     One of the privileges I enjoy is receiving weekly copies of several Saskatchewan newspapers in which these articles appear. I love poring over them, thoroughly enjoy reading the local news and in particular, catching up on events in and around the communities where we once resided. I'm glad they still carry reports from tiny towns and villages as well as larger centres.
         At any point you might read about someone's brother-in-law heading to the next city for a medical appointment or about another person's cousin visiting their family in Florida, or even the neighbouring town. Sunday breakfasts and fowl suppers are fund-raisers for various causes; local drama and musical presentations are well advertised. A couple of items in a recent issue gave cause for both sadness and celebration. In the first case, a much beloved member of a local congregation we served had passed away; in the second, a local employee, waiting for his family to arrive from the Philippines, welcomed their arrival for Family Day! Now that's worth reporting and celebrating!
         In a far broader context, news of the upcoming Saskatchewan provincial election provides information regarding issues of importance. Here in Canada we've recently gone through a national election and the aftermath of a change of government. There's always good and bad in every outcome but I'm just happy it's over and we can move on. I'm also glad that I can focus all my attention on the Trump-Clinton-Cruz-Sanders battle going on to the south of us. It's fascinating to watch and nail-biting to ponder who will be president. After all, we're close neighbours.
         No matter what's going on around us, may our lives speak well of Christ.
         "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." (Psalm 19)
