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God's gift of Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy: Patrick Fore-Unsplash

God’s gift of Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving Day we express our gratitude to the Lord for all His blessings to us, but what goes along with that is that it also a day for us to repent of the times we have been thankless. If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we are like Bart Simpson in one episode of the Simpsons, when he said this dinner time “prayer”: “Dear Lord, we bought this food with our own money; so thanks for nothing.” It is easy for us sinners to slip into thinking that we are self-sufficient, and to forget that everything we have is God’s gracious gift to us. Or, when things are not going as well as we would like, sometimes we even grumble about what God has given us to endure; “Thanks for nothing, God,” we think. For this we must repent, this also is why we need to pray, “Lord, give me the gift of thanksgiving.” When we confess, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,” this means that there is nothing in this entire cosmos that is not created by God, and therefore we have nothing of ourselves. We are entirely dependent on Him for everything. Everything we have is from God, as a free gift we have not earned, and because of that, giving thanks to Him constantly is our duty, our obligation– giving thanks is not optional, and it is a wretched sin to omit it. 11/22/2023 12:00 AM

Photo by Elliott Stallion on Unsplash

Bastrop County votes

Voters showed up to polling booths across the county Nov. 7 to weigh in on 14 different propositions, most of which affect residents statewide. 11/14/2023 11:00 PM

Elgin ISD demographic study

Elgin ISD demographic study

What unprecedented growth means for the city’s school district 11/14/2023 11:00 PM

Open season

Hunting lasts until Jan. 7. 11/14/2023 11:00 PM

A new law firm for businesses in the county

A new law firm for businesses in the county

BASTROP – A new generation of attorneys have positioned themselves to be Bastrop County’s leading firm for business law. 11/14/2023 11:00 PM

Pat O’Brien with Firewild On Main during this year’s Hogeye Festival, whose roasted pork was donated to a local soup kitchen. Photo by Niko Demetriou

Elgin joins Operation Turkey

During the season of giving, this year will be the first time that Elgin joins national volunteer organization Operation Turkey in their mission to combat hunger. 11/14/2023 11:00 PM

On Charter Day, members of the Elgin Methodist Church congregation gather for service. Courtesy photo

Elgin Methodist Church held Charter Day

On Sunday, Oct. 22, Elgin Methodist Church received 87 Christians as charter members into the new church. These founding members will be recorded into the history of the church that began in May of this year, and is now a local affiliate of the Global Methodist Church. 11/14/2023 11:00 PM

Veterans Day Tributes

Veterans Day Tributes

Veterans Day Tributes 11/14/2023 11:00 PM

Heroes and Hot Rods

Heroes and Hot Rods

Heroes and Hot Rods 11/14/2023 11:00 PM

Pulling the plug on AI at the Elgin Courier

Pulling the plug on AI at the Elgin Courier

11/14/2023 12:32 PM

Elgin Empty Bowl this weekend

Elgin Empty Bowl this weekend

11/09/2023 10:15 AM

The definition of a saint

The definition of a saint

For many centuries, the Beatitudes spoken by Jesus in Matthew 5:112 have been the Gospel reading appointed for All Saints’ Day. The word “beatitude” comes from the Latin beatus, which simply means “blessed.” Frequently the Beatitudes are described as “the definition of a saint.” If we follow that definition, then a true saint is one who is fully conformed to the way of life portrayed in the Beatitudes. But when you read the Beatitudes, it is impossible to see how any of us could be a saint based on the standards they set forth. They pronounce blessings upon only the poor in spirit, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, those who mourn, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for Christ’s sake. 11/08/2023 12:00 AM