Keys to the Kingdom

When I discovered that I’d been peeling my bananas the hard way all my life, I was flabbergasted. I was discussing this shocking revelation with Levi, my son-in-law, and he said, “Yeah, peel it like a monkey.” I was knocked down a peg or two when I realized that all the monkeys around the world knew something I didn’t. I immediately changed my method of peeling a banana. However, I had to really concentrate on the new way because I was so used to starting at the stem. Old habits can be hard to break, but it’s possible if you want to change bad enough. What’s weird is that my parents must have peeled their bananas the same misguided way and taught me to do the same thing!

We subconsciously learn customs and traditions and, most of the time that’s great, but sometimes it’s not. Spiritual traditions of the heart are more critical to evaluate than other diverse traditions. I don’t want to be stubbornly set in my ways if they’re nothing more than unscriptural traditions of personal preference. I want the eyes of my heart to be flooded with the light and love of God‘s truth.

I’m not suggesting that Christ-followers question their beliefs that are firmly established in God’s Word. I’m merely challenging us to ask ourselves why we hold to certain traditions that are not founded in the Bible. The Holy Spirit always leads believers into truth, which is liberating and life-giving. Unfortunately, some people stubbornly reject the truth that God reveals to them. We must give ourselves and other believers the freedom to be who they truly are in Christ as we all study and practice the holy scriptures.

In the Book of John, Chapter 8, the Pharisees and teachers of religious law brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus. They said, “The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” Jesus said, “All right, but let the one who’s never sinned throw the first stone!” One by one, all the accusers walked away. Jesus then asked the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?“ Her response was “No, Lord.“ Then Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.“ Changing the woman’s life was more important to Him than throwing stones. Jesus was the talk of the town that day because He told the scribes and Pharisees to clean up their own backyard. I want to drop the rocks of judgment and condemnation and just walk away and let Jesus do what only He can do.

When I do my best to follow Jesus, I won’t have the prideful desire to judge others. Keeping a close watch on my love walk will keep me out of the judge’s bench. “…I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people” (Acts 24:16 NLT). I want to generously extend mercy and point others to my loving heavenly Father. “God is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:7,8 NLT).

Spiritual traditions can be comforting to some, but they can also be suffocating to others. Let’s be careful not to throw any unfounded stones of tradition on another believer. Everyone is a unique individual who needs to live and breathe authentic freedom in Christ.

The Key: Know how to peel your own banana before you teach someone else.

The dramatic globalization that has taken place in the last few decades means that what happens in China, India, Europe, etc., affects all 3,143 counties in the United States, including Bourbon in Kansas. The most obvious example is COVID-19, which most experts agree originated in Wuhan, China; our county lost 45 residents.

Additionally, we have many manufacturing and retail businesses in Bourbon County that rely upon the import/export supply chain, which has experienced disruptions in recent months. These events impacted the profit of local companies and the earnings of our citizens. One Bourbon County manufacturer had presold a custom product for nearly $500,000.00, only to have the completed item delayed for weeks by a couple of parts that are normally readily available at a cost of about $600.00. Rural Kansans cannot say that global markets do not matter.

How does the United States (“US”) stack up when compared to global markets? Looking at Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”), which is the sum of the value of all products and services produced by an economy in a year, the US became the world leader in GDP in 1890 at about $13 billion, passing China and Great Britain. We have been number one every year since then, and by 1907, we had doubled our nearest rival. Between World War I and the Great Depression our economy was often three times bigger than the number two nation.

After World War II, our biggest economic rival was the Soviet Union; this lasted until 1977 when Japan overtook them to rank second. Japan stayed in second place until passed briefly by Great Britain in 2001; China took over second place in 2009. At that time, the US economy produced 10 times more than the Chinese economy.

What about today? We are number one at $21 trillion; China is number two at $14 trillion. China has exploded in growth in the last twenty years, and is expanding at a rate to pass the US within the next two decades.

Looking at the largest companies in the world in 2019, of the top 20 in market capitalization, the US has produced 13; second place is China with three. No other country in the world has produced more than one. Apple is number one on the list at over $2 trillion in value; for perspective, that is almost 10% of the annual GDP of the US.

The same list 30 years ago contained only six US companies, with Exxon coming in at number five on the list as the largest domestic company at $63 billion. Japan was the global leader with 13 companies in the top 20. Interestingly, no company on the list in 1989 is still on the list in 2019; apparently, innovation and value creation are still important, and, while totalitarian states like China can create efficiencies, the US system remains the most potent producer in the world. There is no need to change our economic system, unless it is less government intrusion into free markets.

China and other emerging economies bear watching, but the US is still strong and competitive worldwide. Stay informed and listen to reports coming from your representatives in government; rural America has much at stake.

Romans 12:12. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

A few years ago, I had flown to Mazatlán to help Dave make the 24-hour drive back to Fort Scott. This time we remembered where most of the faulty toll road signs were located, saving ourselves our typical, “Where are we and how do we get back on the highway?” frustration which had, in the past, cost us a few additional hours of travel.

It was my turn to drive. About 30 miles from the border, Dave and I began discussing which of the two entry points we should use: Columbia, smaller and less popular but fifteen minutes further, or Nuevo Laredo, closer but much larger. When a truck with Texas plates passed us, I took it as an omen to follow that driver. We would trust the Texan to know the quicker route.

He opted for Laredo. Following him gave me great comfort because the various signs were confusing, not to mention the curves and turns and multiple stop lights. The only thing we knew was that the United States was to the north, the right.

But then the lead car turned left. Not the way to the border. Probably the way to the drug cartel. We were now on our own. Hope. Patience. Prayer.

Three stop lights later, I rolled down my window and asked the driver in the next lane if he could point us to the border. “Follow me,” he said, and I did. My husband noticed the man was driving on an emergency spare tire, a dangerous way to enter America, if you ask me. Several stop lights later, our new amigo exited his car and ran back to my window. “Go right at the next corner,” he said, and with that, he pulled into an XOXO, the Mexico version of Quik Trip. “Poor guy limped along as far as he could to help us,” I told Dave. “Or that’s where he was headed the entire time,” I was told.

Someone was cranky. Still, Hope. Patience. Prayer.

I made a right turn, and there we were—completely lost. No matter what U.S.-tagged car I trailed, none were headed to Texas. Zigging and zagging, I managed to tick off several Mexicans who typically are used to drivers making illegal U-turns. By now we had spent an hour on this, our “quicker” trip, and my hope, patience and prayer had disappeared.

About the time I was ready to park our van in the middle of the street and make Dave drive, we rounded a corner, and there they were: toll booths. We were close. Handing the lady my pesos, I asked, “United States?” I’m sure she wanted to answer, “No, Dummy. It’s France,” but Mexicans don’t have the same propensity to sarcasm like we Americans– or perhaps she noticed I was close to tears–so she smiled and said, “Si.”

I would like to tell you that was the end of my lesson in hope, patience and prayer. Not even close. For over an hour we jockeyed with hundreds of other cars, vying for the quickest toll booth, only to end up with Barney Fife for our border agent. After answering his “Do you have any fruits or vegetables?” question with, “Yes, we have some apples,” we were told, “That’s not good.” We were to open all our doors so he could inspect what other contraband or people we had hidden in our vehicle.

I threatened to jump out of my car and warn the unfortunate drivers who had picked my lane to choose any booth but this one, but Dave told me that we were close to crossing the border and if I showed my true colors, we were going to get arrested, so I needed to be patient.

Let’s see. Get arrested or show patience. I’d call it a tie.