
It was in 1951 that Reverend Graham came to my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana for one of his early crusades. He came at the invitation of Dr. M.E. Dodd, and Reverend Graham started preaching at our municipal auditorium. It’s a pretty famous place. It’s where Elvis—you know the phrase, ‘Elvis has left the building?’ Right there, municipal auditorium, it’s a very famous place. But the problem was that Reverend Graham was too popular, and the message was too impactful, and the crowds were so large, they had to move to the football field at our state fairgrounds in Shreveport. And those meetings in Shreveport became Reverend Graham’s very first outdoor crusades. Yes, you’re right. Right there in Shreveport, Louisiana. That’s right, At least that’s what we claim. I think it’s true. I think it’s true.
And over the course of three weeks, he preached to approximately 200,000 people, which is greater than the population of the whole northwest corner of the state, so they came in from all over the place. And one of the men who was present at those meetings seven decades ago led my own father to Christ. And other people who were present at those meetings were my childhood pastors and my Sunday school teachers, who all had a massive influence, of course, upon me. And the gospel they heard of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection is the gospel that they preached to me and my siblings, and everybody in my sphere of influence. And that’s the message that’s changed my life for eternity, and which Reverend Graham knew would change every person’s life.
It’s the good news of salvation, and redemption, and hope that you’ve heard articulated here today—that our Creator loved us so much, every one of us, that He gave his only Son so that every single person who believes in him can have that same gift of eternal life.
And even as he preached to hundreds of millions and ministered to, and walked with presidents and kings, what we love about Billy Graham is that he exemplified Christ’s humility, as you’ve heard today. He was buried—many people don’t remember—in a plywood casket that was fashioned by prisoners at Angola in Louisiana.
Reverend Graham humbled himself to care for the poor and prisoners, the forgotten, the lost and least of these, exactly what the Scripture tells us to do. He really did believe that—He believed that even the poorest sinner could be a co-heir with Christ for eternity, and that’s what motivated him. And those men who made his casket had come to believe that message too, and they believed it through the influence of Billy Graham and the Graham family.
And because Reverend Graham never pursued earthly riches—as was said, he’d probably be uncomfortable with this today, this great honor with such a great statue—but that humility is exactly why God exalted him and chose him and raised his platform to such great heights.
Billy Graham was known as America’s pastor, as was noted, and he had a personal relationship with, and a unique influence upon, every president since Harry Truman. And his body laid here in the Rotunda in February 2018 at laid in state. Throngs of people, of course, came through to pay their last respects, and all the members of Congress and everybody, dignitaries from all around, and tributes poured in. And they included all of the living former presidents.
Here’s a quick sample of some of the things they said. Donald Trump said, “Billy’s acceptance of Jesus Christ around his 17th birthday not only changed his life, it changed our country and the world. He was one of the towering figures of the last 100 years, an American hero whose life and leadership truly earned him the title God’s ambassador.”
Barack Obama tweeted this, “Billy Graham was a humble servant who prayed for so many and who, with wisdom and grace, gave hope and guidance to generations.”
George W. Bush said, ‘Those of us who are blessed to know Billy Graham benefited from his deep convictions and personal example, his wisdom and humility, his grace and purity of heart. We knew that his life was a gift from the Almighty, and I rejoice that he is now in the company of God, whom he loves so much and serves so well.”
Bill Clinton, he said, “Billy Graham was one of the most important religious leaders in American history. His powerful words and the conviction they carried touched countless hearts and minds.”
George H.W. Bush, they were very close, he said, “His faith in Christ and his totally honest evangelical spirit inspired people across the country and around the world. I think Billy touched the hearts of not only Christians, but people of all faiths, because he was such a good man. I was privileged to have him as a personal friend.”
One more, Jimmy Carter, he said, ‘The Reverend Billy Graham tirelessly spread the message of fellowship and hope and shaped the lives of tens of millions of people worldwide. Broad-minded, forgiving, and humble in his treatment of others, he exemplified the life of Jesus Christ by constantly reaching out for opportunities to serve.”
What a model for us. What a story to tell as we bring school kids through and university students and constituents. We’ll stop right here. I’ll be stopping right here every time to tell some of these stories.
At the foundation of the statue, as you mentioned, are these two verses, and those will be shared broadly now. In his left hand—just a couple of things I’ll note and I’ll close—he holds an open Bible, as you can see, and with an open right hand, he’s inviting all those to view and reflect upon the Word of God. His Bible is open specifically, you’d have to climb on a ladder to see it, but it’s Galatians 6, verse 14. Later I’ll climb up and take a picture and send it to you all, okay, but it’s there.
But I mentioned earlier I’m a little nervous, and one of the reasons I’m nervous is they handed me Billy Graham’s study Bible. I mean, it’s priceless, right? I’m about to shake just holding it right now. It’s got his notes inside. I know, I know. I need secret service to come and hand it off to him. But it’s open, as I said, to Galatians 6.14. Let me tell you what that verse is. Many of you know it by heart, but he has it underlined in red.
“But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
That’s a fitting verse to be open to, and as you can see, the page is well marked. It’s pretty awesome. This is the verse that Reverend Graham put on the banner of his life and in his final years. And to close, using one of his own marked up Bibles, that’s what we chose to share with you.
We want to thank you all for coming here today, for being a part of this very special ceremony. It was a long time coming, as we said, and all of you who helped truly to make this day possible. It’s a day for celebration, and so we invite you to stick around as long as you like and take photos as we all celebrate together the great legacy of the Reverend Billy Graham.
I-20 rehabilitation project in Bossier City. (Photo source: DOTD)
BOSSIER CITY – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces that the I-20 major rehabilitation project in Bossier City continues to make progress, and will soon be reconstructing one of the interchanges along the route.
Beginning Wednesday, May 29, 2024, the I-20 on and off-ramps at LA 72 (Old Minden Road) will be closed to allow the contractor to remove the existing pavement and roadway base, and replace with new base and concrete. This applies to the ramps in both directions.
This interchange closure is anticipated to be in place until mid-August 2024, weather permitting. The time frame for this interchange work was planned to take place while school is not in session.
Motorists can access I-20 from the Benton Road or Airline Drive interchange, or avoid construction and use the primary detour of I-220.
As a reminder, the other interchanges (on and off-ramps) from Benton Road to Industrial Drive will also be removed and rebuilt, though none will be closed simultaneously.
Other construction work on the project is continuing, including drainage improvements, pouring concrete for roadway approaches to bridges, and dirt work in preparation for laying new roadway base.
Additionally, the 18-wheeler prohibition signage has been supplemented with the image of a truck to enhance the messaging. Large commercial motor vehicles are prohibited under Louisiana Revised Statute 32:237 due to narrow lane widths in the reconstruction section from Hamilton Road to Industrial Drive.
These vehicles are required to utilize I-220 as an alternate route.
Click here to read more about the project, and access additional resources and information.
Safety reminder:
DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.
Area residents should exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking near an active construction zone.
Additional information:
Call 511, visit http://www.511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app for additional 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 Twitter pages.
People with humble beginnings can achieve great things. Henry Louis was born on February 5, 1934. Henry became interested in baseball when he was a child. His family was too poor to afford a baseball bat or even a baseball. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Hank practiced his batting by hitting bottle caps with broomsticks. He used anything he could find to use as bats and balls. With his makeshift gear, he could hit harder and farther than any of the other kids.
In 1949, 15-year-old Henry got his first tryout with a major league baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Henry’s boyhood idol was the legendary Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Everything seemed to be falling into place, but Henry was devastated when he was not selected to join the team. In the same year, Henry joined the Prichard Athletics, an independent Negro league team. While with the Athletics, Henry earned $2 per game. Adjusted for inflation, that would be about $24 in today’s money. Next, he played for the Mobile Black Bears, and earned $3 per game.
On November 20, 1951, a baseball scout who had been watching Henry, signed him to a contract with the Indianapolis Clowns where he earned $200 per month. Now, that’s about $2,350 in today’s money. Not too bad. Remember, these teams were in the Negro league, and it was the early 1950s. Racism was rampant. Henry remembered back to a time when he and the other Indianapolis Clowns visited Washington, D.C. for a game:
“We had breakfast while we were waiting for the rain to stop, and I can still envision sitting with the Clowns in a restaurant behind Griffith Stadium and hearing them break all the plates in the kitchen after we finished eating. What a horrible sound. Even as a kid, the irony of it hit me: here we were in the capital in the land of freedom and equality, and they had to destroy the plates that had touched the forks that had been in the mouths of black men. If dogs had eaten off those plates, they’d have washed them.”
The constant racism he had to endure coupled with being homesick, Henry contemplated giving up baseball altogether. His brother, Herbert Jr. convinced Henry to keep working toward his dream. With a pep talk from his brother, Henry worked harder than ever. Word of Henry’s talent spread while he was with the Clowns. After just three months with the Clowns, Henry received two telegrams with offers to join two Major League Baseball teams, the New York Giants and the Boston Braves. Henry later recalled:
“I had the Giants’ contract in my hand. But the Braves offered fifty dollars a month more. That’s the only thing that kept Willie Mays and me from being teammates – fifty dollars.”
Fifty dollars a month may not sound like much, but that would be nearly $600 a month extra in today’s money. Henry decided on the Braves, but remember that he was still under contract to the Clowns. The Braves purchased Henry’s contract for $10,000, just over $117,000 in today’s money. On June 12, 1952, Henry officially joined the Braves. Henry quickly earned a nickname, but that nickname had nothing to do with his powerful hitting. His teammates called him “pork chops.” Henry explained, “it was the only thing I knew to order off the menu.” One of his teammates said, “the man ate pork chops three meals a day, two for breakfast.” Opposing pitchers often called him “Bad Henry.”
Henry prospered with the Braves. By the end of his first season with the Braves, the league unanimously named him Rookie of the Year. In the following year, 1953, the Braves won the league championship. Henry led the league in runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, total bases, and batting average. Henry won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. Still, there was racism aimed at Henry. One sportswriter said “Henry… led the league in everything except hotel accommodations.” While traveling in the South, Henry was segregated from his teammates due to Jim Crow laws. While his white teammates had hotel accommodations made for them, Henry had to arrange his own hotel accommodations.
Throughout his career, Henry earned many accolades, too many to list. In 1973, something big was happening. Henry, then playing for the Atlanta Braves, was closing in on Babe Ruth’s career home run record of 714. During the summer of 1973, Henry received so many letters each week, usually in the thousands, that the Braves hired a secretary to help Henry. Not all of the mail Henry received was positive. Henry received a lot of hate mail and death threats. How dare he even attempt to break Babe Ruth’s record. Due to the high number of death threats, policemen worked in shifts to protect Henry. On September 29, 1973, Henry hit his 713th career home run in a game against the Houston Astros. He had just one more home run to tie Babe Ruth’s record. Two more home runs to beat Babe Ruth’s record. But Henry failed to hit another home run in that game. The season ended the following day.
Henry feared that he would not live to see the 1974 baseball season. During the offseason, his amount of mail, including hate mail, increased. He received so much mail that at the end of 1973, the U.S. Postal Service sent him a plaque for receiving more mail than any other person, with the exception of politicians. He received approximately 930,000 letters that year. The number of death threats increased exponentially. Lewis Grizzard, executive sports editor of The Atlanta Journal, who had been preparing coverage on the home run record, secretly had one of his sportswriters write an obituary for Henry because he was afraid that Henry would be murdered before he had a chance to break Babe Ruth’s record.
Henry did live to play in the 1974 season, but there was a problem. Braves managers wanted Henry to beat Babe Ruth’s record while in Atlanta, but their first three games were away games. The managers were going to have Henry sit out of the first three games, but the baseball commissioner insisted that Henry play in at least two of the three games. On April 4, 1974, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Henry made a home run and tied Babe Ruth’s record. The managers certainly wanted to win the game, but they did not want Henry to make another home run before returning home to Atlanta. Henry did not hit another home run in an away game.
Four days later, April 8, 1974, the Braves played against the LA Dodgers in Atlanta. It was a home game. A record-breaking 53,775 people attended the game. In the fourth inning, Al Downing of the Dodgers pitched the ball. Henry swung. The ball flew over left-center field and into the Braves’ bullpen. Cannons fired in celebration. Henry had broken Babe Ruth’s record. As Henry rounded the bases, he saw his mother proudly waiting for him at home plate to give him a congratulatory hug.
Henry Louis is one of the most revered players in baseball history. And it all started with broomsticks and bottle caps. Even if you are not a baseball fan, you will have heard his name. Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron.
Ruston, Louisiana – Retired engineer and lawyer Frank Bright, 81, who in April ran his 21st Boston Marathon, will slow down long enough to serve as keynote speaker for Louisiana Tech University’s pair of 2024 spring commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 25, in the Thomas Assembly Center on the Tech campus.
A Tech Class of 1965 graduate in chemical engineering and four-year letterman in both track and cross country, Bright will address the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, the College of Business, and the College of Education and Human Sciences at their commencement at 9:30 a.m. and the College of Engineering and Science and the College of Liberal Arts at their 2:30 p.m. ceremony.
Bright followed up his most recent marathon in April with a hike in May to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, down and back in one day. He has already signed up to run the Manitoba Marathon in June, a qualifying race for next year’s Boston Marathon.
His wife of more than 50 years, Suzzanne, is by her own admission “short” and can get lost in the crowd during marathons. But nothing stops the Brights; she lets her husband know she’s cheering him on by waving high in the air a collapsible pointer stick with pink survey tape on its end.
His running is “a blessing,” Bright said, that Suzzanne, their two sons, their wives, and the grandkids celebrate with him, as they did when he turned 80 and ran the Boston Marathon with the whole family on the sidelines.
After graduating from Tech and earning his Master of Science in chemical engineering from LSU, he spent nearly four years working in the field for Dow Chemical in Baton Rouge. He then turned to law, graduated from LSU with his Juris Doctor in 1974, and practiced in his hometown of Shreveport in a small law partnership before retiring at age 64 in 2007.
No stranger to accepting a challenge, Bright was a student manager for three sports in high school until the track coach noticed he was never tired after running with the teams he was keeping scores for. The track coach wanted him, and the baseball coach agreed to let Bright run—if he won. Lose a race, back to being a manager.
Bright did even better than that. He won a track state championship as a high school senior, and then he earned a track scholarship to Tech.
The late Clem Henderson, father of Tech President Jim Henderson and a coach at Fair Park when Bright was a student there, played a big part in jumpstarting Bright’s running career. The beloved multi-sport athlete and coach also taught the young runner a little about the lessons adversity can teach, something Bright is considering passing along to Tech’s spring graduates.
“Life’s not fair, and if you go through life not realizing that, you’re in for an awful lot of disappointments,” Bright said. “But joy comes in overcoming adversity.”
In addition to the two commencement ceremonies, Louisiana Tech is also hosting the Conference USA Baseball Championship. The latest parking and logistical information for campus visitors is available at latech.edu/graduation.
By Dr. Damien Tristant, Assistant Professor of Physics Northwestern State University
NATCHITOCHES – The roots of artificial intelligence (AI) trace back to the 1950s when Alan Turing (1912-1954), a brilliant British mathematician and computer scientist, explored the potential of building intelligent machines. He endeavored to formulate methods for evaluating their intelligence, as detailed in his seminal paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” (https://phil415.pbworks.com/f/TuringComputing.pdf). Since then, extensive research and development have deepened our understanding of AI. With the widespread adoption of chatbots, AI programs designed for conversational interactions, the world has entered a new era. AI now showcases its versatility as a powerful tool, capable of generating various forms of informational content (text, images, and videos) and analyzing vast amounts of data to extract trends and valuable insights.
In this context, Northwestern State University (NSU) in Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA, is dedicated to advancing AI across diverse fields such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering technology, veterinary technology, biology, and microbiology. Through its STEM school (https://www.nsula.edu/stem/) and the College of Arts and Sciences (https://www.nsula.edu/coas/), NSU is revising its curriculum to equip students with foundational programming skills, particularly in Python. This empowers them to address scientific challenges, excel in machine learning, and enhance algorithms within AI.
In addition to its educational initiatives, NSU is actively involved in AI research, fostering partnerships with renowned institutions such as the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) in the USA, the Fédération Française du Bâtiment (FFB) from Aube, the Cluster Patrimoine Bâti (CPB) 4.0, and the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT) in France.
Located in Natchitoches, the NCPTT (www.nps.gov/ncptt) is a National Park Service research and training facility dedicated to advancing historic preservation through science and technology. Since 2018, the NCPTT has partnered with the CPB 4.0 (https://clusterpatrimoinebati.com/?lang=en), a nonprofit organization that combines diverse and complementary skills to innovate in the energy and digital transitions of built heritage. This initiative was started by the FFB from Aube, a leading organization in France representing construction professionals. Together, the NCPTT, the FFB, and the CPB 4.0 study how historical structures respond to various environmental conditions. They advocate sustainable renovation practices that improve building performance.
NSU recently partnered with these initiatives to understand how Louisiana’s unique conditions – characterized by hot, humid weather and frequent hurricanes – impact historical buildings. By deploying modern sensors (as depicted in the accompanying photo) to measure parameters like temperature, humidity, and luminosity, the initial focus is on mapping NSU campus buildings constructed around 1950. Using AI, the goal is to identify robust building aspects, facilitating long-term enhancements in insulation while preserving historical integrity. This research aims to optimize historical buildings throughout Louisiana, benefiting disadvantaged communities.
NSU students will actively participate in this initiative, gaining hands-on experience in scientific research methods and enhancing their computational skills. The collaboration includes an exchange program with the UTT (https://www.utt.fr/study-at-utt), a leading French institution for engineering and technology education and research. This program allows NSU students to study in France and welcomes UTT students to explore AI at NSU. Supported by the Department of English, Languages, & Cultural Studies (https://www.nsula.edu/english/), students can learn or strengthen their English and French language skills while immersing themselves in Louisiana culture.
This enriching collaboration between institutions marks a significant stride in advancing knowledge and technologies in AI. Interested students can learn more about the programs by contacting Dr. Damien Tristant (tristantd@nsula.edu).
AI Research Partnership:
NSU received a sensor from the Fédération Française du Bâtiment and University of Technology of Troyes to make the commencement of NSU research on artificial intelligence. From left are NCPTT Architecture and Engineering Chief Andy Ferrell, NCPTT Materials Conservator Jason Church, Dr. Francene LeMoine, dean of NSU’s College of Arts and Sciences; NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones, STEM School Facilitator and Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Anna Dugas; Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Damien Tristant, STEM School Director and Associate Professor Dr. Christopher Lyles and Dr. Greg Handel, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
The National Democratic Party has known for two years that President Biden’s reelection campaign would require defending highly unpopular far-Left policies and an economy that still burdens millions of American families with a punitive inflation tax every time they buy groceries, fill up their car with gas or contend with a high interest rate. These hard-working, taxpaying Americans remember fondly the robust economic times under Pres. Trump, whose presidency contrasts sharply with that of a doddering, mentally defective candidate in Biden.
It was always going to be a steep climb. So, the Biden Campaign decided on a strategy to attack Trump in every legal venue possible with literally any charge they could imagine—often completely fabricated—allowing Pres. Trump to secure the nomination but then so drain his finances and energy, and keep him locked away in a courtroom, that he couldn’t campaign.
This lawfare strategy has failed grandly.
First, courts don’t operate on an election calendar, although several judges have tried to force a Trump case to trial to impact the election. Second, several of the charges that have been brought across the country are not straightforward and resolvable in a comparatively simple way.
For example, a murder case is much more difficult to prove than a case involving a felon in possession of a firearm. The first often requires a significant amount of evidence of all kinds—forensic, including DNA, fingerprints, a weapon, lay and expert witnesses, and more. By contrast, a felon firearm case, for example, simply requires that the individual being charged is, in fact, a prior convicted felon who may not legally be in possession of a firearm but was found to be with one on his body or in his proximity.
The Trump cases involve issues that are legally complicated and not susceptible of easy disposition.
What do I mean?
Well, for example, the charges brought against Trump by heavily biased special counsel Jack Smith could have simply been based upon obstruction of justice instead of improper handling of classified documents. As a former president—who has the absolute power to declassify any document he chooses at any time—it’s difficult to prove that the documents at issue were even classified at all. And if the documents were classified, that Trump as president didn’t have the authority to declassify the documents, as have all other prior presidents.
In addition, former presidents have traditionally been allowed to retain documents from their presidency. If there is a dispute over documents, until Trump, it has simply been resolved between the former president’s lawyers and the government’s lawyers. At most, a subpoena would have been issued for documents the government sought.
Another one of Smith’s charges involves so-called “insurrection,” that Trump allegedly plotted to overturn the 2020 election. Smith has been unable to find evidence of even incitement, never mind leading a rebellion. However, resolving that case involves having the U.S. Supreme Court decide for the first time whether and how far a president’s immunity from criminal prosecution extends.
These are weighty legal issues and require a great deal of discovery, involve issues of national security given the sensitivity of the material that would be used as evidence, and more.
The case against Trump brought by now-disgraced Georgia DA Fani Willis and the circus of a case in New York involving porn star Stormy Daniels are simply too cheap and stupid to spend time on here.
[This is to say nothing of the blatantly unconstitutional gag order placed upon President Trump. As Mike Davis of the Article III Project has observed “the gag order is so egregiously illegal that even the ACLU (which hasn’t found a conservative cause to champion in decades) spoke up.”]But, in a fevered rush of false pride and arrogance to destroy Trump, these partisan judges and prosecutors have stumbled. Attention to legal details and strategy were never given the consideration they typically would have been given in a legitimate prosecution and trial.
But, of course, that’s never been the point. The point has always been to get Trump.
Every one of these highly strained, legally unprecedented attacks on Trump’s candidacy are an attack on the American people and our democratic form of government—and the sacred and inviolable right we citizens have to choose our leaders.
Trump has become even stronger as a result of this lawfare corruption, and it may well put him back in the White House.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Move to 40th marks state’s highest ranking in ‘U.S. News & World Report’
(BATON ROUGE, LA) – Louisiana Pre-K-12 education improved in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best States rankings. Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education in Louisiana moved from 41st to 40th, which marks the state’s highest ranking in this national indicator. This comes a year after Louisiana Pre-K-12 education jumped five places in these same rankings.
“This positive growth reflects the efforts of students and teachers,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “While I’m encouraged, I also realize we have more work ahead to provide a high-quality education for every student.”
Louisiana has benefitted from the state’s fundamental shift in how students are taught to read, a focus on foundational math skills, an emphasis on career and college readiness, and bold policy decisions that support a back to the basics approach to education.
“Louisiana’s steady climb in this ranking reflects the hard work of educators and their unwavering focus on positive outcomes for students,” said BESE President Ronnie Morris. “The consistent progress we’re seeing in measures of K-12 performance confirms that our state is on the right track, and underscores the productive partnership between educators, policymakers and stakeholders that has been essential to driving success. We must continue working together in support of the good work of students and schools to keep this momentum going.”
This is the latest data to show the continued progress of Louisiana students:
The U.S. News & World Report Pre-K-12 ranking informs the Best States rankings. It measures state performance across the life cycle of a young person’s education, encompassing preschool enrollment, standardized test scores among eighth-graders, high school graduation rate and college readiness.
New Hope #3, 117 River Port Road in Hanna, presents ‘Release the Pain and Be Restored’ Women’s Conference Saturday, May 18 at 10am. Guest Evangelist is Cynthia Williams. Mental Health Specialist will be Min. Angela Scott Torbor. This is a ladies only event.
Social Springs Baptist Church Family Fun Day will be Saturday May 18th. It starts at 11 am. There will be Bounce houses, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and Games. Due to insurance requirements, children must be accompanied by a parent.
First Baptist Church Coushatta will host a Kids Fun Night on Wednesday, May 22 from 5-7pm in the Family Life Center. There will be a free hotdog dinner and time of fun Chagy the Clown. Kids PreK4-6th grade are invited to attend.
Red River Parish 4-H invites the public to join them for an Open House at their new location at 1919 Alonzo Street on Tuesday, May 28 from 4:30-6pm. A light meal and refreshments will be provided.
Ashland Baptist Church will host Vacation Bible School June 3-7 from 6-8:30pm. Students in grades PK-6th are invited to participate. Family night will be Friday, June 7.
Martin Baptist Church will host their VBS from June 9-13 from 5:30-8:30pm. Grades PK (completed) through 6th grade are invited to participate. Pre-register here
The trial of Steve Weir, former coach and educator at Riverdale Academy, ended on day two, with Weir asking for a plea deal. Weir pleaded guilty to 9 counts of molestation of a Juvenile, 1 count of Extortion, 1 count of Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, and 1 count of Cyberstalking.
He was sentenced to: 23 years on all 9 counts of Molestation 10 years on the Extortion 10 years on the Computer Aided Solicitation 1 year on Cyberstalking, all to be served concurrently for a total of 23 years, at hard labor, and with no early release.
The abrupt end to a five-year prosecution effort for District Attorney Jones and the Louisiana Sex Crimes Division of the State Attorney’s Office was a triumph. One observer in the room speculated that it was the second witness for the State that sealed the change in plea. “There is no way to prove that he felt love for one girl when another victim is on the stand saying he did this to her as a teenager, too”. The second witness read letters to the jury that Weir wrote to her as a teenager while he was a basketball coach in Kentucky. The letters and her testimony appeared to resonate with the jury and with everyone in the courtroom.
Her testimony came after the testimony of a former detective, who testified that over 7000 text messages and 3000 Yahoo Messenger interactions were identified between Weir and the victim, who was between 14 and 16 years of age at the time of the molestation. He stated that in the summer of 2019, the victim gave her statement. After corroborating her information, a warrant was obtained, and Weir was arrested in Kentucky and brought back to Red River Parish.
Weir has remained incarcerated since 2019 and has retained several lawyers while awaiting trial. Weir, 67 years of age, will remain in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Corrections for the duration of his sentence.
“Assistant Attorneys General Erica McLellan and Barry Milligan assisted the District Attorney’s office with this prosecution, to ensure justice was served for the victim and the Coushatta community. We are pleased with the outcome and will continue to protect our people from those who prey on children,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill.
“The District Attorney’s Office appreciates the effort and hard work of the Attorney General’s Office in this case. Their assistance was invaluable and led to a just outcome for the victim and her family, and ensures protection for our community from such a predator in the future,” District Attorney Jones stated.
The victim finished her statement with, “True justice will be served in eternity, but we are getting a taste of earthly justice today”.
The trial of former Riverdale basketball coach and educator Steve Weir began Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The twelve-member jury with one alternate was chosen after a day and a half of “Voir Dire.”
After Weir pleaded not guilty to 9 counts of Molestation of a Juvenile, 1 count of Extortion, 1 count of Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, and 1 count of Cyberstalking, attorneys for the State and the defense presented opening arguments.
Over the next few days, the prosecution will present their case including testimony by the detectives who interviewed the victim and the defendant, a former student from Kentucky who provided letters written by Weir while she was a Freshman in High School, and expert witnesses. The defense will present their case of what was termed in opening statements as “forbidden love between a 50-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl”.
Weir was arrested in 2019 and has been incarcerated awaiting trial.
EAST POINT – Nancy Nettles signed her name just like she’s done thousands of times to certify Riverdale Academy’s basketball statistics, box scores and game books.
Except this time, Nettles’ patented small signature will be emblazoned on the school’s basketball court.
Riverdale announced that the court will bear Nettles’ name at its annual basketball banquet earlier this month.
Nettles, a 1975 graduate, played on the girls basketball team in the early 1970s, but her impact has been felt in the decades since as a stat keeper, athletics trainer, fill-in coach, and whatever else the teams needed.
“The teams usually acknowledge me in some way at the banquet, but when (coach Trey Pittman) was reading this thing on his phone and my nieces were grinning, I had no idea what was going on,” Nettles said. “I signed this paper, but I missed the wording about them naming the court after me.
“I was so shocked, it floored me. I’m not so sure I deserve it, but I do appreciate it.”
Pittman is sure Nettles is deserving of the honor.
“Nancy Nettles is Riverdale basketball,” said Pittman, who is serving in his second tenure as a head basketball coach at the school. “If you’re at a basketball game, you’re asking ‘Where’s Nancy at?’
“A lot of schools might name their court after a coach or a player, but everybody I’ve come across thought this was a great idea.”
Nettles’ time on the books started even before her high school playing days were through.
“Sometimes the coach would ask me to do this or that, help with the stats after the game – I’ve been involved with Riverdale basketball since its inception,” Nettles said. “As a player, I also sat on the middle school team’s bench and helped them out, too.”
“I would say I went full-time in stats in the mid-1980s, started doing video first and then the stats. If I was at a game, I was taping an ankle or doing something.”
And Nettles hasn’t missed many games in her six decades dating back to her playing days, save for her years in college.
Nettles has two nieces that played on this year’s Riverdale girls team – Madison and Madelyn Chamberlain – but she considers every player and coach to come through the program as family.
Pittman joked that Madelyn will start shooting from her great aunt’s signature next year.
While fans will be able to see Nettles’ name on the floor, you don’t have to wonder where Nettles is in the gym — you can hear her voicing her opinion from any corner.
“They say one reason I have to keep the stats is to keep my mouth shut – I get into it,” said Nettles, who added that she avoided technical fouls from Pittman during his refereeing days because of their personal relationship.
The stories aren’t just limited to the scorer’s table.
Current athletics director Katie Williamson used to sit in Nettles lap as a player during the starting lineup announcement, ripping her warm up top off and putting it on Nettles head as she sprinted on the floor.
Nettles was known for driving a high-top van loaded with Riverdale boys and girls players.
At a tournament in Jackson, Miss., a concerned Nettles circled the team’s hotel while an army of police cars swarmed the facility.
“They were doing a drug raid,” Nettles said. “With the high top van loaded down, you have to be careful on the turns.
“Of course that was back when wearing a seat belt may have just been a suggestion, even though it was probably the law. Everybody was glad I knew how to drive that thing.”
As a player, Nettles recalls being in a car driving back from a tournament in Ida with the girls chatting away late on one cold night.
“We were talking and not paying attention, and we drove straight on to Barksdale Air Force Base with everybody trying to flag us down to let us know we couldn’t be there,” Nettles said. “We had a lot of great stories.”
While it’s unclear if Nettles ever logged a win as a coach, she does remember one game at rival Plain Dealing Academy in which her and another woman had to fill in on the bench.
“It was a Saturday morning, and throughout all my time, Riverdale has never been a morning team,” Nettles said. “Well our coach wasn’t happy with the way the girls were playing and said that if they didn’t straighten up, he’s leaving.
“Halftime comes to an end, I’m doing stats and another lady is doing the book, and the coach isn’t there. So we started coaching. He came back midway into the fourth quarter and said he wasn’t worried, he was just mad.”
The stories are just a snippet of the impact Nettles has had on Riverdale basketball, stories that will now happen with a court that bears her name.
Red River’s Hughes to play in baseball All-Star game
Red River catcher Tyler Hughes was selected to play in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association’s baseball all-star game on May 17-18 at Louisiana Christian.
Hughes patrolled behind the plate when he wasn’t on the mound for a Bulldogs squad that put together its best season in program history with a trip to the quarterfinals.
The All-Star game features the best seniors from across the state, regardless of school size.
Hughes will the play for the West in the East-West alignment.
Red River baseball has 13 honored on all-district team
Following the best season in program history, the Red River High baseball team had 13 players honored on the 3-2A All-District team.
First teamers include Jaxun Moore at pitcher, Tyler Hughes at catcher, Ethan Williamson in the infield and Chris Carper at utility.
Second Team members include pitchers Aston Hester and John Dickey, infielder Jake Pierce, outfielders Kenneth Lazarus and Bryce Hunt and utility Hunter Tingle.
Three other Bulldogs were honorably mentioned in Kade Martinez, Nolan Moore and Elijah Murphy.
Red River finished the season 25-10 with the program’s first ever appearance in the quarterfinals.
Danzy leads way on softball all-district team
Red River High pitcher Bryn Danzy was one of four Lady Bulldogs honored on the 3-2A All-District team.
Danzy made the first the team as a utility player after serving as a key bat and arm for Red River in her senior season.
Shelby Pickett was selected to the Second Team as a infielder with Addison Bounds and Sarah Cormier being honorably mentioned.
Danzy added to her postseason honors list with a Second Team appearance on The Shreveport Times’ All-Area team, which focuses on areas outside of Caddo and Bossier Parish.
On April 22, Lincoln Parish lost a man to death at age 88 who was a visionary in the truest sense. Fredric Lee Hoogland was the founder of one of the most popular attractions, not only for Lincoln Parish but for the surrounding area and regions far removed from the hills of north Louisiana. It was Hoogland who located and promoted and worked for the parish to purchase the area and that would become Lincoln Parish Park.
I had the privilege of visiting with Hoogland some 20 years ago after the park was up and running and attracting visitors from everywhere. I wrote a story about our visit that appeared in Lincoln Parish Park Notes newsletter and in honor of his memory, following are excerpts of that article.
“When I stepped up on a bluff that spring day in the late 1970s and saw what lay before me, I’m sure if somebody had heard me, they’d have thought I was an evangelist praising the Lord. I’ve never had an experience quite like that and I was overcome with emotion, realizing that my prayers had been answered. After walking thousands of acres around Ruston for the better part of three years, I realized that God had led me to the right spot and it was just about more than I could handle,” Hoogland recalled. “That’s not all; the further I walked into the woods, the better it got. There was no doubt in my mind that here was the site that would ultimately become the park I’d dreamed about since high school.”
Once the property was located, there were hurdles that had to be crossed. First of all, the property, no matter how perfect it was as a park site, was privately owned and not for sale.
It took a lengthy period of negotiation and persuasion and, according to Hoogland, another Divine miracle or two, the owners finally agreed to sell. Hoogland was an elected member of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and the jury formed a Parks, Recreation and Tourism Committee and the obvious choice to chair this committee was Fredric Hoogland. The jury had the amount of money in the bank needed for the purchase, took a vote and five members voted for it; unfortunately seven voted against it. Not about to give up, Hoogland lobbied the seven no-voters and three weeks later, votes were cast again and the final count was seven for; five against. The property was purchased in February, 1982.
After all the legal requirements were met, the park was opened on a limited basis in 1989 and for the seven years following the purchase, it took a plethora of planning and work to turn this rugged hunk of Lincoln Parish property into the jewel it is today.
You can just imagine what was involved into turning the rough piece of land into something visitors could utilize. Concession stand, restrooms, shelters, nature trails and bike trails all had to be planned and constructed. The park became fully operational in March, 1990 and by 1995 was averaging approximately 70,000 visitors a year.
Current park Director, James Ramsaur, saw the potential to adding to the park bike trails and today, Lincoln Parish Park is home to one of the most popular mountain bike trails in the United States with the most recent addition being a Flow Trail Hub.
The park is also home to a 3-D archery range, a lake for swimming and fishing and camping sites from tents to recreational RVs.
“Looking back now,” Hoogland told me, “I know that it was the Good Lord who made this place beautiful. We just massaged what He had already made.”
The Red River Council on Aging, 1824 Front Street, will host a Community Health Fair Thursday, May 16 from 8:30am-12pm.
The following vendors are participating: Home Health, Resource Center, CHRISTUS Coushatta, Medical Technology, Rehab Centers, Hospice, LaChip, Acadian On Call, and Blood Sugar Checks.
CHRISTUS Coushatta Healthcare will provide the following services for a nominal fee:
Lipid Profile $10 includes: Cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL Cholesterol and LDL Direct Cholesterol
At 4:07 a.m. on May 14, 2024, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) contacted Red River Communications in reference to a missing Keithville woman. She was reported to have last been seen leaving home at approximately 5:00 p.m. on May 13, 2024.
Information gained by CPSO investigators from the manufacturer of her vehicle led them to believe that she may be in the vicinity of the Red River Bridge in Coushatta, Louisiana. Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office (RRPSO) deputies were dispatched to the area where her unoccupied and unsecured vehicle was located near the boat launch.
A search of the immediate area and shoreline yielded no signs of the missing female. An unidentified set of footprints observed near the boat launch, however, led RRPSO investigators to believe that she may have entered the water from the east bank of the river.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Red River Fire Protection District were contacted by Red River Communications to provide assistance to the RRPSO in organizing a river search and rescue effort. Due to darkness, swift current, and debris in the river, the search began after daylight. Boats from all three agencies were deployed.
Following a brief search, Red River Fire Department personnel located the subject. She was standing in a marshy area along the west side of the river approximately one mile south of the bridge.
After boarding the rescue boat, she was taken to the boat launch and examined by Red River EMS personnel. She was subsequently transported to Christus Coushatta hospital for evaluation.
She was interviewed by RRPSO investigators and no foul play is suspected.
Once medically cleared at Christus Coushatta hospital, she was transported by the RRPSO to a specialty facility for further evaluation.
A cartoon character will be in the middle of an ethical conundrum. The cartoonist will picture an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other. Both are vying for attention and to direct the future behavior of the character. Have you felt that your bad side is trying to convince your good side to do something? We preachers talk about this matter as a paradox or as one author put it, “human polarity in Biblical perspective.”
I had a preacher friend who described it as “people who are too bad to be good and too good to be bad.” The Apostle Paul wrote, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” That is one of the super-saints of the church describing his inner struggle and he was an Apostle!
We all have struggles with good and bad behavior, with doing what is good and doing that which is wrong. You don’t have to ponder the great truth of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; you simply need to tell a toddler not to do something and watch what happens next. The Bible portrays us as saints and sinners simultaneously. The good news is that Jesus loves sinners, and He also loves saints. You can’t lose with the radical grace of the cross. Are you getting this, Jesus loves you and there is nothing you can do to change that.
I have arrived at my point now. If you are struggling with good and bad, right and wrong, being a saint and a sinner, do you suppose that person who so aggravated you this morning might also be struggling? The truth is all people are incredibly broken and beautiful simultaneously. Out of our acknowledged brokenness grows our unique beauty. Are we seeing others as Jesus sees them?
Are we treating others as Jesus would treat them? Remember that Jesus said, “As you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto Me.”
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