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WASHINGTON — F-35s are available to fly just 55% of the time, and 73% of replacement parts have to be sent back to suppliers because the Pentagon’s maintenance depots are inadequate, according to a new congressional audit on the troubled upkeep of the fighter jet that is the world’s costliest weapons system.

NEW YORK -- The U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince is opening up a large number of non-immigrant visa appointments for Haitian nationals, warning that anyone who paid a U.S. visa fee prior to Oct. 1, 2022, will need to book an appointment online before the end of this month or face having to repay.

Chunks of asteroid that could tell us about the earliest days of the 4.5 billionyear- old solar system and the possible origins of water on our planet are set to land in the Utah desert Sunday. It’s a moment more than a decade in the making for a NASA mission called OSIRIS-REx.

What a privilege it is to say a few words each week about the worship experience at First Baptist Church at Burbank. Sunday morning services are always looked forward to. We do not have many that attend our Sunday school service but when the clock turns to 11 am the doors start to swing open. We are truly blessed to continue to be consistent with the same familiar smiling faces for worship time. The best review that I can give our fellowship is that they know that they are going to be blessed with great singing with a message that the Lord helps the Pastor prepare. It is always based on the inerrant Word of God. We always have prayer, uplifting hymns, sometimes we have special music, and love being welcomed with smiling faces. I know it is unusual for a Pastor to serve at a church for as long as I have. When called as Pastor in September of 2008, the expectation was long term. My comment was that the Lord placed it on the congregation’s heart that I would serve until the Lord desires otherwise. There is a mutual desire for each member to allow the Lord to give them a voice in what transpires at the church. We have a monthly business meeting but few attend. People are notified if major decisions need to be made. That is what is wonderful about being a small church family. We trust the Lord to assist the body of believers in knowing how to respond to meeting needs in the community and surrounding area. Those who attend trust each other to feel the pulse of the community and help those during their times of need. We wish that we could meet all the needs but know that the Lord will assist us in finding help as an intermediary when needed. God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good. That is His nature.