Keys to the Kingdom

My older brother and I have prankster blood in our veins. Believe me, we got it honest from both sides of our heritage. My family lived in California when I was preschool age and my brother and I had a special box of luscious-looking assorted chocolates. One typical evening, Aunt Pauline and Uncle John came over to visit. As they were preparing to leave, Randy offered our fun-loving uncle a piece of candy from the box. He thoughtfully selected one, bit down on it and nearly lost his false teeth on that piece of rubber cleverly disguised as fudge. We thought that was the funniest thing we’d ever seen and we laughed and laughed at our sidesplitting prank!

I recently drove past my friend’s house and spotted a crow in her yard. I thought it was real, but the others with me thought it was phony. So we had to turn around and take a closer look. Since the bird never moved, I was finally convinced — but it sure looked real at a glance. Dolores told me she named him Billy Bob, but I prefer to call him Bogus Billy Bob.

Are we believers the real deal or just a substandard imitation? That phony fudge might have looked edible, but when the rubber met the teeth, the proof was in the pudding. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8 NLT). We have to be sincere and obedient to God’s Word and His promptings if we want to be real followers of Christ.

Are we aiming at being the best Christian we can be, or are we just pretending to be genuine? There’s one defining factor that separates the genuine from the counterfeit and that’s love. Jesus was teaching His disciples in his last hours on earth and said, “So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re My true followers” (John 13:34,35 TPT). No longer are we to love others as ourselves, but we must love others as Christ loves us. Jesus set a new higher standard of love that’s non-negotiable. Just how well are we maintaining that standard?

If you’re not practicing being a serious Christ follower, you might be able to pull the wool over people’s eyes for a time, but you certainly can’t pull the wool over God’s eyes. He knows if you’re phony baloney or rubber fudge. The good news is that God desires to help you be all that He designed you to be. He will enable you walk in love toward others if you really desire to do so. “Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions“ (1 John 3:18 TLB).

Your heavenly Father does not want you to struggle in your journey of life. He wants you to come to Him and ask for help to be genuine and honest in all your dealings with Him and mankind. Be careful not to look at someone else’s life and wish you were him/her. By definition, that’s coveting. Therefore, it’s not possible to biblically love that individual and covet his/her individuality at the same time. In a nutshell, you’re the only person you are truly responsible for; so keep it bona fide. When you meet God the Father, the only person you’ll answer for is the real you.

The Key: Don’t settle for an imitation of the real thing — especially when it‘s you.

The loss of the hospital was devastating for the future of Bourbon County in general, and economic development in particular. Via Christi and CHC have filled in some of the gaps, but the lack of inpatient beds and some other services are real barriers.

Simply put, when companies have a choice as to where to put their next location, health care is near the top of the list. When people approach retirement age and are looking for a comfortable place to spend their golden years, health care options are a critical driver in the decision-making process. Without a hospital, we don’t measure up.

This is why health care and the hospital building have been Job One for Bourbon County REDI and our new Economic Development Director, Rob Harrington. Mr. Harrington hit the ground running on the topic, reaching out to his contacts in the health care field, landing a real opportunity to reopen our hospital.

Noble Health Corporation has spent much time and many resources in our community over the last two months, considering bringing their expertise in rural health to Bourbon County and our shuttered hospital building. I have met with them several times, as have many of our community leaders, and I have found them competent and compassionate. We have done the work to research their backgrounds and performances in other communities, and we have been impressed with what we have learned.

This group understands that health care in a community is a partnership. It requires listening as well as communicating, giving as well as taking, and learning as well as teaching. A “here it is, take it or leave it” approach will not be effective.

Our community has invested significant dollars in the feasibility process, which is ongoing. This appears to me to have been the right decision. This is a credible company, and gives us the best chance to reopen our hospital in the near future.

One caveat: we can’t expect the hospital to reopen and be all things to all people from the start. We can’t expect to see a high number of beds online. Services will be offered that make sense in our community. An operator cannot make huge investments in equipment and services that are lightly used. We may still have to be referred elsewhere for some tests and procedures that were formerly offered in-house.

If called upon, I hope you will join me in supporting the feasibility research now being performed by Noble Health Corporation. Let’s all pull together to see what we can do to get back on the quality health care map in SEK.

In 1973, the James Bond movie, Live and Let Die was released, the title song written and performed by Paul McCartney.  One of the lyrics notes, “You used to say live and let live,” which seems to be a prevalent attitude of rural Kansans, including those of us in Bourbon County.  That sounds so reasonable and comfortable, but it does not always work when we have decided to live together in communities.  While we need to keep the rules and meddling to a minimum, we need to recognize that our choices impact those around us.

A case in point is the historical district of downtown Fort Scott.  Tremendous investments in downtown buildings have been made over the past decade, both private and public; but, unfortunately, we had a long way to go at the start.  Some owners neglected empty buildings that were no longer economically viable to the point of severe deterioration.  We all recently witnessed the inevitable consequence from years of ignoring the problem.  If we live and let live, the result is live and let die.

We can’t let downtown die anymore.  I have noted in earlier columns that smaller communities which are economically successful have invested in, and preserved, their historic downtown districts, and these have become vital places to gather and to shop.  If we want to be the best that we can be, we can no longer ignore the deterioration of downtown buildings.

What can we do to preserve our historical district?  First, cheer and support those who have made significant investments in buildings in our historical district.  Buy their goods and services, eat at their restaurants, and thank them for their investment in our community.  Be supportive of those who have been downtown a long time and have taken care of their properties.  Also, quit condemning those who made investments that did not go well.  Failure happens even in America.

Most importantly, we have to reevaluate our “live and let live; live and let die” approach to property deterioration.  We must take a measured approach to holding owners accountable for their responsibilities to the properties they own and the community.  We must have common sense codes that are enforceable, and the will and expertise to do so.

Lastly, neither can the city take over every property that is at risk, nor is it desirable for them to do so; but, we must be open to more public/private partnerships, along with grants to bridge the economic gap that exists.  Let’s continue to look for ways to preserve and protect this important asset in our community.

I recently returned from my annual trip with five sorority sisters. This time, things weren’t quite as funny as they usually are since we ended up in the E.R., concerned that one of the girls had a blood clot. (She did not.)

While waiting for her ultrasound, I noticed a man in the waiting room wearing a “Vietnam Veteran” hat. I thanked him for his service; several people followed. “John” was there because of the extensive damage done to him by Agent Orange. His explanation of how the veterans of his era were mistreated upon returning home was interrupted by the technician calling his name.

The next time we had a chance to visit was when my girlfriend and I left the hospital. There was John, leaning against a pillar, trying to catch his breath. We walked him to his car, thanked him again and said goodbye.

Three days later, on the day of the U.S.-Afghanistan pull-out, I met an Afghanistan veteran, the nephew of one of my girlfriends, who shared that he wept when he heard the news. “I carried a burn victim from his armored car after driving across an I.E.D. while on patrol, and I had friends who came home without legs or arms. And for what?” he questioned. I had no answers, but I knew that if I were the loved one of a soldier who had sacrificed life or limb or sanity for that cause, and now we weren’t sure we could even rescue those who had helped our military, I would be grieving.

But what if grief is not enough of a response? As I write this, I am watching television to see the madness of hundreds (thousands?) of Afghani civilians scrambling to get to the airport. Carrying only a satchel or small bag, they appear desperate. At a press briefing, an Afghani journalist fights back tears as she asks the Pentagon spokesman what will happen to all of the women who finally can hold a job and not be mistreated by their husbands. She dons her face mask, a flag from her country that she left 20 years ago, the same time our country went to her native land’s aid, and implores our leaders not to abandon what has been accomplished.

My friend emails that his military buddy has spent the night in hiding with three Afghans who worked as interpreters for the U.S. They and their families (a total of 14) have just safely arrived at the airport. Is there any room for them in my friend’s hometown?

I think of myself, sitting in the comfort of my air-conditioned living room, every thirty minutes moving a sprinkler around my yard (Heaven forbid my grass turns brown!) while watching on television as our leaders explain how necessary this ending is. And yes, I get that we should not stay in another country forever. I get that 20 years should be enough time to train a militia. I get that no more lives should be lost.

Still… Should these evacuees come to our area, will I help? Really help, not just talk about it? I’m sure that’s what Jesus would have me do. Please, Readers, let us not put our heads in the sand and fail to be moved with compassion. If ever there was a time to be in prayer for the decisions our country’s leaders make, this is it. It’s the least we can do. Actually, it’s also the most.

Keys to the Kingdom

Well, it happened again. While driving down a Missouri country road, I met a truck and a rock hit my windshield with a loud clink. The next day I made an appointment at D & J Glass to see what could be done. Dan promptly started the windshield chip-repair process and I was impressed with his expertise. John, whom Dan good-naturedly described as a loiterer, was sitting on a shop stool so I began shooting the breeze with him like my Dad would have done. I watched Dan get in and out of the passenger side of the Chrysler a few times, and things were going quite well. I could tell the repair was about finished, so I offered to just go ahead and pay. When I tried to open the driver’s door to retrieve my purse, it was locked. I quickly checked the rest of the doors and they were locked too…including the tailgate. I looked at Dan and said, “The doors are locked with both keys inside.” Dan’s calm response was, “I guess I did that,” and I softly replied, “Yep.”

I planted myself on the other shop stool and we all waited for Officer Burke to respond to Dan’s S.O.S. call. Within a few short minutes, the friendly cop arrived and brought in his burglary equipment. As soon as he stepped into the shop, I was shocked to hear Dan tell him, “I didn’t do it.“ I quickly said, “I didn’t do it!“ I really don’t think Dan did it, however, I don’t think I did it either. Both of us were simply relieved to be able to blame someone else for the pickle we were in. Honestly, I think the Chrysler got scared, freaked out, and locked itself. During this episode, I was especially grateful that no one cussed, kicked the tire, or cried.

As I prepared to leave, I told John, “I love funny life stories like this because I like to see what spiritual analogy I can get out of ‘em.” John simply replied, “I’ll be watching for it in The Tribune.“

One day, sooner than we think, you and I will stand flat-footed before Almighty God and give an account of our individual lives. There will be no blame game then. Jesus said, “I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you” (Matthew 12:36,37 NLT).

Because Jesus wouldn’t soften His words nor make His message more acceptable to His followers, many of His disciples left Him (see John 6:66). Jesus told the Jewish people gathered in the Temple, “My message is not My own; it comes from God who sent Me“ (John 7:16 NLT).

By inspiration of Holy Spirit, John the Revelator tells what will happen to all of us. “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds….anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12,13,15 NLT). The Word of God is not just a philosophy of religion. It is the sobering truth that cannot be changed just because it‘s offensive to some.

The Key: There’s no one to blame but yourself if your name isn’t in the Book of Life.

If you have read any of my columns, you probably know that I am data-driven and look for trends and tendencies in the numbers. That probably stems from my accounting/economics degree and life-long vocation as a banker. However, if I have learned anything about life in my 42 years of being in business and a parent to seven, I know that statistics are not a great indicator of educational outcomes. One does not need an advanced degree to figure this out. Education is difficult, even for the most learned.

That being said, Bourbon County school districts rank fairly well statistically when compared to other SEK counties, especially in the area of pupil/teacher ratio: we are at 13.4 compared to a state-wide range of 9.0 to 26.3. Consistently, studies show that this is one of the top indicators of positive outcomes.

If a school rating system can be believed (I am not convinced), we are not so fortunate. Schooldigger.com ranks all 270 Kansas districts on various criteria, and rates them one star to five star, and puts them in ranking order. Uniontown ranked 155^th, moving up 41 spots from the previous year, and achieved a 2-star rating. Fort Scott ranked 221^st, moving up 16 spots, but only merited a 1 star. Whether or not these rating systems really mean anything may not occur to parents looking move to Bourbon County; they may only look at the number.

As it pertains to a community college, you may remember a previous column that references James Fallows’ 54,000-mile journey around the USA to learn why some small towns are succeeding where others are not. Having a vibrant community college was one of the consistent eleven factors he identified. Some complain about the additional tax burden, but I believe the college is a major positive in Bourbon County.

Most importantly, study after study shows that there is no more relevant factor to drive student achievement than parental involvement; it is not even close. None of us can or should go into every home in Bourbon County to make sure children are ready and motivated to learn. We all know that some children do not show up to school prepared (or even interested) to learn. We can’t expect a school district to fill in all parental gaps, no matter how well-funded they are, or how many advanced degrees their teachers possess.

What can we do? If Bourbon County is your home, consider that the schools are partly your responsibility. It does not matter if you are an empty-nester like me or never had children, the schools of the county, public and private, belong to all of us. Consider how you can get involved in our schools and community college to be a resource. Use the time, talent, and treasure God gave you to continue to invest in education. Don’t wait till they organize a program to suit you. Take the initiative in collaboration with the boards, administrations, and teachers, and let us all commit to this important economic development factor, education.

When it became apparent that Covid-19 was nothing to mess with, some people ignored its warning signs. One went so far as to host a party simply to prove he was fearless in the wake of this pandemic. Others, knowing they should be quarantined, conducted business as usual. Selfishness at its finest.

It reminds me of a story I heard years ago. It began with a mouse looking through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a mousetrap! Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, “There is a mousetrap in the house, there is a mousetrap in the house!”

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Mr. Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it.”

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, “There is a mousetrap in the house.” “I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse,” sympathized the pig, “but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers.”

The mouse turned to the cow who replied, “Like wow Mr. Mouse, a mousetrap; am I in grave danger? So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to face the farmer’s mousetrap alone.

That very night the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey was heard throughout the house. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer’s wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now, everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient.

His wife’s sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer’s wife did not get well. In fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.

I think this parable is one we all should consider. In Matthew 7:12 Jesus states, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” The moral of the story is this: the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

Keys to the Kingdom

One of my all-time favorite movies is Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone, which hit the theaters in 1976. The story is about a small-time club fighter who gets a rare shot at the world heavyweight championship and wins it. Rocky displays courage, hard work, and determination to go the distance for his self-respect. This movie has so many good life lessons that I will periodically watch it just for down-to-earth inspiration.

As Christians, we have three big heavyweights on our side. “Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one — for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? No one — for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us” (Romans 8:33,34 NLT). And Holy Spirit does not condemn us because He is in agreement with the Father and Son. Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever“ (John 14:16 AMP).

What a relief for believers who grasp the truth that God does not condemn us because He has justified us. Jesus does not condemn us because He is seated at the right hand of His Father pleading for us in intercession. And Holy Spirit does not condemn us because He lives up to His name as a comforter and helper.

With God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit on your side, the only way you can lose is if you throw in the towel. You can stay on top of your spiritual training by practicing Psalm 18:23: “I am ever [on guard] to keep myself free from my sin and guilt.” Don’t let your guard down because that allows the devil to take a punch at you. Stay vigilant and focus on living your life according to the Word of God. Practice the privilege of prayer. Diligently listen for the gentle voice of Holy Spirit and then obey right away.

Christians believe in God the Father, confess Jesus as Savior and Lord, and then receive Holy Spirit. God reveals Himself through His Son, but He communicates to us through Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, Peter said: “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and your children…all who have been called by the Lord our God” (Acts 2:38,39 NLT).

A gift is something given willingly to someone without payment. God gave His only Son Jesus as a free gift to the world. Some receive Him and some reject Him. Holy Spirit was requested of God by Jesus as a promised gift to believers. Some receive Him with joy and some reject Him. Our earthly life is one big training session for that final round that’s sure to come. Every time the bell rings, make sure you fight to keep the faith.

The Key: Ding ding…the devil can‘t use you for a punching bag when the three Heavyweights are in your corner!

Business in Bourbon County

I mentioned in a previous column that Bourbon County lags behind our peers in generating retail sales, but how have we done in attracting and maintaining businesses over the years? As it turns out, we are the best in SEK, and it is not even close. Consider the following chart using the latest state data from 2012:

Surprised? Did you know that Bourbon County businesses generate more than $1.1 billion in annual sales? Would you have guessed that we generate more sales per person than Crawford County or Miami County? Would you have conceived that we generate more sales per person than our closest SEK competitor by a whopping 16%?

Need further evidence? Bourbon County is also number one in SEK at attracting workers from outside the county. In fact, we are tied for 15^th statewide out of 105 counties in recruiting employees from other jurisdictions to commute here to work. Additionally, we trail only Miami County from the list above in income per person in the county.

Obviously, we have a robust business community in Bourbon County, which is why we attract commuters from all around the region. We have invested in an industrial park, we have spent money on economic development and tourism, and our local governments have been business-friendly. Our communities had the foresight to start BEDCO (now BC REDI) in 1992 to encourage economic development and manage the industrial park. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is considered a model for rural Kansas.

Now is not the time to rest on our laurels and coast. We need to continue to make investments in our business community, understanding that it has paid off for us all.

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

When I was in my teens, my folks had some friends drop in for a visit. (It was common for family and friends to come over unannounced back then, and I miss that custom nowadays.) Since my mom and dad were chatting with the couple, I decided to make a batch of mom’s scratch brownies. When they finished baking, I joined the foursome outside and we ate our warm treat. Although I hadn’t added any nuts to the recipe, I kept noticing something crunchy as I chewed. This was such a mystery to me that I went into the house, looked in the mirror, and discovered white stuff embedded on top of my jaw teeth. I was horrified when I realized it was eggshells! Obviously, I wasn’t paying close-enough attention and a tiny piece of eggshell had sneaked into the batter.

It was just a minuscule piece of eggshell, but it completely ruined my brownie-eating experience! Let’s compare eggshells to compromise. Going just a little bit below what you know to be right is compromise. It seems like the world is going out on a limb to compromise. The devil will tell you that it doesn’t matter — everybody does it. The devil is a liar and God tells Christians to live differently from unbelievers. “Happy are all who search for God, and always do His will, rejecting compromise with evil, and walking only in His paths“ (Psalm 119:2,3 TLB).

The dictionary’s definition of compromise is: to accept standards that are lower than desirable; something midway. When I was growing up, I learned, “Do it right, or don’t do it at all.” Grandma Jennings taught my brother how to fold laundry. She had a certain way she wanted it done, and that’s the precise way it had to be. If he did it wrong, he had to do it all over again the right way. This life lesson taught him to follow instructions and be consistent in his endeavors. Grandma refused to let him do something halfway right — what a tremendous lesson on compromise. Just don’t do it!

The Bible is our primary source of instruction, authority, and ethical standards. “How can men be wise? The only way to begin is by reverence for God. For growth in wisdom comes from obeying His laws” (Psalm 111:10 TLB). The ways of the world are in opposition to the ways of God. Christians are clearly instructed to fully obey God and not compromise His standards. God’s moral compass always leads us in the right direction.

Jesus understands the temptation to compromise because He’s been there, done that, and successfully rejected it. “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15 NLT). When the devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, all He had to do was fall down and worship Satan one time…just once. But Jesus answered Satan with these words: “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve‘” (Matthew 4:10 NKJV). Quoting God’s Word when tempted to compromise worked for Jesus, and it will work for us too.

Pay close attention to your daily lifestyle because you’re representing Jesus in a world of compromise. Exhibiting high moral standards will make you stick out like a sore thumb, but that’s OK.

The Key: The tiniest piece of compromise can ruin your witness. Just don’t do it!

Last month marked the 245th year of the American experiment in freedom and self-government, which includes an economic system founded on competition-based capitalism.  The intent of the system is to promote equality of opportunity, but not equality of outcome.  Ironically, the poor have done much better under our system than any socialist or communist system in history.  Competitive capitalism helps us all.

When the character of the people is good, competition-based capitalism drives everyone toward excellence.  When character does not exist, no system of government or economics can adequately compensate for the lack of interest in excellence.  John Adams, our second President, said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Additionally, character-guided competition drives productivity, which is the key ingredient in a healthy economy.  When productivity is climbing, the economy booms and benefits everyone at all economic levels.  Consider this: 100 years ago in this country, only the rich could afford cars, air conditioning, and most household appliances; now, it is a rare home that does not have these modern conveniences.  A whopping 97% of American adults own a cell phone.

Unhealthy competition, often motivated by bad character, can decrease productivity and suppress an economy.  Large businesses sometimes employ predatory pricing, accepting a short-term loss to run smaller firms out of business.  When not-for-profits aggressively compete for constituents, the common good that should be the basis for their not-for-profit status is not served.  Similarly, when governments compete for jurisdiction, it is not productive and all of us pay.

For the mutual good of Bourbon County, I encourage businesses to compete on an equitable basis.  Not-for-profits, look to enhance the operations of fellow benevolent organizations, reaching out to build partnerships that can create synergies and serve mutual constituents.  Governments, link arms with adjoining or overlapping jurisdictions and see how you might create efficiencies in serving the taxpayers. In this neck of the woods, we are not wealthy enough to pay for waste.

Lastly, I encourage you to evaluate your own character as it relates to economics and the good of the community.  Before you fire out a post to criticize a politician, a neighbor, or a competitor, I would direct you to a quote by the wisest Sage of all, who walked this earth about 2,000 years ago: “first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”