Opinion

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Notwithstanding the perverted protesters calling for the death of Jewish people, Americans are much more alike than we are different.

SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett

When Seward County Community College shopped for new fleet vehicles a few years ago, the market was a mess. Supply chain issues had changed everything in the world of auto sales and purchases. Finding reasonably priced new cars for SCCC employees felt nearly impossible — so when I found a good option, I jumped at the opportunity.

Only after it arrived on campus did I find out: it did not have cruise control.

GUEST COLUMN, Vance Ginn, Kansas Policy Institute

As Kansas gears up for a special legislative session in two weeks, the state stands at a pivotal point. Governor Laura Kelly’s call to reconvene the legislature after vetoing three key tax relief bills this year, let alone what she vetoed previously, indicates the struggle to pass pro-growth policies. For Kansas to thrive, it must pursue significant income tax reductions complemented by responsible budgeting.

Despite an appealing low unemployment rate of 2.8 percent, a deeper look at Kansas’ labor statistics reveals significant challenges. The labor force participation rate, the share of residents either working or actively looking for work, has dropped to a historic low of 66.1 percent since 1977, and the workforce has been flat since 2008. This stagnation points to a need for reform policies that do more than temporarily boost employment numbers—they must encourage sustainable work and investment.

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

We concluded last week’s study of Revelation chapters 4-11, full of songs in heaven, with the seventh trumpet sounding and the announcement that Jesus is king. However, the final defeat of the enemy will not occur until chapter 19. This week there are two more songs mentioned from heaven, while in the meantime John shares his awful vision of the spiritual struggle between good and evil. The warfare begins in heaven, but comes to the church on earth, resulting in a final climactic victory.

Satan’s rebellion against God is outlined in chapter 12, as well as his hatred for the people of God. It includes the attempted murder of a child, an attack on heaven, and efforts to destroy the church. A “woman clothed with the sun” and wearing “a crown of twelve stars” is with child. This could be Mary, but there are broader implications of Israel as the mother of the Church (God’s people born by faith). See Isaiah chapters, 7, 26 and 66; and Galatians 4:26. The suffering of the woman in childbirth reflects the travail of Mary, Israel, and the Church of Jesus as they bring spiritual birth to the world’s people.