January 7, 2015 Issue

Surrounded by friends and family, Brett Bray was sworn in as the new Blanco County Judge on Monday, Jan. 5 in the county courtroom. He took the oath from retiring county judge Bill Guthrie, who is stepping down after decades of public service, first as a justice of the peace, and then as judge. "Judge Guthrie has been kind enough to offer assistance whenever I need it, but I wouldn't mind having him 'right there' for a while, at least at first,"

The Blanco Chamber of Commerce (CoC) will welcome its new board of directors during its Tuesday, Jan. 13 meeting at the chamber office. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and is open to the public. The new board consists of president Curtis Knutson [New Life Computers of Texas], vice president Cornelia England [Carriage Hills Ranch], treasurer Elaine Hanks [Hanks & Company], secretary Joy Carta [Carta Travel Connection], along with members Ed Marshall [individual member], Dean Swarthout [individu ...

  Blanco County Emergency Services District #2 [ESD #2] began the process of looking at its options during a special session held Monday, Jan. 5 in the Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corp Training Room as it prepares to assume the operational responsibilities of the Blanco Volunteer Fire Department [BVFD]. Last December, BVFD submitted a letter handing over its operations to ESD #2 beginning March 1. ESD #2 is examining how to best utilize ...

Blanco Police Officer Jerry Thornhill discovered an attempted break in at Baker Guns on Monday, Jan. 5 at 5:26 a.m. while on patrol. According Thornhill, this large stone used only broke the outer window of the double paned glass door. Security cameras recorded the crime in action and store owners say they will be adding additional security cameras.

Surrounded by friends and family, Brett Bray was sworn in as the new Blanco County Judge on Monday, Jan. 5 in the county courtroom. He took the oath from retiring county judge Bill Guthrie, who is stepping down after decades of public service, first as a justice of the peace, and then as judge. "Judge Guthrie has been kind enough to offer assistance whenever I need it, but I wouldn't mind having him 'right there' for a while, at least at first,"

The 76th Blanco County 4-H and FFA Youth Show begins Thursday, January 15th at the Blanco County Show Barn in Johnson City. This year there are more than 525 entries. These leaders of tomorrow put in many hours, and often times, a lot their hard-earned money working towards a successful project and show.

The Blanco County Farm Bureau (CFB) family is getting larger. This year, over 50 people joined the local chapter of the non-profit farm and ranch organization to bring Blanco County to a total of 1650 members. "We welcome all of our new members and encourage those who are unfamiliar with Farm Bureau and the work it does to visit our office at 63 Main Street, in Blanco"

The 76th Blanco County 4-H and FFA Youth Show begins Thursday, January 15th at the Blanco County Show Barn in Johnson City. This year there are more than 525 entries. These leaders of tomorrow put in many hours, and often times, a lot their hard-earned money working towards a successful project and show.

Lillie Mae Petri (Grammie), 79, was granted her angel wings on December 31, 2014, with her family by her side in San Antonio, Texas. She was born in Harper, Texas, on October 16, 1935 to Karl and Lena Klaehn. Mae graduated from Harper High School where she played basketball and softball.

I encourage you to read Matt. 14:22-31 carefully. This is the famous Biblical story of the morning that Peter - a man just like us - literally walked on water. This was not a figure of speech, or made-up tale, told in order to communicate some deeper truth. While there are depths to this story to be grasped, we must understand that this actually, truly happened.

I encourage you to read Matt. 14:22-33 carefully. This is the eyewitness account of when a mere mortal, the Apostle Peter, walked on water. He did it by faith - obedience to God's Word, and his eyes fixed on Jesus. However, he got his eyes off Jesus and disregarded His Word.

Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." So far in our series, we have learned these key elements concerning how to walk in faith and overcome doubt and unbelief: 1. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. 2. Know that the spiritual realm is more real than the physical realm, and that God's Word is spirit and life.

I encourage you to read Mt. 17:14-21. Verse 19-21 says, "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

It's funny how God works sometimes. Here I've been concentrating on planting my fertile ground with God's Word, looking for 'good' Scriptures to speak and meditate on each day, and I picked up a book I had begun reading months ago, by Stormie Omartian, called The Power of a Praying Woman, and I opened it to a chapter about Jesus being the true Vine. John 15:1-5 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.