I grew up in a small town, but moved to the city to find fame and fortune (I found neither), which is a common American story in the last 80 years. About 13 years ago, I took a “temporary” consulting job in Southeast Kansas, and fell in love again with the rural lifestyle I had left behind all those years ago. It wasn’t long before my wife (who also had rural roots) and I left city living behind, found our permanent home, and rediscovered country living. We are loving life in Bourbon County and have purchased our retirement home here.

Is this becoming a megatrend in America?

Yes, according to Mark Smither, a strategy expert for Paulsen, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota marketing and research firm. “What accelerated it,” he said in a recent article published online by Agri-Pulse, “was the pandemic, then technology, then employers saying, ‘You can do your job remotely.’” According to his online article entitled, Rural leaders look for innovative ways to attract city folks to the country, his confidence comes from a panel study he did in the summer of 2020 based on a coast to coast survey about relocation.

One encouraging finding of the survey was that 68% of urban dwellers said they would “definitely” consider changing jobs or employers to move to a more rural area, and another 20% said they “probably” would. Coming from the Kansas City metro area, I believe these numbers, knowing that most of my friends and acquaintances were also transplants from rural America, and missed the lifestyle.

It appears that the early winners of this population shift are “micropolitan” areas, which are cities of 10,000 to 50,000. These are people looking for more densely populated rural areas, with scenic qualities, and proximity to a major metropolitan area; especially those with outdoor recreational activities and amenities.

What will it take to attract some of these migrants to more rural areas? According to the article, broadband access, a community college, and quality infrastructure are the keys.

Bourbon County has all the potential in the world to reverse negative population trends, and take advantage of what might be a significant move by Americans out of our major cities. We have scenic qualities (well, for Kansas), proximity to Kansas City and Joplin, outdoor recreational amenities, improving broadband access, and a community college. Our infrastructure definitely needs work.

Bourbon County REDI will be pushing to organize a countywide strategic planning effort so we can deploy our scarce resources in such a way to take advantage of changes that may be coming in American demographics. We want all of Bourbon County to thrive, grow, and preserve what we believe to be a high-quality way of life.

Brennan Manning tells a beautiful tale that is recounted every Christmas in the forests in southern France. It’s about four shepherds who came to Bethlehem to see the child.

According to this story, one of the shepherds brought eggs, another brought bread and cheese, and the third brought wine. The fourth brought nothing at all. People called that shepherd “L’Enchant.” The first three shepherds chatted with Mary and Joseph, commenting on how well Mary looked, how cozy was the cave decorated by Joseph, and what a beautiful starlit night it was. They congratulated the proud parents, presented them with their gifts and assured them that if they needed anything else, they had only to ask. Finally, someone said, “Where is L’Enchant?” They searched high and low, up and down, inside and out. Finally, someone peeked through the blanket hung against the draft, into the creche. There, kneeling at the crib, was L’Enchant (the Enchanted One). Through the entire night, he stayed in adoration, whispering, “Jesu, Jesu, Jesu Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” Manning’s story ends with this: That is where you and I would be, would we not? Kneeling beside the crib, whispering, “Jesu, Jesu, Jesu.” After all, what else can we offer him? He already reigns over all creation. What can we bring? Only our love and adoration.

So, my question is this: how many Christmases do we let pass without paying homage to our savior, without dedicating the entire holiday season to the One after whom it is named? When I read stories like Manning’s, I wonder which of the four characters I am. Am I all about the gifts I buy, hoping the receiver will be excited about my present as opposed to worrying about him/her wanting to exchange it? Am I all about the festivities and food preparation? Or will my behavior replicate that of L’Enchant’s so that the focus of my holiday activity is centered completely around Jesus? Right now, our family is planning a Christmas vacation…which means tending to dozens of details, Jesus being the most important. Everyone agreed that this year we will dedicate the week we have together to be purposeful in honoring our Savior. We will be unselfish in our White Elephant exchange, and our pickle ball, volleyball and shooting competitions will not bring out any unnecessary challenges or temper tantrums like they have in the past. Meal preparation will be a shared responsibility, we will all bring our favorite Christmas cookie recipe and bake dozens to be distributed, and we will have a day to paint for a family in need. Instead of lavishing gifts on each other, the money saved will be spent on those less fortunate. Every day we are together we will be creative in giving glory to our Reason for this Season. I pray it doesn’t stop there. I pray we do likewise for all the days after that. I imagine L’Enchant would do the same.

Keys to the Kingdom

 

Most of us know people that periodically go through days with their dander up. Like an ol’ wet hen, they’re annoyed or angry about something fairly often. They take a molehill and turn it into a mountain, and then blow up like a volcano. Years ago I knew a gal that would become sulky and unsociable and no one around her would know why. It was an especially puzzling experience for me because I’d never been around anyone that acted that way.

As believers, let’s determine to pay very close attention to what God reveals to us about ourselves. Although He loves us like we are, He loves us too much to let us stay that way. When the Holy Spirit shows you that you need to change an unChristlike behavior, don’t get your dander up. Be thankful He loves and cares about you and wants you to keep walking toward His likeness. Let’s throw out any pride, sincerely repent, and get in stride with the Holy Spirit. Resolve to work with God to climb up higher in our faithfulness to Him. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2,3 NLT).

Believers express adoration to God when singing, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” but what about our faithfulness to Him? Is it great, or is it just mediocre and falling short of a five-star rating? No matter the number of stars you are, we need to stay in God’s Word — read it, believe it, and live it. Keep praying and never give up! A clever trick of the devil is to convince you that you’re a failure as a Christ follower and you should just quit trying. Don’t you dare believe him because he’s a big fat liar, and his pants really are on fire!

The apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus is intended to stabilize, shape, and challenge believers in their faith. This letter (dated 60-62 AD) is still a relevant teaching in Christian doctrine and living for the modern Church. “I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that He will give you the Spirit, who will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know Him better. I pray that God will open your minds to see His truth. And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe“ (Ephesians 1:17,18a,19a ERV).

The following scripture makes it clear that God holds His children by the hand to prevent them from falling. We know there’s security and comfort in holding hands, especially when the hand is nail-scarred. “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:23,24 NLT).

It’s not God’s plan for believers to white-knuckle our journey of faith. The book of Ephesians states that we’re well equipped with the Spirit who helps us know and understand the truths of God. We have everything we need to know God better and be powerful imitators of Christ Jesus.

The Key: Rejoice when God puts His thumb in your back — it means He loves you.

 

On several occasions, I have referenced an Atlantic Monthly article written by James Fallows, in which he describes his 54,000-mile journey around America in 2016 to see what makes some small towns successful. His summary included 11 striking similarities to these communities that are bucking the national trends. At least eight of these 11 characteristics rely on one concept: unity. It is reasonable to conclude that it is highly improbable that a rural community could succeed without a high level of this highly perishable commodity.

As I pondered this reality, I remembered my first days in Bourbon County nearly 7 years ago. As one makes new acquaintances and friends, one also learns about old enemies and the grudges that exist in most small communities. I have been involved in several efforts to improve our county, only to be slowed or completely derailed by a wall of ill-will caused by old wounds and past sins, disheartening to say the least.

Not to represent myself as an innocent bystander in this dynamic; I have made my share of mistakes and have hurt and offended people in this community that I love. Sometimes, my approaches to repair damage I have done have been met with grace and forgiveness; other times, I have been shunned, another community grudge has taken root, and trust is eroded.

The most critical area in which unity is necessary relates to the cost of local government, which is tied to our high tax rates and low property values. We can no longer afford the overhead of so many local governments providing identical services in close proximity to one another. We have to swallow our collective pride, reconcile with our neighbors, and seek ways to work together on our mutual problems.

In my mind, the best way to begin is to draw from all areas of our county to write a strategic plan for the future success of Bourbon County. An entity or small group of people that most of us trust must lead this effort and get it done; then, we need to implement the plan together.

The research by Mr. Fallows supports but one conclusion: A small community cannot succeed without unity. Decide today what you can do to repair rifts, build bridges, and help reestablish the mutual spirit we need to move our county ahead. We cannot afford to write anyone off as if we don’t need them; we need everyone. After all, that is the very definition of unity.

Nature Valley advertises its product in a recycling commercial. “Dad, you need to think bigger,” says a young gal as she encourages her father to visualize her granola wrapper glued to other wrappers, creating a hang glider the two of them can share.

I love the message, don’t you? If you’ve ever been around a “big thinker,” you know that they travel to the beat of a different drum. A very large, Big Bertha-type drum. (Google it; it’s eight-feet in diameter.)

Big thinkers dream big. They take risks. They are the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and the JB Straubel’s (Tesla’s mastermind) and the Walt Disney’s who refuse to let naysayers determine their perspective.

So, how cool is it that we serve a God who is bigger than even their biggest ideas?

Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. The verse explodes with possibilities. Break it down. God is… Able to do Able to do abundantly Able to do exceedingly abundantly Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

In other words, the Heavens are the limit. So, how can I tap into that power, the power to do more than I can ask or think? Am I to pray for a winning lottery ticket or a new house from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition or the right key that fits the Ferrari giveaway?

I mean, surely if God can do even more than I imagine, those things would be nothing to Him, right? He operates without boundaries or limitations.

One author writes that He is an “impossibility specialist.” His credentials are proof. Abraham was rightfully promised descendants more numerous than the stars, even though his wife was barren. God’s bigness at work. Joseph, imprisoned although innocent, ended up second in power in Egypt. God’s bigness at work. The lame man at the temple gate asked for money. Instead, he was given the ability to run. God’s bigness at work. Jesus, facing his death, begged God to spare him the torture. Instead, He changed history with his death and resurrection, the high-water mark of divine power. God’s bigness at work.

But before we take verse 20 out of context, let’s look at the verses preceding it, like verses 16 and 17 where Paul writes the Ephesian church, praying “that out of his glorious riches he (God)may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Paul begins here with sort of an abstract desire, but that changes when he gives a human reality (Christ) as the bigness of what God designed.

Paul goes on to pray that Christians will have power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Read it again. God’s “thinking big” desire for us has nothing to do with a new car or an executive position in a company. I’m not saying that can’t happen, but God’s priority deals with the bigness of our heart.

His desire is that we spend eternity with Him, and He has already done “immeasurably more than we ask or imagine” to make that a reality. In a few days, we will celebrate the birth of that gift.

Keys to the Kingdom

 

Charlene is my aunt by marriage on my husband’s side. Because I’m older than she is, we get tickled when explaining our relationship to those outside the family. She is a hands-on pastor’s wife, gifted musician, vocalist, artist, and retired art instructor. We recently met for lunch and I presented her with a unique mug design that I wanted her to create for me. I knew I would appreciate and enjoy a personalized coffee mug that defined my relationship with God. While visiting about the design, she explained that no two mug shapes were ever the same. Once she places the clay on the potter’s wheel and the shaping process begins, it basically takes on a one-of-a-kind form. Upon completion, the mug is an original customized creation, just like me (and you).

When my feet hit the floor in the morning, I’m launching into an unrepeatable course of events where I need to lean on Jesus. I don’t know what the day holds, but He does. It’s comforting to know that He’s not surprised by anything and I don’t have to be disturbed by anything. My heavenly Father knows what I need and has everything I need. I told Charlene I wanted two words, “Jehovah-Jireh” painted on the lower portion of the mug. This is one of the Hebrew names for God which means, “the Lord will provide” as referenced in Genesis 22:8,13,14.

As a background color for the words “Jehovah-Jireh,” I chose an off-white which represents sand. As believers, we can be confident that God knows and cares about everything in our lives. “How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me!“ (Psalm 139:17,18 NLT). I have a large glass bottle of Gulf Shores sand on my kitchen counter which reminds me that God has me on His mind and is working things out for my good.

Representing the ocean, I chose turquoise for the middle color of the mug. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT). The word “when” (not “if”) is of great significance. We live in a fallen world, so it’s sure as shootin’ that we’ll experience difficulties. But believers do not go through troubles and trials alone because Jesus is on duty as Lifeguard.

I chose aqua, which represents the sky, for the top portion of my mug. “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak….” (Psalm 19:1,2 NLT). At dawn recently, I noticed an orange glow outside and curiously opened my east front door to witness a gorgeous sunrise. I grabbed my phone and snapped a shot of God’s creative handiwork. The sky actually plays “Show-n-Tell” every day because it can. Just as the sky shouts praises to its Maker, surely believers can do the same with our everyday lives. Because our great Creator God is worthy of our praise, we can celebrate His goodness and bring glory to His name.

The Key: Rejoice! You are a unique creation of God and He knows how to provide for you.

 

This might be the dullest, but most important column, that I write. Earlier, I wrote about the City of Fort Scott creating and launching a Land Bank, which was a great move. It gives us a good foundation upon which we can build. The next building block to add to this slab is a Community Land Trust.

You might be asking, “What the heck is that?” It is a vehicle that might be one of the keys to addressing our most critical need: quality, affordable housing for working families.

How does it work? The following is a hypothetical example:

1.Land Bank acquires an unlivable residential property on a city lot through a tax sale, and the existing structure is demolished and hauled away.

2.Property is deeded to the Community Land Trust (“CLT”), a not-for-profit corporation, to take advantage of charitable donation status.

3.CLT engages an architect, and building plans are drawn for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,600 square foot home. Estimated cost to construct: $200,000.

4.CLT solicits donations and grants for at least 20% of the project, from sources such as the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation. Project cost reduced to $160,000.

5.CLT signs an agreement with a high school or college vocational class to provide free labor and construction supervision, saving $50,000 in labor. Project cost reduced to $110,000.

6.Construction financing is obtained for $110,000.

7.Home is put on the market for $125,000, which should fall within an acceptable cost range to achieve an appraisal for an adequate amount for a buyer to secure financing.

8.Home is sold, an agreement is signed, and a ground lease is established. The buyer pays ground lease cost of $50 per month in addition to their mortgage payment.

9.CLT pays the excess sales proceeds to Land Bank.

10.Buyer agrees that the value they can receive in a resale is capped at $125,000, plus the additional value created by investments in the property, such as additions, fencing, etc. All modification must be approved in advance by the CLT. A property inspection is performed at least annually to make sure it is being maintained.

11.Buyer lives in the property for five years, and desires to move. The home is put on the market for $125,000, plus a modest cost of living increase of 1% per year as a profit to the CLT for future investments, and home is sold for $131,250. The original buyer builds equity by paying down their mortgage and investing in improvements over the years that create value.

12.New buyer signs the same agreement as previous buyer and the cycle is established.

This is a process that can be repeated, thereby establishing a supply of quality, affordable housing in perpetuity.

Every aspect of this plan is doable by our communities in Bourbon County. There are over 225 Community Land Trust operating successfully in the United States, including Douglas County, Kansas. Our Land Bank has approved a study of the concept; now is the time to move ahead.

It was one of those rare text messages every grandmother wants to read. “Could I come over to your house tomorrow after school? I’d like your help making macaroons so I can take them to the nursing home.”

In all honesty, it wasn’t that Montana wanted to bless the residents of a care facility that made me smile. It was that she wanted to have a baking experience with me! Mo would bring all of the ingredients.

The recipe was from a YouTube video of a teenager who promised this to be a “seriously simple” baking experience. What could possibly go wrong? (Spare me your thoughts.) We placed the laptop on my countertop and watched a young, hyper teen walk us through this “seriously simple” happening.

She listed all of the ingredients. Check. Mo had them all. We would make no mistakes. We knew that this was no cakewalk in the park, so every step was checked not once, but four times. Soon, puffy, blue macaroon shells would emerge from the oven, we would add the calorie-loaded cream filling, and nursing home residents would be blessed. There would be no chance for error.

Except, there was, even though Mo and I had no idea where we went awry. Our puffy, blue macaroons emerged from the oven as a flat, brown crust that lined the entire base of the cookie sheet and could not be scraped off. How was this possible? How could light blue turn to dark brown? How could puffy turn to flat? How could beautiful turn to ugly? My granddaughter and I revisited the video. Over and over and over again. We had done precisely what was required. So, where had the mistake occurred?

Apparently, Hyper Teen had omitted an important step (or two). How had she not run through her own video before she posted it for dummies like us who did not have the common sense to see something was amiss?

Like, where was the blue? Or the ingredient to create puffiness? Mo and I simply trusted that we had all the information we needed.

How could we place our faith in someone without checking credentials? There is a story in the Bible that addresses something similar. Acts 18:24-28 introduces us to a Jew named Apollos, a bright man who spoke boldly in the Temple about Scripture and had been “instructed in the way of the Lord…though he knew only the baptism of John.”

In other words, he had some of the facts but not all.

Paul’s husband-and-wife disciple team, Aquila and Priscilla, heard Apollos speak, realized he still had much to learn, invited him to their home and explained the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The zealous orator had omitted important details that made Jesus different from every other prophet.

The story has a great ending: “…he (Apollos) vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.”

We all need to place our trust in one who has proven trustworthy…even when it’s only the success of blue macaroons that lies in the balance.

Keys to the Kingdom

 

I know of only one person who doesn’t like to hear music. As a musician, I find that rather odd. The music of the church has been inspiring and life-changing for me. The songs I heard and sang as a child continue to influence what I believe and do. I woke up one morning with the straightforward lyrics of “We’ll Work till Jesus Comes” in my soul. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to grasp the meaning of this gospel message in song.

After Jesus was resurrected, the time had come for Him to ascend back to heaven. “As they [apostles] were straining their eyes for another glimpse, suddenly two white-robed men were standing there among them, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven and some day, just as He went, He will return!’” (Acts 1:10,11 TLB). These two verses are extremely relevant to modern believers. Today, we might say: Don’t just stand there, do something!

We can read the Books of Acts through Revelation and find out what the New Testament believers did. In a nutshell, they loved God, loved people, and went about doing good — that‘s what Jesus did (see Acts 10:38). The apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power” (1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT). These Christians were not loafers — they were empowered by the Holy Spirit and stayed busy doing God’s will. In 2021, there’s still work to be done and victories to be won. The gospel message is to be preached and songs of worship are to be sung. The lost, hungry, hurting, and abused need to be loved, fed, helped, and brought to Christ Jesus.

When it comes to work, there’s a fine line of balance in the life of a believer. We are to accomplish the work God has individually assigned to us without burning out. “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone — especially to those in the family of faith” (Galatians 6:9,10 NLT). When all believers work together in unity, using our unique abilities, we can make a positive difference for the Kingdom of God.

There are no reserved seats on the sidelines for Christians. Yes, there may come a time when your physical work turns into praying and/or financial partnering only. Remember God moves through people who are willing to be used to get the job done. “Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function]” (1 Corinthians 12:27 AMP). For example, if all the hospital employees were doctors, the place would have to shut down. It takes everybody performing their designated role to have excellent results.

Let’s not drag our feet in working for Jesus until He returns. “The Lord of Hosts says, ‘Get on with the job and finish it! You have been listening long enough!’” (Zechariah 8:9 TLB). So what’s the holdup? It’s time to stop questioning the will of God and start carrying it out.

The Key: Let’s take up where Jesus left off and go about doing good.

If you have read my column very often, you probably have noticed how hard I am on the role of government in managing our economy. I believe that governments serve a legitimate role in the business cycle, but too often their actions destroy the incentive for capital investment and productivity.

A case in point is the 10% luxury tax that Congress placed on toys for the rich, such as yachts, furs, jewelry, planes, etc., during the 1990s. The intention seemed noble: get the rich to pay a little extra for their toys in order to benefit the poor. The result? The rich quit buying American toys or bought used toys and fixed them up. Many workers lost their jobs as these luxury toy manufacturers downsized or went out of business altogether. The yacht tax only brought in about $13 million over 18 months, which was enough to keep the Department of Agriculture running for about 2 hours.

Additionally, the government seems to believe that the intellectuals in their ranks know how to run businesses. They don’t. State control is fundamentally bad because it denies people the power to choose and the opportunity to bear responsibility for their own actions. The incentive for excellence is diminished. When one has real capital investment in an enterprise, the focus becomes efficient cost structures, product/service innovation, and the hard work required to make a profit.

Further, without capital investment in new equipment and software, the incentive for innovation is stymied. Without innovation, productivity stagnates and economic competitiveness declines.

The growth rate of American capital investment has been on the decline since 1999. During the decade of the 1990s, capital investment grew annually by 5.2%, on average; during the first decade of this century, the number was a paltry 0.5% per year. The result was a decline in innovation and productivity as measured by our annual Gross Domestic Product numbers.

What has this to do with Bourbon County? Rural America has suffered disproportionately from these trends. The consolidation that has occurred in many industries has closed rural businesses, resulting in population decline, lost property values, and substantial increases in real estate taxes to offset the lost values.

What do we do about this negative trend? We have to look for creative ways to attract capital investment and to push for a limited role of government in our markets. The free market, in which the incentives are in the right place, will always create more productivity, innovation and profit than a heavily regulated/taxed/controlled economy. To quote former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, when speaking to the rapid rise of the British economy during the 1980s: “…we understood that a system of free enterprise has a universal truth at its heart: to create a genuine market in a state you have to take the state out of the market.” Let’s keep the incentives in the right place in Bourbon County and look for ways to attract capital investment.

After giving up EVERYTHING except the clothes on their backs, three Afghanistan families—a total of 19 people– have been relocated to Fort Scott in the past month, and I am so proud of the efforts and generosity lavished on them by our community.

This Thanksgiving, our son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Jenn, invited those families to join us for a day of celebration.

Two other local families extended an invitation as well, knowing that they were adding 19 to their dinner plans!

Love at its finest.

The Afghanis brought delicious culinary dishes to our gathering and spent the day giving thanks for the many blessings they have received since entering our country and our town.

The Dept. of Defense coordinator—who had worked in Afghanistan with these families for 20 years—and his wife and young daughter showed up to celebrate this holiday.

He, more than anyone, knew of the sacrifices these three fathers had made to protect our soldiers from the enemy.

Jenn might not be in the military, but she has been a soldier and a saint in resettling these three families.

From purchasing houses to handling doctor appointments to enrolling eight of the kids in school to scheduling haircuts and eyeglass fittings to giving them rides as they shop for food and school clothes and window treatments, she has been tireless in welcoming these heroes.

Just trying to follow her schedule prompted me to send an email to 40 friends from all parts of the country, asking for prayer. The response was overwhelming.

Clearly, God was working, and as only God can do, in gigantean ways.

Others stepped up to help! A table and chairs purchased from Iron Star. A set of exquisite dishes (which I gladly would have exchanged for mine). Beds and bedding and couches and pictures and a new microwave and a car full of toys. An offer from a former teacher to help with the language barrier. Gift cards and checks and food delivered to their door. Neighbors bringing over boxes of kitchenware, rugs, utensils and meals.

Overwhelming! Today, after hearing that the Afghanistan’s wanted to celebrate Christmas, there were more blessings when one local couple and one Stillwell, Kansas, family delivered Christmas trees and containers of decorations to the families.

My husband and I were there to see the immeasurable joy shared as the young children wedged every single adornment they unpacked into the pine needles. Not exactly a site of beauty. But certainly a site of delight. (Children’s giggles do that, you know.)

What I couldn’t help but notice, however, was that inside their front doors hung the American flag.

Sometimes our blessing as Americans is to share our blessings.

I don’t think there’s a better way to celebrate what author Meg Bucher called the “holiday associated with Pilgrims and Native Americans which symbolizes intercultural peace, American’s opportunity for newcomers, and the sanctity of home and family.”

I’m pretty sure the Afghanistan families would agree.

Keys to the Kingdom

 

My brother now has possession of Grandma Jennings’ Bavarian sugar bowl which has an intricate red band imprinted on a cream-colored background. During World War II, my Dad loved three women: his wife, his mother, and his mother-in-law. While fighting on the front lines in Germany he managed to have three beautiful sets of dishes shipped to the women he adored. We can only imagine the 75 years of life and love that sugar bowl has witnessed — if it could only talk!

In the Old Testament, a woman named Rahab had possession of a red rope. Before the two Israelite spies arrived at her home, she had placed her faith in the one true God. When the king of Jericho sent word for her to bring the spies to him, she hid them and sent the king’s men on a wild goose chase. Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them.

The following is Rahab’s declaration of faith and trust in the living God: “I know the Lord has given you this land. We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.”

“Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families” (Joshua 2:9-13 NLT). The Israelite spies gave this promise: “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members — your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives — must be here inside the house“ (Joshua 2:17-18 NLT). In the fall of Jericho, the Lord did great wonders. Rahab and all her family were brought out in safety and lived among the Israelites. Never forget that one person can make a big difference…and that one is you.

Rahab’s red rope (and the promises kept by both parties) saved her and her family. The red blood of Jesus saves all who will declare their faith in Him. “At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled His blood for you. That has brought you near to God” (Ephesians 2:13 NIRV). Our heavenly Father gave His only begotten Son to shed His red blood so that all could believe and have everlasting life. In addition, all believers can grab onto the red rope of Jesus and have an abundant life while living in the here and now. You can’t exhaust or imagine all the ways God extends His love, mercy, and favor to those who ask for it. Romans 5:10 NLT: “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son.”

The Key: When you reach for the sugar bowl, thank God you’re in His sweet family through the blood of Jesus.