Have you ever looked at your manger scene, placed prominently for everyone who enters your home, and wondered why your life seems like a mess compared to the peace presented by the creche?  Mary, prayerfully kneeling before her newborn baby.  Joseph standing nearby, pondering how God would use this infant to accomplish His purposes.  Shepherds, dirty and overlooked, who were invited by angels into a scene they could not understand.  Magi, men who (we pretend) were there after this God-birth happened. And baby Jesus himself, tucked into the straw of a dirty manger.

Luke 2 tells us that after the birth of Jesus, a host of angels appeared to the straggly shepherds and told them to travel to Bethlehem.  At first terrified, the shepherds soon put away their fears and hurried to view this newborn. Estimates are they traveled between two and six miles, all at night. After their encounter with the Messiah, they “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.”  All who heard the shepherds’ report were “amazed” by this report (not amazed like we are when our daughter makes cheerleader or when the stock market takes an up-turn).  The Greed word used here for “amazed” is “thaumazo”; it means stopped in their tracks.

There they were, looking at God in human form, the One who was the answer to all the scriptures they had learned.  One minute, caring for helpless, stupid sheep, and the next…looking at perfection.  Heaven had come to the hillside in the middle of the night, proving that God’s presence isn’t limited to Holy places or to Holy people.  God had not chosen kings or Levitical priests or religious Pharisees to announce His coming in human form.  He chose a group of men who had no credentials.  No surprises there.  After all, He delights in using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

What does surprise me is what the shepherds did after this miraculous encounter.  Unlike many of us, they did not go on a speaking circuit or write a book or sit at the gate to their city, signing autographs.  Scripture says that they returned to their sheep.  They went back to herding and protecting animals that follow each other off cliffs.  They returned with gladdened, worshipful hearts and tongues filled with praise to do what they knew how to do.

I frequently meet people who want to have the celebratory experience of speaking to huge crowds of people, when instead, God wants them to be used right where they are, no matter how mundane their job status or where they live. All can learn from this story.  From humble beginnings to divine callings, shepherds are integral figures in this biblical narrative, serving as symbols of faith, humility, and divine favor.  We need to do likewise.

No matter where we work or live, we all have the opportunity to follow the lead of the shepherds: to obey, to follow, to worship and to share.  As Christmas approaches, let us all be mindful of our call to do the same.

When the noise resolution was presented on Monday, the commissioners’ lawyer said it should be given to the planning committee. After hearing this recommendation, Beerbower moved to vote on it in the current meeting. He and Tran passed it over Milburn’s objections.

If you read through what they voted for, you’ll notice something interesting  in  this  section:
Now you might see the term “heating toss” and assume it is a misspelling that just went unnoticed. Perhaps the commissioners who voted for it treated the whole adage of “read things carefully before you vote for them” just like the “listen to your lawyer.” Stuff like that might be nice to say, but don’t let it get in the way of creating new regulations for the taxpayers. What good is a commission meeting if the citizens have the same legal rights after the meeting as they had before?

So while you might think they didn’t actually take the time to read it, why assume the worst?  I’d like to suggest that we assume the best!

Let’s assume Beerbower and Tran DID indeed read it carefully, thought through exactly the repercussions of what the document says, carefully examined any side effects, and believe it does exactly what they want to see enacted for the betterment of Bourbon County. If we make those assumptions, maybe “heating toss” is the name of a game, a time-honored tradition that has been played in Bourbon County all the way back to the time when dragoons camped at Fort Scott, and bison roamed the plains.

The game is often called “hot potato.” With careful reflection, Tran and Beerbower have determined that they want to prevent people from playing “Heating Toss” (aka “hot potato”) in Bourbon County. You may think it is a harmless game, but they know better and have made a law to fine people who introduce this hated game (well, hated by two of the commissioners anyway) into the county. It is for the betterment of the county as a whole! You may think that you’d rather live in a county where commissioners do not waste their time making laws against various children’s games, but you’d be wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Your government knows better. You may just be too dumb to understand.

That’s the optimistic view that assumes they carefully read what they voted on. Or maybe, just maybe, they just didn’t take the time to read what they were voting for.

Had they read it, you’d think they might have questioned whether it was a good idea to fine people $500 for “any noise” that is greater than 45 dB at 75 feet between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am.   That is a level of sound that includes things like older air conditioning units, a dog barking, a donkey braying, or starting a semi.

But surely they wouldn’t vote for something they didn’t fully understand or hadn’t read. Right?

PDF of the noise resolution in the agenda packet from 12/18

FROM THE BLEACHERS-739

BY DR. JACK WELCH

Decision or Commitment

There is a powerful difference between making a decision and making a commitment. Most people understand how to decide. Decisions are often easy to speak aloud, easy to applaud, and easy to celebrate in the moment. Commitment, however, is proven only over time. It requires action, discipline, and sometimes sacrifice when enthusiasm fades.

Imagine standing in a church on a wedding day. The groom looks into the eyes of his beautiful bride, his voice trembling, a tear forming as he speaks words of devotion: “Forsaking all others until we are parted by death.” Everyone in the room is moved. The words are strong. The decision is clear. We admire what appears to be a lifelong promise.

Now imagine learning a week later that while the newlyweds were on their honeymoon, the groom was unfaithful. In that instant, the words spoken on the wedding day lose their power. What once sounded noble and heartfelt becomes hollow. The decision he proclaimed was not validated by faithful commitment. Without commitment, words carry no weight.

This distinction matters far beyond personal relationships. It shows up every day in the workplace. Organizations often make decisions in meetings: new initiatives, new expectations, new strategic plans, and bold visions for the future. Departments nod in agreement. Leaders voice support. The decision feels unified and optimistic.

A decision without commitment is little more than wishful thinking. True progress happens only when every department commits to the decision that was made. Commitment means aligning daily actions with the plan, even when it becomes inconvenient or uncomfortable. It means resisting the urge to quietly do things the old way while publicly supporting the new one. It means ownership, accountability, and follow-through.

Being invited into the decision-making process is important. Being heard matters.  Once a direction is set though, commitment is what moves an organization forward. Without it, teams drift, trust erodes, and momentum is lost. Just like in that wedding story, the words may have sounded right, but the actions tell the real story.

Decisions announce intention. Commitments prove character. From the bleachers, it’s easy to cheer when decisions are made. Leadership, however, is revealed in what happens after the applause fades. The question is never, “Did we decide?” The real question is, “Did we commit?” A decision defines direction, but commitment determines distance.

Thought for the Week, “What truly matters is not what we say we will do, but what we faithfully follow through on when no one is watching.” Rodney Southern, Athletic Director/Head Football Coach at Copperas Cove High School

Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Two Pennies and a Nickel

My normal routine is to go to my late-husband’s grave every winter, spring, summer, and fall, in addition to other special dates, to switch out the floral arrangements. He died on 02-21-2021, exactly two weeks after my 63^rd birthday. Sometime later that year I found a nickel on his headstone. I knew someone had placed it there on purpose so I left it there. Four years later, I noticed two pennies had been added. My heart was warmed as I examined them and took note of the years: 2014 and 2018. I suppose the dates meant nothing to the individual who thoughtfully placed them there, but Jimmy was diagnosed in 2014 and 2018 was our last family vacation at our favorite spot in Gulf Shores, Alabama. People leave coins on a headstone to demonstrate that the departed are loved, appreciated, and respected long after their passing. The language of coins left on a loved one’s headstone is a time-honored tradition. I don’t have words to say what these coins mean to me — only tears.

It is a reality that one day we’re all going to exit this world one way or another. “And because by God’s law, death comes to men once and after that they are judged“ (Hebrews 9:27 BBE). When our appointed time comes, we won’t be taking anything with us, but we will leave our testimony and legacy behind. The most important thing we will ever do is accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. And after that, it’s all about how we loved and lived like Jesus told us.   

The words and music to “All That Really Matters,” written by Marcia Henry and recorded by Jeff & Sheri Easter, really sums up life in a few short words:  “They’re talking about him, he isn’t even there. His best friends and family, what a way to show they care. Haven’t mentioned his money or the kind of clothes he wore. But they say he loved his family and he proudly served the Lord. All that really matters when it’s all said and done, all that really matters when your time to go has come — Did you know Jesus, and show Him to anyone?”

Jesus is the best at presenting a straightforward message; the parable of the rich fool is no exception: “Then He [Jesus] told them a story: A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don‘t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I‘ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I‘ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I‘ll sit back and say to myself, ‘My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?‘ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Luke 12:16-21 NLT).

Jesus is not speaking against being wealthy; he’s telling us to be wise in handling our abundance. And He’s advising us to work at keeping our priorities straight by daily walking with God like Enoch and being God‘s friend like Abraham.

The Key: What we do while living affects our best friends and family forever. Think about that.

In October, I wrote a piece about how the commissioners had passed a resolution to ban running a particular computer program. Ostensibly, they were trying to make it illegal to run loud generators, but instead of writing an ordinance about generators or sound, they issued an ordinance that would include three silent computers that can fit in the palm of your hand without saying a single thing about what they claimed they were trying to address.

Despite having full access to paid legal counsel, despite technologically savvy citizens who are happy to provide advice for free, despite knowing that the issue with a loud generator is, well, the loud generator, the commissioners managed to pass an ordinance that was completely divorced from the actual sound problem. It was written to ban what a tech- and business-savvy middle schooler might run in their bedroom, while being useless when it comes to preventing another identical generator-run installation that uses a different algorithm.

If the commissioners, in an effort to prevent loud, noisy generators, accidentally ended up banning things so trivial, we should be very concerned that when they spend your taxpayer money in lobbing their nuclear bomb of zoning at solar and wind installations, it might not only miss what they say is the mark, but do significant collateral damage. That was my concern back in October. What happened since that silly moratorium made me realize that I severely underestimated just how bad that blast radius could be.

There is a planning committee created by the commissioners to make recommendations on zoning. As usual, this committee contains people who were not elected. They also didn’t go through the normal process of having citizens submit letters of interest. Instead, the members were hand-selected by the commissioners. This isn’t necessarily a bad way to select people and it has a distinct advantage for anyone trying to figure out where the commissioners are trying to take the county. This hand selection means that when the committee passes a resolution, it is being made by the people the commissioners felt most represented their goals for the future.

So with that background, residents should be paying very close attention when the planning committee votes on a resolution. We got a very insightful glimpse on page 7 of the agenda packet for the commissioners meeting on 11/17. There was a resolution, passed unanimously by the planning committee, that said:

The Planning Committee, passes unanimously. recommends that the Bourbon County Board of Commissioners enact a moratorium, effective immediately, requiring that any new business—specifically, commercial or industrial—that is not agricultural in nature and located in unincorporated areas of the county, be required to obtain a special use permit prior to commencing operations. This moratorium should reference the existing Bourbon County zoning (taxation) map as the basis for determining current land use designations.

The purpose of this moratorium is to protect the county and its residents while the Planning Committee continues the process of developing more detailed and comprehensive zoning regulations.

There were some legal issues with the recommendation, so the commissioners didn’t end up discussing it, but even if they couldn’t put a moratorium on all businesses worded in this way, it doesn’t diminish the desired goal. We can clearly see what the committee (and the commissioners who appointed them) see as a desired future. The planning committee, that hand-selected group the commissioners thought were the best people in the county to accomplish their zoning goals, unanimously resolved to recommend a moratorium on all new non-agricultural businesses in the county. It didn’t pass by a small margin; it wasn’t just discussed. They unanimously passed a resolution to make this recommendation, and that is a very big deal.

Some might say it was just the political back and forth and doesn’t really mean anything, that some of the people voting for it didn’t think it would pass, etc. But consider the actual implications: If you want to start a commercial lawn mowing business and you are outside the city limits, they want you to have to get special permission from the commissioners. If you want to start a business doing small manufacturing of high-end telescopes, the resolution recommends that your business should be illegal until the commissioners give it their blessing. If you want to start exercising your skills as a mechanic, start a printing company, create an LLC to make furniture, or anything else in the rural county areas, every single person on this committee voted that you should be required to come hat in hand to the commissioners and answer all their questions about your business and beg them to make an exception to the moratorium to allow you to pursue your business idea. 

This desired change by the planning committee is a fundamental shift. We currently live in a county where the default position is that you are allowed to start any legal business and move forward with it. You might have a good idea and do well. You might have a bad idea and go bankrupt. Either way, you are free to pursue your capitalistic endeavors without being subject to the whims, biases, and the sometimes general confusion of the commissioners.

For an average member of the community, voting for a resolution to recommend such an action would have come with a huge reputational risk. Would you really want to be on the record as having voted to move from a default of saying yes to business to a default of saying, “you have to get permission from the commissioners first”? Somehow, not a single person on the committee, who I might remind you, were hand-selected by the commissioners, looked at the resolution and said, “I’m not sure I want my name on something that does this to our local economy.” Instead, every single one voted for it.

As I’ve said before, the issue with zoning is not whether there is a hypothetical way to implement it that would do no or only minimal harm. The question is how likely we are to get a future where the damage from zoning isn’t egregiously worse than whatever the commissioners think they are trying to attack by this massive expansion of their powers. This unanimous resolution from the planning committee gives us a peek into the future we are headed toward, a future that further increases the probability that the “cure” of zoning will turn out to be worse than the “disease.”

Mark Shead

Note: FortScott.biz publishes opinion pieces with a variety of perspectives. If you would like to share a perspective or opinion, please send a letter to [email protected]. 

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Watching Over Me

Two wonderfully-talented ladies made two beautiful songs very popular many years ago. In 1959, Ella Fitzgerald recorded “Someone to Watch over Me” written by brothers George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. This sublime song was also performed in one of my favorite movies, “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” And Ethel Waters was best known and loved for singing “His Eye is on the Sparrow” composed by Civilla Martin and Charles H. Gabriel in 1905. She began singing as a guest vocalist at the Billy Graham crusades in 1957 and continued for nearly 20 years. I remember intently watching and listening to her ad lib with the biggest smile and soulful expressions. The last line of the song was impressive to me then, and it’s still impressive: “For His eye is on…the spar-row…and I know…He wa-tches…me.“

I recently came across this quote by pastor/evangelist and Revivaltime radio broadcast speaker C. M. Ward in one of my old journals: “None of us can make it through without God’s help. I need an abiding sense of God’s presence. I need a ’cloud’ by day and a ’pillar of fire’ by night. In the gloomiest hour, when the lights of this world have gone out, I need to know that He is there watching over me.”

One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Peter 5:7 AMPC: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” The key words in this verse that are especially comforting to me are “all, affectionately, and watchfully.” God knows all about our circumstances, our emotions, our thoughts, our fears, and our faith.

Jesus’ disciples had spent years following, learning, assisting, and witnessing miracles. The storm on the Sea of Galilee was a test of the disciples’ faith. This situation was an opportunity to practice using their faith. I don’t think Jesus was impressed with their faith because, “He replied, ‘Your faith is so small! Why are you so afraid?’ Then Jesus got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop. It became completely calm” (Matthew 8:26 NIRV). I don’t think He’s impressed with our faith when we act like we don’t have a heavenly Father to take care of us.

God is aware and cares about the smallest, insignificant things and events. “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31 NLT). Believers can find assurance in knowing God is unlimited in taking care of the big or small stuff — it‘s all the same to Him!

“The Lord sees what happens everywhere, He is watching us, whether we do good or evil” (Proverbs 15:3 GNT). This reminds me of the story about a man who was burglarizing a home as the parrot excitedly watched. In fact, the parrot repeatedly kept saying, “Jesus is watching you.“ The man couldn’t have cared less. But after several minutes the burglar noticed a vicious Dobermann standing nearby staring at him and baring his teeth. About that time the parrot screeched, “Sic ’em, Jesus!”

The Key: Believers can rest assured that God is on 24-7 watch duty because He cares.

A Choice I Choose by Patty LaRoche

Dan’s wife, Sandy, told me that she never has seen her husband “not happy.” I could understand that if they had been married for one or two days, but eighteen years after saying, “I do,” my friend shared this with me.  I asked Dan how he did it.

“Why would I choose not to be happy?” he said.  “There’s always something to be happy about.”

Dave, my husband, and I have been around Dan and Sandy multiple times.  This past week, they flew here to Kansas to hang with us.  No matter what we were doing–touring, playing competitive games or having deep discussions–Dan was delightful.  And always, always happy.

Recently, while my cleaning lady was sharing some difficulties she is having, she said this: “Sometimes, I forget to be happy.”  Clearly, God is telling me something.

After all, happiness is a choice, so why would I ever opt for the alternative?  Maybe because there’s always a reason not to be happy.  Health.  Finances.  Shame.  Guilt.  The grumpy, selfish neighbor.  A friend’s betrayal.  A broken lawn mower.  Lost keys.  Weight gain. Boring retirement.

You get the picture.  Daily, we are given opportunities not to see the blessings amongst the difficulties, yet we fail to seek the good.   Serious stuff.

There is a story about an elderly man who immigrated to the United States from one of the Communist bloc countries of Eastern Europe. After his papers were processed he found his way to a New York cafeteria where he sat down and waited for someone to bring him a menu and take his order. No one came. Eventually a woman with a full tray of food approached, realized the old man’s dilemma, and explained how American cafeterias work.

“Start at the beginning,” she said kindly. “Look at all the choices that are available, decide what you want, and just reach out and take it. When you get to the end, you’ll be told how much you must pay for the things that you’ve chosen.”

After he had settled into his new home, he made this observation: “Life in America is a lot like that New York cafeteria. The options are endless, but you’ll never get what you want if you sit around and wait for someone to deliver it. Anything is possible (a job, education, a home, a car) but you have to be willing to get up and go after it. And in the end, you have to pay the price of your choices.”

I would add that these choices are not only about the material goods we acquire but also the attitudes and beliefs that dominate our thoughts. Psalm 144:15, although brief, tells us how to acquire that happiness: “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” Just how do we make that happen?   “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Someone once said, “Being happy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect.  It means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.”  Our choice…and a choice I need to choose.

How about you?

Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Love is spelled T I M E

Uncle Dennis once said that kids spell love as “TIME.” In truth, I believe all ages spell it the same way. When I was in high school, my typing teacher would instruct the students to type, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country” over and over. This phrase contained words that are super easy to type which facilitated in developing an efficient rhythm without errors.

Now is the time to be thankful for what we’ve got and forget what we “don’t got.” Every so often God will provide an opportunity to jolt us into counting the blessings that matter the most. While on a family vacation this summer, we pulled off the highway so a couple of us could use the facilities at a rest stop. When my six-year-old granddaughter took a step to cross the single-lane driveway in the parking lot, a speeding car came from out of nowhere. Vivienne immediately stood still, but she was visibly shaken. This near-accident happened in the blink of an eye and there was nothing any human could have done to prevent a heartbreaking outcome. We were all thankful for God’s hand of protection on Vivienne.

Our topic of conversation between the five adults on the ten-hour drive from Kentucky were varied. There were times of hilarity, but eventually the conversation turned serious. My daughter-in-law Emily asked me a question and my heartfelt response was, “Everything I need and am most thankful for are the eight people in this vehicle.” The most-treasured blessings God gives us are flesh-and-blood family and friends. When I was recently involved in an auto collision, the emergency responders kindly reminded me,
“Vehicles can be replaced; people cannot.” We can individually “give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for me” (Psalm 107:8 NIV).

The prophet Jonah prayed from the great fish’s belly, “But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For salvation comes from the Lord alone” (Jonah 2:9 NLT). Like Jonah, I want to use my voice of thanksgiving for all the things God prevented from happening and the things He has caused to happen. Anything that’s good is from God. “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow” (James 1:17 NLT).

It’s important to remember that believers are surrounded by His blessings everywhere. We’re recipients of a neighbor’s helping hand, prayers of a church family, the love and care of family and friends, and the sunshine of a smile. A steady stream of giving thanks to the Lord should be the solid foundation of our daily lives. “Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name” (Hebrews 13:15 NLT).

When we count our blessings, we are focusing on the goodness of God. We can joyfully give thanks to the Father for what we have. “May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father” (Colossians 1:11-12 NLT).

The Key: Now is the time for all thankful people to joyfully praise God for all His blessings.

A Day in the Life of an Israelite

Sometimes, I think about how the wandering Israelites did what they did.  God asked them to sacrifice…if they wanted to be blessed. You and I have Leviticus and Numbers and Deuteronomy at our fingertips, and I can’t even graph on paper on what occasions they were to offer up their unblemished bull or sheep or bird.  (Trust me, I tried.)  And without fences or branding, how did they separate their animals from the other kajillion mammals running free?

On another matter, were there mirrors, or did that even matter?  Think about their clothing and possessions. They had one pair of sandals.  One outfit that, according to Deuteronomy 8:4, did not wear out.  Never did they wake up and have to decide what color they were in the mood to wear that morning.  Or look longingly at the rack of clothes that no longer fit…but sometime, might. Their kiddies did not have stuffed animal collections (like my grandkids do) that rival any carnival offering.  There were no books or DVD’s, no newspapers or meteorologists or political rivals. What in the world did they discuss?

The Israelites’ Sabbath rituals centered around tabernacle worship and rest.  No golf courses or Kansas City Chiefs to pull them away from their creator.  No Sunday school classes for the children.  No Sharkys or Lucci’s for lunch. No Walmart “shop-til-you-drop” outings for the family.  Had I been the matriarch of a family back then, I pity any relatives dependent upon me daily kneading loaves of bread unless, of course, it was in remembrance of Passover. (Yeast and I are not friends.)

On a moment’s notice, they were to pack up their tents, animals, families and belongings (as few as they were) and leave for…well, wherever the cloud (by day) or fire (by night) led them.  Not a big deal when they started out from Egypt because within a couple of weeks, they would be at their final destination.  But because of their disobedience, there they were, 40 years later, still comin’ ‘round the mountain with no Promised Land in sight.  Just wandering…and wondering, I imagine.

That being said, when I think of the things that fill my schedule (and my life), I sort of envy those who lived eons ago who had none of the entanglements we have.  Their life was all about teaching their children about God, setting up the portable tabernacle, and waiting on God.

The choices that consume my day like “What shall we have for dinner?” weren’t even part of the Israelites conversations.  Manna and quail and water from a rock.  Manna and quail and water from a rock.  Manna and quail and water from a rock.  Every day.  Every meal.  And they didn’t even have to provide it.  God did.

As I sit here this morning, scrolling through mashed potato recipes on my computer (and, of course, writing this article), I realize that my life is complicated because I make it that way.  God expects from me what He expected from the Israelites: that no matter what I do, I follow Him, care for what He was given me, and teach others about His provision.  And somewhere, in the middle of all of that, I think He wants me to clean out my closet and let those “too small” clothes be a blessing to someone else.