Monthly Archives: September 2024

Opinion

Figs and Innards by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Figs and Innards

 

My dad was about ten years old when he went fishing with his brother-in-law, John. While walking back to my grandparents’ house, Dad was bitten by a water moccasin. He   yelled out and Uncle John turned around to see what had happened. He offered to carry  Dad home, but he insisted on walking. By the time they reached the house, the poison had circulated all through his little body. My grandmother quickly killed a chicken and laid the innards on the bite. (The heat from the innards was supposed to draw out the poisonous venom.) After several days of being critically ill, Dad finally recovered. The fang marks on his ankle were still visible when he told me this story.

 

In 2 Kings 20:1-7, we find an interesting incident regarding a boil. King Hezekiah had an infection from a boil that was aggressive and life threatening. The prophet Isaiah came to him and said, “Get your house in order; you’re going to die.” Hezekiah prayed earnestly  and wept bitterly. God told Isaiah to turn around and say to the king, “God has heard your prayer and seen your tears and will heal you. He will add 15 years to your life.” Then Isaiah told the King’s servants to lay a cake of figs on the boil and Hezekiah recovered.

 

I wonder if Isaiah’s odd instructions made any sense to the king’s servants. I don’t think  Hezekiah would have recovered if the servants had refused to obey orders. Maybe a fig poultice was a common remedy for a malady back then. Maybe not. Believers don’t have to understand the “why” or “how” to what God is whispering in our heart. Just do it in faith. We need to learn to obey without trying to figure it out in our little pea brain. No matter how smart we think we are, we can never outthink or outsmart God. He’ll never be impressed with our IQ, but He is pleased with simple obedience.

 

At the exodus from Egypt, God told the Israelites, “’Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.‘ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward” (Jeremiah 7:23-24 NKJV). God expects us to learn His Word and do (obey) what it says…for our own good.

 

I believe there are times in a Christ follower’s life that God will ask us to do something in order to test our love, obedience, and trust in Him. “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3 NLT). If we fail the test, we simply get to take it again (and again) until we pass it. God doesn’t tempt us (that’s what Satan does) but He will test us every so often. We don’t enjoy tests, but they reveal our spiritual condition. And the purpose of these tests is usually beyond our human understanding.

 

Also, God possibly tests us so we can see what we’re made of — God already knows, but we need to know. I always taste test my mashed potatoes several times before I set the bowl on the table. This side dish has to have the perfect amount of salt, butter, and milk before it’s moved to the dinner table. God is always trying to help us become more like Him. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8 NLT).

 

The Key: Believers need to obey because there’s no other way to pass the test.

Area News, Health Care

Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund 2024 Grant Application Now Open

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The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is pleased to announce that the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund 2024 grant applications are now open.

In 2007, the establishment of the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund at CFSEK was a philanthropic beginning for women helping women in our area. Today, the Fund is made up of the Women’s Giving Circle, the Circle of Friends, and the Nightingale Endowment.

 

Annual memberships in these giving circles support the awarding of grants to carry on the group’s mission, “To improve the health and wellbeing of women by supporting education, increasing awareness, and sharing quality of life opportunities to benefit all women.”

 

Since its inception, the Women’s Health Fund has granted over $400,000 to improve women’s health throughout Southeast Kansas, including $52,511 in grants last year. The annual support provided by these memberships not only help provide immediate grants, but they also build the endowment so that more grant dollars are available every year.

 

“The Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund is an inspiring example of what can be achieved by a dedicated group combining their resources to improve their community,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “We are blessed with so many compassionate and caring women in our area who are committed to the improvement women’s healthcare in our region.”

Applications are available at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App. Applications close on September 30th.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is pleased to be the host agency for the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund. CFSEK serves the region by helping donors fulfill their charitable giving goals in ways that benefit the common good and improve the quality of life. If you would like to learn more about the CFSEK or the RJB Women’s Giving Circles, please visit SoutheastKansas.org/WHF or call 620-231-8897.

Obituary

Obituary of Daryl Roller

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Heaven became a lot more fun on August 20, 2024, when Daryl Lee Roller, 79, of Lenexa, passed away suddenly while vacationing in France. This proud Navy veteran and his wife of 53 years, Christy (Larson) Roller, had just visited Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery in Normandy.

Daryl Roller was born on April 3, 1945, in Holton, Kansas, to Donald and Dorothy (Sawhill) Roller. He married Christy Larson on August 7, 1971. They made their home in Fort Scott, Kansas, until 2010.

Daryl served in the United States Navy from 1966-1969. He was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 in Alameda, California and made two cruises to Vietnam aboard the USS Enterprise, CVA-65. The United States Navy was always an important part of his life. He visited and vacationed with sailors with whom he served 50+ years ago. Vacations with their families will always bring funny and fond memories.

Daryl received a Bachelor of Science degree in Printing Management from Kansas State College of Pittsburg. He was one of the first employees to begin operations at Ward/Kraft, Inc. in 1972. He retired from Ward/Kraft in 1999 as Vice-President/National Sales Manager. For the last 10 years of his working career, he served as the Director of Development at Fort Scott Community College. His coworkers remember him as being honest, with integrity and impossible handwriting!

While living in Fort Scott, Daryl held membership or leadership positions in a variety of organizations: Fort Scott Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, Wednesday Morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast, United Way, American Cancer Society, Mercy Hospital Board of Trustees, the First United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 25, and VFW Post 1165. He was still a member of VFW Post 1165, serving as the post surgeon. In the 1990’s, he was elected to the Fort Scott City Commission, serving one year as Mayor. Daryl never hesitated to participate in Relay for Life skits, always allowing himself to be dressed in ridiculous costumes.

Since moving to Lenexa, Daryl had been active in the Lenexa United Methodist Church, volunteered as a docent at The National World War I Memorial and Museum and served as Service Officer and Adjutant for American Legion Post 327 in Shawnee. He was also part of the Post’s Honor Guard, participating in weekly funerals at the National Cemetery in Leavenworth and cemeteries around the KC Metro area. He and his Honor Guard squad had performed color guard duties for the KC Royals, Chiefs, and most recently Sporting KC.

Daryl chaired the VFW Post 1165 committee that raised the funds and coordinated the erection and dedication of the U.S. Navy Memorial in Fort Scott National Cemetery. This remains one of his greatest achievements and will be around for generations to come.

Daryl served many important roles in the family: field trip leader for the grandsons, “Roller Compound” Equipment Manager for Amy and Beth, and dogsitter extraordinaire! He would say his favorite hobby was cleaning and repurposing someone else’s “disregards” or, as his family lovingly called it, dumpster diving. There are many items in each of our homes that will always remind us of him.

Daryl is survived by his wife Christy, three daughters: Amy Roller, Beth Roller, Sarah (Trenton) Moots; two grandsons, Caleb and Noah Moots; brother Dale Roller; and sisters Delores Kratochvil & Donna Larrison. Daryl was also very close to his nieces, nephews, extended family on both sides, many lifelong friends, and grand dogs!

Daryl will always be remembered for his faith, patriotism, love and support of family and friends, his fun-loving spirit, strong work ethic and loyalty. He had a servant’s heart and truly gave his all to leave the world a better place.

Visitation will be on September 9th, from 5-7 pm at Amos Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive in Shawnee.

The memorial service will be at Amos on September 10th at 2 pm. Following the service, a reception will be held at the American Legion, 6521 Nieman Rd, Shawnee, Kansas.

After his ashes have been received from France, a graveside service will be held at the National Cemetery in Fort Scott, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lenexa United Methodist Church, Tunnels to Towers, or a veterans’ charity of your choice