A Friend of God

By

Pastor B.J. Knefley

In James 2:23, it is stated that “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was called a friend of God. What does it mean to be a “friend of God”? If you’re unfamiliar, it comes from Isaiah 41:8, “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham, my friend.” God called Abraham a friend, not the other way around. So, how does one get this position?

Let’s start with a definition of friendship. A friendship is based on trust, respect, support, and care. A friendship is often more potent than the bond of family. Friends usually share common interests, values, experiences, and goals. In the case of Abraham, he trusted God, which was demonstrated in various ways. Perhaps the most significant is in the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham showed his willingness to follow God’s request right up until the moment that God provided a ram for the sacrifice. Would this describe our relationship with God, or would we be like Eve, who questioned the validity of what God had said?

This whole idea of being a friend of God also presents another idea. If I am a friend of God, is God a friend of mine? In life, we all know that sometimes friendships are one-sided. The level of trust, support, and respect is different. Some might even question whether there is an actual friendship in place. If we have entered a faith relationship with Jesus, wouldn’t that mean we have also entered into a friendship with Him? But have we? Isn’t that friendship also related to the trust of the other? If we trust, wouldn’t it seem that we would also follow just as Abraham did with God the Father? Sadly, we question and resist. We bulk at His direction and even rebel. Even the Apostle Paul struggled. He states, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (Romans 7:24-25) The answer to this question is Jesus Christ. So, the question of friendship is that Jesus is our friend and constantly draws us into a deeper friendship with Him. Submitting to that is our problem. Think about it.

The 3Ds will play a variety of folk, jazz, Celtic, old-time and Americana songs during their concert for the Golden Afternoons program at 1 p.m. next Tuesday, March 11 in the lobby at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.

The concert is free. Anyone who is 55 years of age or older is welcome to attend. Free cookies and coffee or tea will be provided.

The 3Ds include David Milano on guitar; David Driskell on clarinet, flute, whistle and musical saw; Daria Lin-Guelig on hammered dulcimer and concertina; and Anne Acker on upright bass. 

Their genre-blending experiment has given each member of the group an opportunity to stretch their musical legs, and resulted in a unique ensemble   with an uncommonly engaging and diverse musical repertoire. 

The United East Conference distributed postseason awards this past week, and four Pennsylvania College of Technology basketball players were among the recipients. Three other Wildcats also picked up UE weekly honors.

Men’s Basketball

For the second consecutive season, seniors Livingston Cross of Union, New Jersey, and Gavin Barrett of Roselle, New Jersey, were awarded UE first-team honors on Wednesday. Barrett became the first Wildcat in the NCAA era to earn three all-conference selections, and the Barrett-Cross duo are the first back-to-back first-team selections since Penn College became a member of the NCAA in 2014. 

Barrett led the conference and was third nationally, with 179 assists, and he was fourth, averaging 6.4 assists per game. He was one of three Division III players to record a triple-double this season. Barrett had six 20-point games and scored a career-high 33 points against Alfred State on Dec. 3. He finished his career with 1,608 points, tops in the NCAA era and third on the all-time list behind Greg Solyak’s 1,629 and Leroy Joiner’s 1,620.

Barrett and Joiner are the only three-time first-team all-conference recipients in program history. 

Cross led the nation with 23 double-doubles and was the lone conference player to average a double-double (22.3 points, 13.2 rebounds). He led the league and finished in the top-five nationally in rebounds per game and defensive rebounds per game (9.14).

Cross ended the season with a team-high 623 points and 369 rebounds to set new program single-season records in both categories. He closed out his career after joining the team nine games into the 2022-23 season with 1,315 points, second in the NCAA era and fifth all-time, and his seven 30-point games are the most in the men’s program history. He also set a new career rebounding record with 711.

“Pirate School: Sea Dreams” is a hilarious family show that inspires kids and their caregivers to live out their dreams of swashbuckling adventure and quench their thirst to join the briny buccaneers of yore. 
 
Performed live by veteran New York actor David Engel, “Pirate School” will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 14 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.
 
From Engel who plays the bumbling pirate professor, Billy Bones, children learn the finer points of light-hearted mischief through zany lessons on how to stand, talk, sing and laugh like sea dogs.
 
During “Pirate School: Sea Dreams” cannons boom, skulls talk, cutlasses drop, critters cavort and everyone, young and old, participates in a grandiose sea battle for their final exam.
 
Features of a Pirate School experience are its signature immersive and boisterous audience participation, antic bubble-play, adept magic, eccentric props, the appearance of the World’s only wearable pirate ship and a rich score of music and cartoon-like sound effects created by Richard Spooner, the sound designer of TV’s ‘Bob The Builder’ and ‘Chuggington.’
 
Run time is 60 minutes without an intermission. Children are encouraged to wear pirate costumes.
 
Mr. Engel is an actor with years of stage and screen experience, from performing major roles in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “Titus Andronicus,” etc. to appearing in film and on television. 
 
For thirteen years, he worked as a clown doctor bringing stress-reducing humor to pediatric hospitals with the Big Apple Circus’ world-renowned in-hospital Clown Care Program. Mr. Engel continues to offer outreach at pediatric hospitals and sensory sensitive shows.
 
Tickets are free for youngsters ages 2 and under; $10 for children ages 3 to 12 and $15 for those 13 and older, including adults. For tickets or more information call 570-724-6220 or visit deanecenter.com. 
 

by

Pastor B.J. Knefley

The Apostle Paul called for the followers of Jesus to not be conformed to this world but instead be conformed and transformed by the word of God. (Romans 12:1-2) This passage is one of my favorites, but it is also troublesome. It is Troublesome because it is perhaps the hardest thing I’ve attempted to do. Why? The world is confronting and trying to conform to us all the time. It’s relentless.

The world tells us to worry and fret when the Word talks about being still. Events in life create anxiety and stress. Rather than responding with trust and faith, we respond with worry and concern. Even when we try to get still, the world and all its concerns bombard us at every turn.

The Word tells us to trust Him and not lean on our understanding; we don’t do it. Oh, we might try, and we might have a little success, but again, we replace trust with worry. How do we not do this? How do we practice trust amid the storm? How do we move forward when we have no idea which way forward is?

It is so easy to take on the world’s posture regarding life. We quickly follow the dictates and customs of this world. We don’t want to, but we do. It’s natural; it’s a part of our nature and our behavior. As the saying goes, what we live with, we learn, what we know, we practice, and what we practice, we become. So, what is our hope? How do we change? How do we not allow the world to conform to us but instead be conformed by His Word? The simple answer is that we need to practice, and that is where we fail.

Practice means that when we fall and allow the world to be our influence, we get back up and break the hold. We also need to be students of His Word. That means studying it and putting it into practice. Learning to lean into Him takes practice and perseverance. Are you willing to put in the time to accomplish this? Think about it.

Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries is proud to participate in this year’s Raise the Region, the area’s largest online giving event. From 6 p.m. on March 12 through 11:59 p.m. March 13, make a donation to Second Chance at www.raisetheregion.org/organization/Second-Chance-Animal-Sanctuaries to help local animals in need. 

WELLSBORO – Applications for the 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program are now open, and Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) is reminding area residents that free assistance with filing for the rebates is available through his offices in Wellsboro and Troy.

The program benefits eligible residents 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older. The income limit for this year is $46,520 for both homeowners and renters; be sure to exclude 50% of Social Security or railroad retirement income. The maximum rebate is $1,000.

McKean County

Director of Security

McKean County is seeking qualified and highly motivated applicants for a full-time Director of Security located in Smethport, Pennsylvania.

The Director of Security will coordinate and implement initiatives regarding security and safety for all departments of the Court.  The candidate will provide technical and security related assistance/advice to other non-judicial offices in the courthouse upon request of the County Commissioners.  This position is responsible for the safety and security of all staff and public visitors in the courthouse.

Responsibilities:

• Perform a daily security sweep of the courthouse building and grounds prior to and at the close of business.
• Maintain order within the courthouse; settle disturbances as required.
• Develop and institute procedures and plans relating to security and safety.
• Assign hearing and/or meeting areas within the courthouse according to the daily schedule.
• Maintain a visible security presence within the building.
• Direct traffic (attorneys, litigants, witnesses, etc.) for hearings and meetings.
• Provide leadership to the Courthouse Security Committee on related meeting agendas, programs and policies.
• Provide effective supervision, coaching, mentoring and appraising of job performance to assigned subordinates.
• Accurately maintain required reports, files, records and certifications related to the position or courthouse security.
• Provide input into department annual budget.
• Create, issue, and monitor key fob access for all employees of the courthouse.
• Appear for events or assure other security staff appears for functions and proceedings held at the courthouse/court facilities on non-county/court hours.
• Appear at courthouse/court facilities to address emergency situations/events.
• Assign duties/hours to other Security Officers, full and part-time, as required for court/courthouse and court facility operations and functions.
• Assist with such other duties as may be assigned for the successful operation of the courthouse.

Special Requirements:

• Capable of meeting physical demands related to the use of restraint and self-defense and ability to handle potentially violent confrontations.
• Firearms and Taser Qualifications (May obtain training/certification after hire at discretion and under terms set by the court).
• Communication skills necessary to diffuse dangerous and/or threatening situations.
• Ability to complete annual firearms certification.
• Ability to use tact, yet decisiveness.

Qualified candidates should apply by sending a McKean County job application and resume to Patricia Brown, Court Administrator, 500 West Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749, or via email to pabrown@mckeancountypa.gov.  McKean County is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.
 

Shinglehouse Borough Water Department will be shutting off the Borough water approximately between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Monday March 10,2025 for repairs to a main line. Please plan accordingly for water usage beforehand.

Loss of water system Pressure:

If the distribution system experiences a loss of positive pressure a PN (Public Notice) must be issued. The PWS cannot lift the PN/Boil Advisory until 2 sufficient clean bacteriological samples have been collected And analyzed. Verification after water main repairs where the main was depressurized or partially dewatered, one set of samples is collected that is representative to the affected area to ensure that the water is safe to consume. Once the samples are found to be satisfactory, the PWS may lift the PN/Boil Advisory. The Shinglehouse Borough will publish notification when you no longer need to boil your water for consumption after the repairs. You DO NOT need to boil your water before the repairs.

As stated above we need to have 2 sufficient clean bacteriological samples that have been collected And analyzed. Before we can announce and lift the boil advisory. Please plan to boil your water until Wednesday February 14, 2024.

What should I do? After the water line repair

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST.  Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using; or use bottled water.  You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms.  These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors.  If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

Guardians of infants and young children and people at increased risk, such as pregnant women, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems, should seek advice from their health care advisors about drinking this water.  General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

Kayla Keen, RN
Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator, UPMC Williamsport

As winter fades and spring approaches, many outdoor enthusiasts shift from snowmobiling and skiing to activities like biking, hiking, and ATV riding. However, each seasonal transition brings unique risks for injuries and accidents that can turn a fun day outdoors into a trip to the emergency department. Whether you’re enjoying the last days of winter sports or gearing up for springtime adventures, taking preventive measures can help keep you safe.

HARRISBURG – Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation, and children are frequently being victimized right in their own homes, often via the internet. To help combat the problem, Reps. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) and Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming) are inviting parents, grandparents and other concerned citizens to join them for a seminar to learn how to protect children from human trafficking in a digital world.

Two sessions are scheduled as follows:  

• Wednesday, April 2, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Towanda Area Junior/Senior High School, 1 High School Drive, Towanda.
• Thursday, April 3, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wellsboro Fire Department Annex, 21 East Ave., Wellsboro.

(March 3, 2025) U.S. Trading Company of Hayward, CA is recalling Joy Luck Brand Lily Flowers because it may contain undeclared SULFITES. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold an afternoon of music featuring pianist Laura Peterson and trumpeter Cyril Bodnar. The performance is free and will take place on Tuesday, March 11, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Studio Theater in Blaisdell Hall.

This performance will showcase a diverse and engaging program, blending the expressive depth of the piano with the bold brilliance of the trumpet.

Peterson, a professional pianist with the Southern Tier Symphony and assistant professor of music at St. Bonaventure University, will present two piano classics: Chopin’s nocturne in C sharp minor and Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.” Peterson said that these pieces, known for their lyrical beauty and emotional depth, will be performed as a set, creating a seamless and evocative musical experience.

She described the pairing as “the perfect combination of fluid, melancholic expressiveness,” highlighting the natural synergy between Chopin’s poignant nocturne and Debussy’s dreamlike masterpiece.

Bodnar, a highly accomplished trumpeter with extensive experience in both classical and jazz performance, will perform a selection of works that showcase the versatility and power of the trumpet, providing a dynamic complement to Peterson’s piano performance.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s arts calendar or contact Pitt-Bradford Arts.

“THE PILLARS: A MONUMENT HONORING OUR LOCAL CARBON & POWDERED METAL INDUSTRIES”

AND THE $23,975.00 THEY HAVE ALREADY RAISED – MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025

(St. Marys, PA) – St. Marys Area High School’s Dutch Manufacturing (DM) student president, vice president, and secretary will present a major, milestone update on their groundbreaking project “The Pillars: A Monument Honoring Our Local Carbon & Powdered Metal Industries” to secure final approval for the project from the St. Marys Area School Board on Monday, March 10, 2025.

To date, the students have secured an impressive $23,975.00 from local companies, grants, and foundations, with $5,000.00 left to raise.

“The Pillars” is one of four projects currently in the works by the creative, collaborating collective of SMAHS Dutch Manufacturing, international award-winning author and artist John Schlimm, and the Community Education Center of Elk & Cameron Counties (CEC). The collective’s work is centered at the intersection of STEAM x COMMUNITY SERVICE.

The target installation/dedication date for “The Pillars” is August 2025 at St. Marys Area High School.