“Because Jesus knew some people were mean,” says Torie, 7.
If you’ve ever watched any old western movies, you know that some people enjoy being mean. They wouldn’t have it any other way.
Early in his ministry, Jesus performed miracles in Jerusalem. The Bible says, “Many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself to them, because he knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for he knew what was in man” (John 2:23b-25).
Some people try to parse the word “believe” in this text to mean the people didn’t really believe at all. It was some kind of head belief and not a true heart belief. The Gospel of John knows nothing of this kind of nonsense. People either believe in Jesus or don’t believe in him.
This kind of parsing usually comes from the naïve notion that the moment one believes in Jesus as savior, all of life is instantly transformed. Jesus should be able to trust those who believe in him, right?
Wrong.
“Even if people believe in Jesus, their mind, will and emotions still might not be changed until they renew their minds with the Bible,” says Katherine, 9.
It’s true that life’s biggest problem instantly disappears at the moment of conversion. All Christians will be raised from the dead to share in Christ’s victory over death. But the remainder of life is waiting for renewing-of-mind transformation.
The Bible is God’s handbook for renewing minds. It presents a worldview where God replaces us as the center of the universe. That takes some rethinking of how we view ourselves, people and the world in which we live.
The Apostle Paul wrote this: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
A seminary student once approached the academic dean with a philosophical conundrum. He said that the library at the secular university he attended had a tight security system to prevent students from stealing books. Yet, most professors taught that people were basically good. The seminary library had no security system, yet the seminary doctrinal statement taught that people were created in God’s image but fallen in the sense that they inherited Adam’s original sin.
The security system at the secular university tells the real story of how school administrators viewed their students. Policy makers didn’t trust them. They knew that books would disappear without a security system. I suppose seminary administrators hoped that ministerial students had been transformed enough in their walk with Christ to resist the temptation to steal library books.
“Jesus was afraid that if people knew about the miracles he did, some people would get angry and kill him before God’s timing,” says Emma, 10.
Jesus knew the difference between new believers and seasoned disciples. He wasn’t about to trust new believers with things that could interrupt God’s timetable for him.
Think about this: Before Jesus left this world, he commissioned his disciples to take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. He promised to send the Holy Spirit to empower them for this worldwide task.
Memorize this truth: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Ask this question: Can God trust you to spread the good news?
Kids Talk About God is designed for families to study the Bible together. Research shows that parents who study the Bible with their children give their character, faith and spiritual life a powerful boost. To receive Kids Talk About God three times a week in a free, email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email.
Angelina College Theater, under the direction of instructor Daniel Anderson and featuring AC students and alumni, will present the Lauren Gunderson classic “Ada and the Engine” in a three-night performance scheduled to open on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Temple Theater on the AC campus.
The story follows real-life mathematician and writer Ada Lovelace (daughter of poet Lord Byron), whose collaboration with fellow mathematician Charles Babbage in the 1830s on the “Analytical Engine” often is considered the foundation for future computers in a creative approach.
Gunderson’s play focuses on the “romantic and poetic” look at the relationship between Lovelace and Babbage, along with Lovelace’s “visionary ideas” about the future of never-before-considered technology.
All Angelina College presentations are free and open to the public.
Following are the cast and crew members for the production:
Cast: Eryn Forrest (Ada Lovelace); Diana Saenz (Lady Anabella Byron); Daniel Anderson (Charles Babbage); Julian Chavez (Lord Lovelace); and Rachael Couch (Mary Sommerville).
Crew: Daniel Anderson (Director/Sound Designer); Jaedyn McCoy (Stage Manager); Gustavo Garcia (Assistant Stage Manager); Taz Powers (Scenic Designer); Jonathan Vaughn (Lighting Designer/Light Board Operator); Tatum Smith (Costume Designer); Kassandra Anderson (Makeup and Hair Design); Trinity Nettles (Prop Designer); Victoria Jacobo (Sound Board Operator); Alex Plowman (Wardrobe Crew); and Sam McMullen (Run Crew).
After weeks of dry conditions, most of East Texas finally caught a good, soaking rain. At my place in Clawson, I’ve accumulated just over four inches, and that’s well below some of my buddies.
It’s a welcome relief, but it has many cattle producers asking the same question: “What now?” Do we turn cows back out, start fertilizing again, or rush to plant winter pasture?
Rain is a good start, but it doesn’t instantly fix drought-stressed forage. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension forage specialists constantly remind us that grass recovery takes sunlight, time, and root energy—not just moisture. Even after a solid rain, warm-season forages like bermudagrass and bahiagrass need some rest to rebuild carbohydrate reserves. Grazing too soon lets cows do well in the short term, but we can expect weak stands going into winter.
AgriLife recommends producers avoid immediate heavy grazing after drought. When plants are stressed, they need time to regrow leaves and restore root systems. If cattle are turned out before enough leaf area develops, root reserves are depleted and winter survival suffers. One of the best management decisions you can make after rain is to slow down and let the grass respond.
So, should you fertilize warm-season grasses now? Generally, no. Fertilizer only pays when plants are actively growing and able to use those nutrients. Cooler night temperatures and shorter days are already reducing growth rates.
My home thermometer read 41 degrees F the morning I wrote this article and more cool weather was in the forecast. Knowing how summer forages are slowing down with the shorter days and cooler temperatures, nitrogen would not provide enough return to justify the cost. In most every situation, it would be more profitable to save that input for spring green-up.
If you have held back on planting ryegrass, clover, wheat, oats, or rye because of dry soil, now is the time to get that done! If you have been blessed with enough rainfall to have ruts left after field work, consider waiting until the soil has dried enough to avoid ruts or compaction, then planting into a firm seedbed with good seed-to-soil contact.
If we continue to receive follow-up moisture, newly planted pastures should establish well. However, if you’re planning to broadcast seed on existing summer grasses, the remaining warm-season canopy may shade or compete with young seedlings. A light grazing or mowing beforehand can help open the stand.
As with any year, avoid planting winter annuals too deep. Small-seeded forages like ryegrass should be placed no deeper than ¼–½ inch. Small grains—oats, wheat, and rye—can be planted deeper, but only if there’s moisture where the seed is placed. Overly loose or fluffy soil can dry quickly, so a firm seedbed improves success.
Interestingly, with the month-and-a-half dry spell, our area was able to produce a tremendous volume of hay before the rain shut off. Producers should be encouraged to use hay strategically to relieve grazing pressure while pastures rebuild root reserves. A few weeks of rest now can pay off with stronger stands in spring.
Rain may change our outlook, but not the need for good management. Now is the time to: give pastures time to recover, plant cool-season forages carefully and at proper depth, avoid unnecessary fertilizing until spring growth resumes, and use our abundant hay to protect weakened summer pastures.
East Texas just received a break from the drought at the end of our summer. If we make smart decisions now, our forages will be healthier going into winter and ready to respond when spring returns.
For more information on pasture management topics, be sure to visit my favorite AgriLife pasture management blog, Forage Fax, at foragefax.tamu.edu.
Exhibition, Reception in Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery
Angelina College Graphic Arts students will present their works at the Design & Applied Arts/Graphic Arts Student Exhibition beginning on Tuesday, November 4 and running through Dec. 1 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the AC campus.
An artists’ reception will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4 in the ACA foyer.
According to instructor Reg Reynolds, “The goal of the Graphic Arts program is to help students operate within this creativity machine, to develop processes that generate original ideas of value.”
Reynolds said his programs encourage “collaboration as a creativity method, where ideas emerge, evolve and gain value through iterative exercises.”
The programs’ purposes include to “inform or persuade through advertising, branding, publications or digital media, focusing on serving an audience or meeting specific client needs.”
The students involved currently are taking Digital Imaging I (ARTC2405), Digital Media (ARTS2348), Special Topics (ARTC1192), Typography (ARTC1327), Photography (ARTS2356) and TV/Video Field Production (RTVB1321).
AC students scheduled to display their works include the following:
Digital Imaging II: Miguel Corral, Yolanda Crain, Amber Kennerly, Yajaira Mendoza, Samara Reagan and Valerie Runnels.
Digital Media: Preston Alvarez, Yolanda Crain, Taylor House, Amber Kennerly, Tevona Mays, Emily Miller, Samara Reagan, Alexia Roman and Dedric Smiley.
Special Topics: Delesha Johnson, Amber Kennerly and Alexia Roman.
Typography: Tavonte Brown, Taylor House, Delesha Johnson, Amber Kennerly, Emily Miller, Samara Reagan, Valerie Runnels and Dedric Smiley.
Photography: Preston Alvarez, Yolanda Crain, Rihanna Garcia, Taylor House, Amber Kennerly, Cody Martin, Emily Miller, Morgan Peterson, Ashby Price, Kattie Randles and Bethany Reaves.
TV/Video Field Production: Yolanda Crain, Amber Kennerly, Alexia Roma and Valerie Runnels.
Both the gallery and the reception are free to the public.
Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce Presents: Halloween Trick-or-Treating Around the Courthouse Square!
Join us on Friday, October 31st, from 6–8 PM for a spooktacular evening of family-friendly fun! Trick-or-treat with local vendors and participating businesses all around the historic Courthouse Square. Costumes encouraged — bring the whole family and enjoy a safe, festive night in the heart of Jasper!
A huge THANK YOU to all the businesses, organizations, and citizens who are volunteering their time and creativity to make this event truly spectacular. Your support makes our community shine!
Change is everywhere. Technology advances, markets shift, and communities grow in new directions. For leaders in East Texas, the challenge is clear: how do we adapt without losing who we are?
Romans 12:2 reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” That means we can welcome new ideas while staying rooted in timeless truth.
Innovation Without Values Is Just Noise
Not every “new idea” is worth chasing. We’ve all seen businesses try the latest trend, only to lose focus. The same can happen in churches or community groups when methods replace mission. Innovation should never come at the cost of integrity.
Values Without Innovation Lead to Stagnation
On the flip side, refusing to change can be just as harmful. In East Texas, families and businesses thrive because they honor tradition and look for better ways to serve. Holding firm to values doesn’t mean clinging to outdated methods. It means finding fresh approaches that carry the mission forward.
Faith Anchors Change
The truth is, innovation requires risk. Launching something new always comes with uncertainty. But faith reminds us our security isn’t in trends – it’s in God’s promises. Joshua 1:9 tells us, “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Faith gives us courage to move forward, trusting that God guides the outcome.
Three Ways to Lead Change with Integrity
Clarify Your Core Values. Write down what never changes – your guardrails for making decisions.
Test Small. Try new ideas on a small scale before expanding. Learn, adjust, and grow.
Pray Before You Pivot. Invite God into your decision-making. Don’t chase trends; follow His leading.
That’s a Wrap
East Texas has always been a place of resilience and creativity. Our farmers, business owners, and community leaders know how to adapt without losing their roots. That’s what faith-driven innovation looks like: holding fast to eternal values while courageously stepping into the future.
So the next time change knocks at your door, don’t fear it – lead through it with faith and integrity.
What Can We Learn From Jesus Turning Water Into Wine?
“We can learn that you shouldn’t rush Jesus, but put your faith in him,” says Taylor, 11. Also, we can learn that sometimes a good deed goes unnoticed, and that’s OK.”
In the ancient Middle East, wedding celebrations could last for days. To run out of wine would be an embarrassment that might last a lifetime for a bride and groom. The miracle at the wedding feast was the first sign that Jesus performed (John 2:1-11).
When Jesus’ mother told him they had run out of wine, he said his hour had not yet come. One easy way to discover what Jesus was thinking is to see how the word “hour” is used later in the Gospel of John.
On the night before his trial and crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son, that your son also may glorify you” (John 17:1).
Jesus had a sense of mission and a timetable. He knew that he was destined to die on the cross for all our sins. God would glorify him by raising him from the dead as victor over death. Jesus carefully unfolded his ministry so that he had time to train disciples to carry on his mission of preaching the good news to the entire world.
No one except Jesus’ mother, disciples and the servants who filled the stone pots with water knew the origin of the wine. The master of the feast who tasted the wine asked the groom why he didn’t serve the best wine first.
The result of the miracle: “His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11b).
There were times in Jesus’ ministry when he performed spectacular miracles in the open for everyone to see. In the last days of his ministry, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in a town close to Jerusalem (John 11). It’s as though he dared the religious authorities to arrest him. The wedding feast at the beginning of his ministry was not the time to call attention to himself in front of a large crowd.
Some people have accused Jesus of being disrespectful by calling his mother “woman” instead of “mother.” Again, a simple word search on “woman” proves this argument false. When Jesus hung on the cross, he looked down and saw his mother standing with the Apostle John. He said, “Woman, behold your son!” (John 19:26). In the next breath, he said to John, “Behold your mother.”
From that day forward, John took Mary into his house and cared for her. How could Jesus not respect his mother when he showed compassion by making provision for her?
Some things don’t translate well from one language to another. In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day, calling your mother “woman” was not a sign of disrespect.
“The wine was delicious because Jesus made it,” says Anjali, 8.
Some people equate spirituality with being a recluse and living off birdseed. The fact that Jesus accepted the wedding party invitation and turned the water into wine proves otherwise. Some people with a tendency toward asceticism have tried to make the case that this was grape juice. It doesn’t work. The original Greek text of the New Testament uses the word for wine. This text shouldn’t give anyone an excuse for getting smashed either.
Think about this: Like a laser, Jesus focused on his mission of offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
Memorize this truth: “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4b).
Ask this question: Do you think about a mission God has given you?
Kids Talk About God is designed for families to study the Bible together. Research shows that parents who study the Bible with their children give their character, faith, and spiritual life a powerful boost. To receive Kids Talk About God three times a week in a free email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email.
Soccer’s regular season has reached its end, meaning the Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners are about to embark on what they hope will be a long playoff run. We’re including information for their upcoming tournament matches.
Both soccer teams pulled out thrillers in Friday’s matches against Louisiana State University-Eunice after celebrating Sophomore Day just before kickoff.
We also saw the Roadrunner basketball team in action at home during this past Wednesday’s closed scrimmage at Shands Gymnasium. The team showed off its depth in a win over Legacy Houston.
Our baseball and softball teams are nearing the end of their respective Fall Ball schedules, with their action wrapping up this coming weekend.
We are AC, and we’re ready to Run ‘Em.
Here’s a quick rundown of the past week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
AC Soccer Teams Set First-Round Tournament Matches
The No. 17 Lady Roadrunners (9-2-1) will host a first-round tournament match at home by virtue of their Region XIV South Zone championship. AC’s ladies will host Northeast Texas Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus. That match kicks off at 6 p.m.
The Lady Runners beat the Lady Eagles by a 4-0 score back in August in the teams’ only matchup of the season.
The Roadrunners still have a regular-season match scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 27) against Coastal Bend Community College, but after locking down the third-place spot in the Region XIV South Zone, AC already has its first-round playoff match set.
The ‘Runners (8-4-1) will face Paris Junior College at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 at the University of Texas A&M-Texarkana. The Roadrunners and Dragons battled to a 2-2 draw back in August in their only meeting of 2025.
No. 17 Lady Roadrunner Soccer Squeezes Past LSU-E
The Lady ‘Runners battled LSUE to a scoreless draw for 85 minutes of Friday’s match – in large part because of stellar net play from Lady Bengal keeper Catherine Beckman, who finished the match with 12 saves – but the lone goal scored was a big one.
Juana Bulla launched a long-range shot from outside the box, going top shelf over the LSUE defense to lift AC to the 1-0 win in the Lady Roadrunners’ regular-season finale.
Prior to Friday’s match, the program held its Sophomore Day ceremony honoring sophomores Brenda Izaguirre, Sarah Riboe, Nerea Garcia, Juana Bulla, Paula Suarez, Emily Vazquez, Sophie Iversen, Becky Emeka, Olivia Sanchez and Michelle Naderman.
Roadrunner Soccer Outlasts LSUE
Friday’s nightcap featured yet another defensive battle, with the ‘Runners and Bengals hammering each other all match long in a scoreless draw – until Eric Ortiz came through in a big way late in the match.
Ortiz took a sweet feed in the box from Kanta Maruyama, with Ortiz heading the ball into the bottom corner of the net for the game winner.
AC will close out the regular season with Monday’s (Oct. 27) match against Coastal Bend Community College. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Just before Friday’s kickoff, the program held its Sophomore Day ceremony recognizing sophomores Davy Smith, Josmy Ngandola, Adrien Ebersbach, Shuto Ishikawa, Patricio Villalobos, Christian Castaneda, Kaisei Nagayoshi, Eric Ortiz, Lennart Poth and Iori Tanaka.
Roadrunner Basketball Tops Legacy Houston in Scrimmage
Even with several key players sidelined for now, the Roadrunner basketball team nevertheless showed off its depth in a convincing 77-45 win over Legacy Houston in Wednesday’s closed scrimmage at Shands Gymnasium.
Zacc Sells nailed a trio of three pointers to finish with 12 points, Clarence Payia went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line to score 11 points, Milton Rice also chipped in with 11 points and Kai’Ree Murray finished with nine points to lead the Roadrunners’ scoring attack.
The Roadrunners will open the regular season at home on Monday, Nov. 3 when AC faces Hinds Community College. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Falls Against NCAA Competition
Head softball coach Kassie James has made sure her Lady Roadrunners get a taste of big-time competition, going head-to-head against NCAA opponents throughout the fall season.
This past weekend saw the Lady ‘Runners taking their best swings against NCAA Division I’s Houston Christian University and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and NCAA Division III’s Texas A&M-International.
AC fell 20-6 to HCU on Friday, with Jessi Sumpter driving in four runs while Emilee McKee Emily Zunker added an RBI each.
On Saturday, the Lady ‘Runners dropped an 8-2 decision to TAMU-CC, with McKee collecting two hits while scoring a run. Audrey Richardson also scored for AC.
AC’s ladies capped the weekend with a 9-1 loss to TAMU-International, with Eastyn Wilkie driving in the Lady Roadrunners’ lone run.
AC will wrap up its fall season this coming weekend, with a 2 p.m. game on Friday at LSU-Alexandria and a Sunday home doubleheader against Illusions-Smith. That doubleheader is set for a 2 p.m. start at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
Roadrunner Baseball Falls to Division II UT-Tyler, Beats Grayson College
The ‘Runner baseball squad on Thursday went head-to-head against NCAA Division II opponent UT-Tyler, dropping a 9-4 decision in Tyler before bouncing back with a 14-4 win over Grayson College in the nightcap.
Against UT-Tyler’s Patriots, the Roadrunners got RBIs from Cole Standley, Marco Bandiero, Jackson Pullen and Colton Haas.
In the evening tilt against Grayson College, the AC bats erupted for 14 runs on 12 hits. Jack Braswell drove in four of those runs, and Jose Arcia-Palma drove in three more with a three-run homer. Bandiero added two more RBIs to his day, and Jon Gonzalez, Ben Welch and Will McKinzie also drove in runs in the win.
AC’s final Fall Ball game takes place at noon on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Sam Houston State University.
Meet the Roadrunners and Lady Roadrunners
New rosters for the upcoming AC basketball seasons are now available on the Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com.).
All AC Teams Have Schedules Up and Running Online
Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner fans can now find their favorite teams’ schedules on the Angelina College Athletics website (www.angelinaathletics.com). For now, only the fall schedules for baseball and softball are in place (with the potential to add more events later), but all other teams, including both women’s and men’s basketball, are ready for viewing and planning.
We’ll update any changes as we receive them.
We can’t wait to see you at the games.
Live Streaming Reminder:
All AC Athletics regular-season home games are live streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. (This does not include baseball and softball fall games, as those are not considered official games.)
Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics web site, look at the scrolling schedule in the middle of the page and click the blue “Video” link.
TSBN also offers an app great for smart phones, devices and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)
Reminder II: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free, as is the TSBN live streaming. Any other links offering streaming are scams.
Reminder III: For the most current schedule updates (especially for potential weather issues) visit the official Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com). Fans can also receive updates on the AC Athletics Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules:
Monday, Oct. 27:
Roadrunner Soccer vs. Coastal Bend, 7:30 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
Tuesday, Oct. 28:
No. 17 Lady Roadrunner Soccer vs. TBA, Region XIV Conference Tournament opener, 6 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
Thursday, Oct. 30:
Roadrunner Soccer vs. Paris Junior College, Region XIV Tournament First Round, 6 p.m. at the University of Texas A&M-Texarkana in Texarkana, Texas.
Friday, Oct. 31:
Lady Roadrunner Softball at the Louisiana State University-Alexandria, 2 p.m. in Alexandria, LA.
Saturday, Nov. 1:
Roadrunner Baseball at Sam Houston State University, 12 p.m. in Huntsville, Texas.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
November 5, 2025
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10:00 am
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November 6, 2025
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Join us this November for Chamber University, featuring two powerful learning sessions designed to help you lead smarter and serve stronger!
November 5 – The AI Advantage: Lead Smarter, Move Faster with Lee Miller, MSGPR Ltd Co Discover how AI is already transforming local businesses and simple ways you can start using it today.
November 6 – Delivering Beyond the Transaction with Chris Fleniken, Real Graphics Learn how to go beyond customer transactions to build lasting relationships and loyal customers.
