We just experienced a wild week at Angelina College Athletics, and with the way things are heating up, we’re expecting plenty more of the same.
Our baseball and softball teams combined for four wins on Friday the 13th, proving the day is only bad luck if you’re not a Roadrunner. On Valentine’s Day (Saturday), the Roadrunner men’s basketball team pulled off a sweetheart of a shocker, beating Navarro College in a rally for the ages.
We have plenty more action at home on tap, so be sure to check out the schedules listed below.
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:
Roadrunner Basketball Shocks Navarro College
If Valentine’s Day is all about surprising one’s loved ones, the Angelina College Roadrunners pulled it off perfectly.
The ‘Runners rallied in the final seconds to knock off Navarro College 63-62 Saturday at Shands Gymnasium in the most improbable fashion imaginable.
AC’s Zacc Sells came up with a steal and a pair of three pointers before the buzzer to cap the AC comeback and give the Roadrunners their seventh win in conference play. \
The game appeared over and in Navarro’s favor, with the Bulldogs holding a 62-56 lead with just 30 seconds to play. AC’s Ronald Durham hit a free throw to cut the deficit to five at 62-57, and all Navarro needed to do was run out the clock.
But while trying to avoid a foul, the Bulldogs threw an errant pass. Sells, falling out of bounds, came up with a steal and kickout to Payia, who passed back to Sells in the left corner. Sells drained a three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing Navarro inbounds, Payia knocked the ball away from a Bulldog, and Julius Crosby gathered it for the AC possession. Crosby passed off to Payia, who found Sells in the right corner, and Sells again ripped the nets with another trey with seven seconds left. Navarro’s last-gasp shot attempt caromed off the rim, leaving the Roadrunners with the comeback win.
Sells finished with 12 points, including a 4-of-8 effort from three-point range. He also added four steals to his totals. Crosby added 12 points and three assists, while Payia added 11 points and two steals. Cheikh Diebakhate added 10 points in the win.
On Wednesday, AC fell at home to Blinn College, with the Bucs taking a 67-64 win at Shands Gymnasium. Kai’Ree Murray and Daemon Ely each scored 14 points for the ‘Runners.
The Roadrunners (13-11, 7-9) play at Tyler Junior College on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Wagstaff Gymnasium.
On Saturday, AC will host Bossier Parish Community College for a 4 p.m. game at Shands Gymnasium.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball Lose to Blinn, Kilgore
The Lady Roadrunners’ depleted roster – the team suited up just six players against Blinn College – dropped a pair of conference games this past week, losing to Blinn 71-45 at home on Wednesday before falling 103-62 at Kilgore College on Saturday.
Against Blinn, AC’s Aminah Dixon and Ja’Kaila Lee each finished with 16 points.
In Kilgore, Timberlyn Washington led the Lady Roadrunners with 18 points, Dixon added 17 points and Katherine Martinez finished with 13 points.
The Lady ‘Runners (5-15, 1-8) are home at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday against Paris Junior College. On Saturday, AC will host No. 9 Trinity Valley Community College starting at 2 p.m.
Roadrunner Baseball Takes Three Wins for the Week
Things are really beginning to come together for the Roadrunner baseball team, with the team picking up three wins in three tries this past week.
AC opened the week with a 10-2 win at Dallas College-Brookhaven on Wednesday, with Cole Standley driving in four runs with a grand slam. Jackson Todd added two RBI, and Connor Ficarra and Luke Hamm drove in a run each. Koby Chesterton picked up the mound win, throwing four innings of scoreless ball while allowing just one hit and striking out six batters.
In Friday’s home doubleheader against Galveston College, the ‘Runners used some timely hitting and clutch pitching to sweep the Whitecaps by final scores of 6-3 and 4-2 at Poland Stadium.
AC used a four-run second inning to take the lead over the Whitecaps in Game 1. Standley drove in a pair of runs with a single, and Stefano Ramos added an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
In the sixth inning, AC’s Jorge Arcia-Palma rocked a solo homer over the left-field wall.
Pitcher Aaron Martinez threw a scoreless three innings in relief, striking out two Galveston hitters.
In Game 2, the ‘Runners rallied from a 2-0 deficit, tying the game in the bottom of the second inning after a Ficarra single scored Ramos and Arcia-Palma crossed the plate on a passed ball.
In the third, Jon “Diesel” Gonzalez drove home Cole Babineaux with a sacrifice fly, and in the fifth, Standley padded the lead with an RBI double to score Seth Sloan.
Starting pitcher Ethan Muniz went five innings on the mound, striking out six while allowing just two earned runs. Reliever Trey Nott finished off the final two innings, giving up one hit while striking out two Whitecaps – including a “K” to end the game.
The Roadrunners (7-3) on Wednesday will play host to Dallas College-Mountain View in a single, nine-inning game starting at 2 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. AC will be at home again on Saturday, this time hosting Tyler Junior College in a doubleheader set for a 1 p.m. start at Poland Stadium.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Sweeps Pair of Doubleheaders
AC’s ladies have put together an impressive four-game winning streak behind a pair of doubleheader sweeps this past week.
The Lady ‘Runners took wins by scores of 7-3 and 4-3 at Navarro College on Wednesday, with Jessi Sumpter driving in two runs in the opener. Breanne Calhoun, Ella Stephenson and Elizabeth Craig also picked up an RBI each, and pitcher Jaycee Knighton allowed just one earned run over seven innings of work, striking out six Lady Bulldogs.
Game 2 saw Calhoun come through with a two-run single in the fifth inning to give AC its winning margin. Craig also drove in a run, and Stephenson picked up the pitching win in relief, throwing three scoreless innings to close out the game.
Stephenson had herself a day in Friday’s 8-4, 6-1 sweep of Kilgore, homering in each game while earning the circle win in the late game.
In the opener, Stephenson’s three-run shot fueled an eight-run inning for the Lady Roadrunners. Katherine Page, Mallory Dunn and Molly McCormack also drove in runs for AC, while pitcher Jaycee Knighton tossed a complete game win in the circle, finishing with seven strikeouts.
In Game 2, Stephenson hit a solo shot in the fourth as part of AC’s four-run inning. In the circle, Stephenson picked up the complete-game win after allowing just one earned run while striking out three Lady Rangers.
Megan Smith collected two RBI, and Dunn, Page and Kassidy St. Clair drove in a run each.
The Lady Roadrunners (5-9) travel to Mount Pleasant this Wednesday to face Northeast Texas Community College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. On Saturday, AC’s ladies return home for a twin bill against Tyler Junior College. Game 1’s first pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex.
AC Women’s Soccer Hosting ID Camp
The Lady Roadrunner soccer program has been among the nation’s best for the past several years, and they’re looking for more Lady ‘Runners to join the fun.
AC Women’s Soccer will host an “ID Camp” for prospective players on Saturday, April 11 at the soccer complex inside the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
The camp will run from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and is geared toward players looking to play at the collegiate level. Cost of the camp is $30 if players register before March 15; after March 15, the cost is $50 per player.
As always in East Texas, the potential exists for schedule changes because of inclement weather. We try to put out the word as soon as we get it, but the quickest way to confirm game days and times is to visit the AC Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com) to view the most updated schedules. We’ll also send out word on social media (AC Athletics Facebook and Instagram, etc.), but the on-line schedule will always serve up the most recent updates.
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:
Wednesday, Feb. 18:
Roadrunner Baseball vs. Dallas College-Mountain View, single nine-inning game starting at 2 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus
Lady Roadrunner Softball at Northeast Texas Community College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, TX
Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. Paris Junior College, 5:30 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium
Roadrunner Basketball at Tyler Junior College, 7 p.m. in Tyler, TX
Saturday, Feb. 21:
Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. Tyler Junior College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sport Complex on the AC campus
Roadrunner Baseball vs. Tyler Junior College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus
Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. Trinity Valley Community College, 2 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus
Roadrunner Basketball vs. Bossier Parish Community College, 4 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
“The Holy Spirit helps me on being grateful. My mom gave me something I don’t like, but I still liked it,” says Siroc, 7.
That’s one of the best definitions of spiritual maturity I’ve ever heard: being thankful even when dinner looks suspicious. If you’ve ever smiled through a mouthful of overcooked Brussels sprouts or a surprise casserole, you know exactly what Siroc means.
In John 16:13, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth and says, “He will guide you into all truth.” The Holy Spirit doesn’t just help you be grateful; he helps you understand what Jesus meant, what God wants, and how to live it out.
“The Holy Spirit guides us, protects us and tells us what to do,” says Jake, 8.
Jake sums up the job description of the Holy Spirit in one sentence. If the Spirit had a business card, it might say: “Guide. Protector. Divine GPS.” Jesus said the Spirit would speak only what he hears from the Father and tell us what is to come (John 16:13).
“He gives you courage when you’re scared,” says Ava, 9. “When I was nervous to sing at church, I asked the Holy Spirit to help me. I wasn’t afraid anymore.”
That’s exactly what Jesus promised. The Holy Spirit isn’t just a comforter in theory; he’s a real help in real life. He’s like a flashlight that never runs out of batteries, and he always points to Jesus.
“The Holy Spirit helps you remember what Jesus said,” says Caleb, 11. “Like when I almost lied, I remembered Jesus said to tell the truth.”
That’s one of the Spirit’s best gifts: reminding us of Jesus’ words right when we need them. Sometimes it’s a whisper in your heart; other times, a gentle nudge.
“The Holy Spirit shows you when you’re doing something wrong,” says Gracie, 10. “I felt bad about being mean to my brother. I think that was him.”
The Spirit doesn’t scold. He corrects to bring us back to God. Jesus said the Spirit would especially convict the world of sin of unbelief in Jesus, which is the only sin that can keep anyone from entering God’s glorious kingdom (John 16:8–9).
Think of the Holy Spirit like a GPS that lovingly reroutes you to Jesus when you’ve taken a wrong turn. And unlike your uncle’s GPS, He never says, “Recalculating” in an annoyed voice.
“The Holy Spirit helps me pray when I don’t know what to say,” says Micah, 8.
Romans 8:26 says the Spirit helps us in our weakness, even praying for us when we don’t have the words. When you feel stuck in prayer, you’re not praying alone. In this verse, the Bible says the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” “Groanings” is a good description. Remember, he has to live with us.
“He always tells the truth and helps us understand the Bible,” says Lila, 10. “And he never brags about himself. He talks about Jesus.”
Jesus said, “He will glorify me” (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit’s favorite subject is Jesus, and he helps us know and love him more every day.
Think about this: The Holy Spirit is your built-in helper. He’s your personal tutor to teach you more about Jesus.
Memorize this truth: “However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
Ask this question: Is there something the Spirit is helping me understand or be thankful for today?
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 twice a week in a free, email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email.
Most leadership efforts don’t fail because leaders aren’t capable.
They fail because intensity fades.
Early in the year, leadership is fueled by energy. New goals feel achievable. Vision feels fresh. Motivation runs high. But as weeks pass, intensity gives way to reality. Pressure builds. Distractions multiply. The work becomes repetitive.
That’s when leadership is tested.
Not in moments of excitement – but in moments of faithful repetition.
Intensity Is Impressive. Consistency Is Transformational.
Anyone can lead intensely for a season. It takes far more character to lead steadily over time. The leaders who endure are not the most passionate – they’re the most faithful.
Scripture speaks directly to this truth:
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
Notice the promise isn’t tied to effort alone. It’s tied to endurance.
Why Leaders Burn Out
Burnout isn’t usually caused by doing too much once. It’s caused by doing too much without rhythm.
Leaders often confuse urgency with importance. They sprint when they were meant to pace themselves. They treat every challenge like a crisis and every opportunity like a mandate.
Over time, exhaustion replaces clarity.
Consistency, on the other hand, creates sustainability. It allows leaders to show up with clarity even when energy is low and motivation is absent.
Faithfulness Is a Long Game
In Scripture, God rarely rewards speed. He rewards faithfulness.
He honors leaders who show up when no one is watching, who keep doing the right thing even when results lag behind obedience.
Consistency doesn’t look dramatic. It looks ordinary.
It looks like:
Doing what you said you would do
Keeping commitments when enthusiasm fades
Staying aligned when shortcuts appear tempting
Over time, those quiet choices compound.
Leadership Built on Habits, Not Hype
Strong leadership is built on habits, not heroic moments.
Teams don’t need leaders who spike occasionally – they need leaders who are reliable. Leaders whose reactions are predictable. Leaders whose values don’t change with circumstances.
Consistency builds trust because it removes uncertainty.
People don’t have to guess how you’ll respond. They already know.
Jesus Modeled Steady Leadership
Jesus didn’t lead with constant intensity. He led with purpose and pace.
He taught regularly. He withdrew intentionally. He remained faithful to His mission without rushing the outcome.
Even when misunderstood, rejected, or opposed, He stayed consistent.
That steadiness changed everything.
Your Action Step This Week
Look at your leadership through this lens:
Where am I relying on intensity instead of consistency?
Choose one simple action you can repeat faithfully – especially on the days you don’t feel like it.
Leadership growth doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing the right things consistently.
That’s a Wrap
Leadership isn’t proven in bursts of passion. It’s proven in seasons of perseverance.
The leaders who last aren’t the loudest. They’re the most faithful.
Next week, we’ll explore one of the loneliest realities of leadership – and why walking that road well matters more than you think.
ERCOT is often mentioned during extreme weather events, but its role extends far beyond emergencies.
Behind the Scenes of the Grid
ERCOT manages electricity flow across most of Texas, ensuring that generation keeps pace with demand. As Texas grows, that balancing act becomes more complex.
What Growth Means for the Future
Population increases and new industries place sustained pressure on the grid. Over time, that reality influences pricing and planning decisions.
Understanding these forces helps Texans make more informed choices — without panic.
This article is part of an ongoing energy education series for Texas Forest Country Living.
Every organization has a culture – whether it admits it or not.
Some cultures are intentional. Others are accidental. But none are neutral.
Culture doesn’t come from what’s framed on the wall or posted on the website. It comes from what leaders tolerate, repeat, reward, and ignore – day after day, decision after decision.
That’s why culture is one of the most misunderstood aspects of leadership. Leaders often believe they can declare culture. In reality, culture is something you demonstrate, long before you ever describe it.
What Leaders Do Speaks Louder Than What They Say
Most culture problems don’t start with employees. They start with leadership inconsistency.
A leader says integrity matters – but looks the other way when a top performer cuts corners. A leader says people come first – but constantly sacrifices relationships for results. A leader says excellence is expected – but tolerates mediocrity when it’s convenient.
Over time, the message becomes clear. Not from a meeting. Not from a memo. But from behavior.
Scripture understood this long before leadership books did:
“These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently… when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way.” – Deuteronomy 6:6–7
Culture is formed in the everyday moments – when leaders think no one is paying attention.
Culture Is the Residue of Leadership Decisions
Culture isn’t built in grand gestures. It’s built in small, repeated choices.
It’s shaped by how leaders respond under pressure. By what gets addressed immediately – and what gets postponed indefinitely. By whether values are enforced consistently or only when it’s easy.
Over time, those moments accumulate. They leave a residue.
And that residue becomes culture.
You can feel it when you walk into an organization. You can sense it in how people speak, act, and decide. You can spot it in what gets celebrated – and what gets quietly ignored.
Faith-Driven Culture Requires Intentionality
For faith-driven leaders, culture carries even greater weight.
You’re not just shaping performance – you’re shaping people.
Culture teaches your team what really matters, regardless of what you say from the front. It shows them how faith is lived out in pressure, conflict, and decision-making.
Jesus didn’t shape culture with slogans. He shaped it through consistent example.
He washed feet. He spoke truth calmly. He held firm to conviction without spectacle.
And over time, those actions formed a culture that outlasted His physical presence.
The Cost of Ignoring Culture
When leaders don’t intentionally shape culture, something else will.
Fear fills the gap. Politics take root. Silence replaces trust.
Most leaders don’t realize culture is slipping until symptoms appear – turnover, disengagement, cynicism, or quiet resistance. By then, repairing culture takes far more effort than shaping it ever would have.
Culture doesn’t erode overnight. It erodes through neglect.
Culture Begins With the Leader’s Daily Example
If you want to understand your culture, ask one question:
What behaviors are consistently modeled at the top?
People don’t follow values. They follow examples.
And leaders are always teaching – whether they mean to or not.
Your Action Step This Week
Pay attention this week – not to what you say, but to what you show.
Notice:
How you respond to problems
How you speak about people who aren’t present
How you handle pressure
Then ask yourself:
If my team copies this behavior, is that the culture I want?
Because they will.
That’s a Wrap
Culture isn’t built in meetings. It’s built in moments.
It’s shaped quietly, steadily, and relentlessly by leadership behavior.
If you want to change culture, don’t start with words. Start with example.
Next week, we’ll explore why consistency – not intensity – is what sustains leadership over the long haul.
Members of area law-enforcement, along with attorneys, dispatchers and other administrators, pose with Angelina College staff following Thursday’s “Q&A” session with students currently enrolled in AC’s Law Enforcement Academy, Criminal Justice program and Paralegal program. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)
Angelina College students on Thursday participated in “Question and Answer” session inside Hudgins Hall featuring several area law enforcement officials, attorneys and dispatchers.
Wayne Haglund (center), Attorney at Law with the Haglund Firm, answers a question during Thursday’s “Criminal Justice Q&A” event held at Angelina College. The audience included students currently enrolled in AC’s Law Enforcement Academy, Criminal Justice program and Paralegal program. Picture with Haglund are (L-R) Krystal Riley, Attorney Partner and Tara Triana, Special Projects/Emergency Management Coordinator, Nacogdoches County. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)
The audience included students currently enrolled in AC’s Law Enforcement Academy, as well as Criminal Justice and Paralegal students.
With AC Director of Career and Transfer Connections Alex Barney serving as the host, the panel fielded student questions ranging from career origins, daily duties and actual life in a chosen profession. Panelists shared their backgrounds and experiences related to their careers in order to give students a “real-life” view of their future careers.
Angelina College’s Alex Barney (far right) conducts a “Q&A” session with panelists including members of area law-enforcement, along with attorneys, dispatchers and other administrators. Their audience included students currently enrolled in AC’s Law Enforcement Academy, Criminal Justice program and Paralegal program. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)
Panelists included Amy Wren, District Attorney, Angelina County; Kristi Skillern, City Attorney, City of Lufkin; Michael Skillern, Chief of Police in Diboll; Krystal Riley, Attorney Partner, Skelton Slusher Barnhill Watkins Wells PLLC; Ally Peterson, Associate Attorney, Law Office of Kay Alderman; Dan Taravella, Assistant Chief, Nacogdoches Police Department; Wayne Haglund, Attorney at Law, Haglund Firm; Tara Triana, Special Projects/Emergency Management Coordinator, Nacogdoches County; Joel Barton, Chief, Nacogdoches ISD; Ivette Flores, Secretary/Dispatcher, Nacogdoches ISD; and Corey Bean – Staff Sergeant, Recruiting, Texas Department of Public Safety.
For further information on AC’s Career and Transfer Connections programs, contact Alex Barney at hbarney@angelina.edu.
For further information on this press release, contact Krista Brown at kbrown@angelina.edu.
Every year about this time, East Texans get fooled by a few warm afternoons. The sun feels good. The soil looks workable. Garden centers start stacking transplants. Even some forecasts for next week show we may reach the upper 70’s! And suddenly, people start planting like spring has already arrived.
It hasn’t.
February in East Texas is a transition month. And that distinction matters, because planting too early doesn’t give you a head start. It usually gives you dead plants, wasted seed, and a false sense of progress.
Our weather pattern this time of year is predictable: mild days, cold nights, and at least one more hard cold snap before winter fully releases its grip. Remember that our average last frost is in mid-March. Warm afternoons do not change soil temperature, frost risk, or plant physiology. They just make people impatient.
The most common mistake is planting warm-season vegetables too early. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, melons, okra, and beans simply do not belong in East Texas gardens in February. These crops require warm soil to germinate properly and warm nights to grow. Cool soil slows root development, reduces nutrient uptake, and stresses plants even if the tops look fine for a while.
When a late freeze hits — and it usually does — those stressed plants don’t recover. They stall, yellow, rot, or die. Even if they survive, early cold stress often sets them back so badly that later-planted crops outperform them.
In other words, early planting doesn’t create earlier harvests. It creates weaker plants.
Another common mistake is confusing “cool weather” with “cold tolerance.” Lettuce, spinach, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, onions, and other cool-season crops can handle cold — but even they have limits. February planting should be strategic, not reckless. These crops tolerate cold soil better than warm-season plants, but extended freezes, saturated soils, and repeated freeze–thaw cycles still cause damage.
February is also when people overestimate what soil can handle. Working wet soil leads to compaction. Compaction leads to poor root growth, drainage problems, and long-term productivity loss. You don’t fix that with fertilizer — you live with it all season.
Then there’s the transplant trap. Those beautiful tomato and pepper plants sitting in garden centers are not a signal to plant — they’re a signal to wait. Retail availability is driven by supply chains, not local growing conditions. Plants don’t care what the calendar or the store display says.
So, what should East Texans actually be doing in February? Go ahead and get your onions, potatoes and other cool season vegetables. Other than those, February is for preparation, not production.
This is the right time to build beds, add compost, correct drainage issues, improve soil structure, and get your garden physically ready. It’s the time to plan crop layout, rotate planting areas, and think about spacing and sun exposure. It’s the time to start warm-season crops indoors if you want transplants ready later — not to rush them into cold ground.
If you’re planting anything outside right now, it should be limited to true cool-season crops that tolerate cold soils and fluctuating temperatures — and even then, with the understanding that protection may still be needed.
February gardening is about restraint. It’s about resisting the urge to confuse a warm afternoon with a warm season. It’s about understanding that East Texas weather doesn’t shift cleanly — it staggers, stalls, and backtracks.
Gardening isn’t rewarded by enthusiasm. It’s rewarded by timing.
The most successful gardens aren’t planted first — they’re planted right. And in East Texas, February is not spring. It’s preparation season.
How Does the Holy Spirit Show People They Need Christ?
“The Holy Spirit is here to help us believe when Christ is with his father,” says Hannah, 11.
When Jesus told his disciples he was going away, I wish we could have seen their faces. Rather than Jesus being physically present with them, he sent the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, Jesus presented his departure and the Holy Spirit’s advent as advantageous for his disciples.
I suppose this was like taking off the training wheels when learning how to ride a bike. For three years, Jesus had taught them about his Father and the ways of his kingdom. Jesus even told them he was going to die in Jerusalem and rise again to ascend to his Father, but they couldn’t imagine it at the time.
Jesus’ disciples were too busy jockeying for position in his kingdom. They couldn’t imagine Jesus being crucified as a common criminal. This didn’t line up with their Messianic expectations.
Regarding the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “And when he has come, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in me,” (John 16:8-9).
The Holy Spirit is the world’s greatest evangelist. Consider the experience of Francesca, 11: “I was so scared having to watch my dad be so close to death. That was when the Holy Spirit moved me to accept Christ into my heart. After that, I had faith that God would help my dad get better, and he did.”
Our conscience speaks to us about individual sins. The Holy Spirit convicts or convinces us of our need to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior. People imagine they are destined to hell because of their personal sins. However, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would convict all people “of sin, because they do not believe in me.”
Jesus said, “He who believes in him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God,” (John 3:18). The only issue that determines one’s eternal destiny is belief in Jesus Christ or unbelief in him.
Jesus purchased everyone’s ticket to heaven, but we must receive that ticket by believing in him alone for our salvation. The Holy Spirit wants every person to believe in Christ.
“If we are made aware of the Holy Spirit’s conviction, we are made aware of God’s perfect love for us,” says Kaina, 11.
We live in a world of conditional love where our performance determines whether love is given or withheld. God’s perfect love doesn’t depend on our performance. God pursues us even when we sin. We can’t comprehend a love that persists even when we resist. This is where the Holy Spirit’s job comes into play.
Despite our desire to earn God’s approval through our own efforts, the Holy Spirit convinces us that God’s love doesn’t depend on our worthiness. God pursues everyone, but especially those who realize they need God’s grace.
Think about this: When religious leaders criticized Jesus for eating with sinners, Jesus said he didn’t come to save the righteous, but to save sinners (Luke 5:32). The righteous of whom Jesus spoke were religious leaders who didn’t see their need for a savior. They trusted in their religious rules and traditions.
Memorize this truth: John 16:8-9 previously quoted.
Ask this question: Have you heard the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit telling you that you need forgiveness and a righteousness that is not your own?
