Keys to the Kingdom by Carolyn Tucker

My daughter was engaged for a year before her marriage in 2009, so we had 12 months to have fun planning and shopping for the wedding. Seriously, during that year everything was stress-free and very pleasant for me. But the actual day of the wedding was a different story just because of nerves. When I got home, I felt like I’d been dragged through a knothole backwards. Knotholes come in all different shapes and sizes. Believe me, there’s one out there with your name on it. If you live long enough, you’ll eventually have to deal with at least one. During those times, Jesus says, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NLT).

From personal experience, I need three types of rest: physical, spiritual, and emotional. When God says to come to Him and He will give you rest, that’s exactly what He means. God’s got what we need — He’s simply waiting for us to meet His conditions in order to receive the rest we require. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours (Mark 11:22-24 NLT). I’ve never needed to change the terrain, but Jesus is using a vivid word picture to teach believers that we must have great faith in order to slam the door on doubt and move our problems on out.

If I live an exhausted physical lifestyle because I’m running full throttle in the fast lane and not ever getting enough sleep or rest, God isn’t obligated to help me because I’m intentionally operating in stupid mode. But if we‘re tired because we’re the caregiver for aging parents, ill family members, etc., God will supply us with the energy and ability to do what needs to be done. “My grace is all you need, for My power is greatest when you are weak” (2 Corinthians 12:9 GNT).

If my spiritual well is dry, I can’t offer water to anyone that’s thirsty. Paul prayed for spiritual growth for the Ephesus believers, and it’s also for us. “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 5:16-20 NLT).

Paul also wrote to the church in Philippi regarding emotional rest. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus“ (Philippians 4:6,7 NLT).

The Key: When your personalized knothole arrives, you need to be able to crawl through it and come out sunny-side up.

According to kansaspolicy.org, the population of Kansas has risen 11% since 1997; during the same period, the rate of inflation was 53% and the average county in Kansas raised property taxes by 180%. Bourbon County was right at the state average, while shrinking about 5.5%.

Here is how some of our neighboring counties fared since 1997:

County Tax Change Mill Change

Allen 321% 81%

Anderson 236% 59%

Bourbon 180% 53%

Crawford 147% 33%

Linn 223% 71%

Here are a few of the highest and lowest around the state:

Douglas 399% 88%

Harper 67% -6%

Lane -1% -42%

Mitchell 428% 119%

Rice 88% -14%

The new “Truth in Taxation” law that was signed by the governor in 2020 went into effect this year. In essence, the law says that government entities that rely upon real estate tax revenue must set a revenue-neutral mill levy every year, unless they hold a public hearing to inform voters. What this means is that when the total assessed valuation of a county goes up, the mill levy must be dropped in order to avoid collecting more taxes.

Do you think businesses consider these numbers when selecting their next location? Do potential new residents? Common sense would tell us, “Yes.”

Related to real estate taxes is the issue of delinquent taxes. The recent list of tardy property owners published in the local newspaper raised quite a stir. Statutes exist that set the rules as to when a jurisdiction can sell a property to collect the past due levies.

Unfortunately for small counties, the cost to follow legal procedures to foreclose upon and sell the properties in question can cost more than the total auction prices achieved.

Yes, the beginning of the process can awaken an owner into action and more taxes are collected. During the proceedings, property owners must pay their taxes plus penalties, or face losing their properties; however, we need to consider all the implications, including the foreclosure economics and the cost to own foreclosed property.

I would be much more interested in strong code enforcement that brings attention to problems before a building collapses and costs our government even more money.

Last point, some elected officials are of a mindset that small tax decreases will not be noticed by property owners and are a meaningless gesture. It is the same mentality that caused the continual tax increases in the first place that totaled over three times the rate of inflation.

We need to think about the long-term and the cumulative impact of mill levy changes. Let’s start a downward trend, no matter how small, and keep revenue increases at or below the rate of inflation.

We all agree that honesty is a noble quality, but do we practice it when it costs us something? Literally “costs” us something?

Dave and I last week were in the San Francisco area, visiting friends from Mazatlán, Joyce and Howard, who live on a golf course when not in Mexico.

Errant golf balls are commonly found in their back yard, but Joyce shared that one day when she returned from running errands, she found her guest bedroom’s French door to an outside patio shattered by such a hit. Joyce phoned her local country club to ask for help in finding who might have teed off that morning.

The club contacted those golfers, and within two days, one called her and admitted that he had hit a ball in that direction but had no idea when it went over her fence it broke a window. He showed up at her house, apologizing and leaving her a check for the $600 he owed.

My friend told of another time two years ago when she returned from Mazatlán to find a large hole in that same wooden fence. It appeared that a cart had done the extensive damage. Again, Joyce called the club to report the damage, but this time no one came forward. The club ended up repairing the hole.

Fast forward to last Friday when Howard and Dave were repairing the mesh fence that adds a few more feet of ball protection height to that fence. Two golfers came by and parked their carts near where the guys were working.

Howard struck up a conversation with one and told the story of the unresolved issue. “I know who did that,” said the golfer, pointing to his partner standing a few yards away. Immediately, the guilty man turned his back to Howard, jumped in his cart and skedaddled away. (We could only imagine the conversation between those two golfers when they met on the next hole. Oh my!)

In 2 Corinthians 8:21, Paul the apostle reminds readers of his intentional honesty: For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. He writes further in Ephesians 4:25: Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

I picture the dishonest golfer waking the next morning, worrying he might be caught, and yes, my friend intends to call the club to ask for help in finding the blameworthy runaway.

But before we point fingers, if we are really honest, we must admit that our human nature is not to get caught when our mistakes cost us something…even if it’s not money but instead is our reputation or our position or our supposed spirituality.

Who knew this better than King Saul of the Old Testament? The prophet Samuel relayed God’s message to warrior Saul to destroy “everything” of the Amalekites, enemies of Israel and the first nation to attack the Israelites when Moses led them out of Egypt.

Instead of obeying, Saul failed to slaughter the enemy’s animals and kept the Amalekite king alive as his war trophy, returning to Israel and erecting a monument to himself.

Big mistake.

When Samuel confronted Saul, the king lied and made excuses, blaming the soldiers by saying that they kept the animals alive to make sacrifices to the Lord. He even asked Samuel to cover his sin and make him look good to his fellow Israelites.

God’s reaction was anything but understanding. Saul would no longer be king.

Someone once said, “Tell a lie once, and all your truths become questionable.” I think that God knows that, and if He would go to such drastic measures to punish Israel’s leader, I imagine that none of us should expect leniency. Honesty is, after all, the best policy.

Keys to the Kingdom – By Carolyn Tucker

When I was expecting our first child, my Mom tried to encourage me with these wise words, “After a woman has a baby and she sees and holds it for the first time, she forgets all about the pain.” So I was banking on that to happen when I delivered my first child. I don’t know what was wrong with me, but my amnesia never did kick in. That’s the only time my Mom lied to me. However, I can honestly say that it was worth it — both times.

Christ followers have to keep on and stand strong in the pain of adversities. We have His promises and the privilege of going boldly to God’s throne for whatever we need. We mustn’t give up or give in when the going gets rough.

Believers need to make up their minds and purpose in their hearts that no matter what, they’re going to be radically dedicated to Jesus. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. Endurance is defined as the ability to last, continue, or remain. “For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy” (James 5:10,11 NLT).

“The path of the godly leads away from evil; he who follows that path is safe” (Proverbs 16:17 TLB). Should you wander off the good path, don’t despair. One of Satan’s meanest tricks is to try to convince you that you’re a big fat fail and you might as well give up. The enemy of your soul doesn’t want you to know God‘s Word: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Psalm 37:23,24 NKJV).

One of my favorite songs, “I Won’t Turn Back,” was written by Geron Davis, Tim Pedigo, and Janet Paschal. The lyrics encourage me to keep going. “It’s a struggle for survival, we daily meet the foe. Out there on the battlefield sometimes we stand alone. That‘s when I reach for my holy armor; I pick up my shield of faith and I march onto the battlefield — I take up my sword and say, ‘The mountain is high but it’s not too steep. The battle is rough but I’m not too weak. And I won’t turn back, oh no, I won’t turn back! The road is hot but it’s not too long. And the enemy is near but he’s not too strong. And I won’t turn back, oh no, I won’t turn back.’ In the face of strong resistance, we press on through the night. For often on the battlefield we walk by faith not sight. We march through persecution, determined come what may. We have to fight a good fight; we have to keep the faith!”

“The godly have a refuge when they die” (Proverbs 14:32 TLB). I love to use my husband’s preaching Bible. Jimmy underlined the following verse: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT). If I could ask him today, “Was it worth it?” I know he would answer, “Oh my, yes!”

The Key: When you’ve run your final race and you see your Savior’s face, it will be worth it all.

Abraham Lincoln famously paraphrased the Good Book in a speech to the Illinois State Republican convention with regard to the deep divisions he witnessed in our nation over slavery just prior to the Civil War: “A house divided against itself will not stand.” This timeless wisdom, which is still true today, holds sway over Bourbon County and several of our communities. We are divided east and west, by socio-economic factors, politics, local issues, national issues, old grudges, urban and rural, and the list goes on.

These divisions seem more pronounced because of social media and YouTube broadcasting public forums, but it remains true that the lack of ability or effort to reach a consensus over basic issues has prevented us from solving problems. At times our county and our cities have looked chaotic.

All these dynamics are the enemies of trust, which is a critical ingredient in moving organizations and communities forward. Unfortunately, outsiders see these dark lines drawn throughout our communities and want no part of it.

Thankfully, positive developments are occurring around our area; the county and the city are working to reduce the expenses of both by working together and sharing resources. Benevolent men, women, and organizations are charting paths to work together to address the needs of the community. More is achieved when resources are shared and pooled.

This is effort is vital as we face megatrends, the impact of which are challenging to mitigate. These are difficult opponents to face as a team, much more so as divided communities. The need to swallow our collective pride and work to repair old rifts and grudges is critical. We are all in the same boat, navigating the turbulent waters faced by rural America. We cannot afford the luxury of division.

Bourbon County REDI is looking to be a catalyst for cooperation, reconciliation, and positive change. If you have ideas as to how we can better eliminate division, please email our Economic Development Director, Rob Harrington at [email protected]. We would very much appreciate your thoughts.

A family of four entered a local restaurant, ordered lunch, and holding hands, bowed their heads to pray.

Suddenly a woman at a nearby table turned and confronted them. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t need you to shove your God in my face. I have the right to eat without you forcing your religion down my throat.”

The father quietly answered, “We have the right to pray in public.”

Not so, according to the offended woman. “You’re making me really uncomfortable. I don’t believe what you believe, so you probably need to stop.”

As the family continued praying, the woman’s volume escalated. “I’m just in shock. I can’t believe you need to put your values on someone else.”

Other restaurant customers were privy to the dialogue.

Intentionally. After all, this was the television show, What Would You Do? that is hosted by John Quiñones. If you haven’t seen it, you should try to catch an episode.

Argumentative scenes are staged, unbeknownst to the non-actors whose reactions are caught by hidden cameras. The hope is that someone will have the guts to defend the one being mistreated or attacked.

In this case, a bold patron finally spoke up. “I think you need to leave this room or put your fingers in your ears. Why should they pray silently?”

The woman (remember, an actress) refused to be silenced. “They should get out.” The gutsy non-actor refused to quit. “I don’t think so. You need to shut up so they can pray.”

Following the scene, Quiñones entered with his camera crew to interview the intervener as well as those who did nothing.

One who refused to speak up had this to say: “I thought this was escalating and was going to ruin the meal for everybody in this room.” (Good excuse to say nothing, right?)

Switch to the next scene.

Same actors, but this time in a different restaurant where another couple joined the praying family.

When the verbal assaults started, an observing family got up to leave.

The actress-woman, spewing her anti-prayer-in-public comments, addressed the exiting group: “Thanks for agreeing with me.”

She was not prepared for the father’s comment.

“We are leaving because of you.”

What would you have done?

1 Thessalonians 5:14 is a passage of Scripture that tells us to “…encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

Put yourself in that restaurant. Would you defend the one being bullied, or would you, like the majority of the patrons in the examples above, say nothing?

I can tell you what I would do, and remaining silent would not be one of the options.

I’m just not sure my defense of the ones praying would be being “patient with them all” (“all” meaning the one criticizing the pray-ers).

So, Christians, let’s put the shoe on the other foot.

What if you were in a restaurant and the people at the table next to you prayed aloud to Allah or even Satan?

Would you react unlovingly and spew venomous assaults?

Would you walk out, feeling that your religious beliefs had been maligned, informing the manager that you would never cross the doorway of that restaurant again?

Or would you back those praying against others who might vocalize their displeasure?

It’s easy to defend those with whom you agree, but when they go against your beliefs? What would you do?

Keys to the Kingdom

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been very fond of monkeys. (I can even imitate the sounds of a chimpanzee.) I distinctly remember sitting on my Mom’s lap and asking her, “Can I have a baby brother or sister?“ She simply replied, “No.“ Without missing a beat, I then asked, “Well, can I have a monkey?“ Without missing a beat, Mom gave me a flat-out “No.“ One of my favorite TV shows in 1976 was “B.J. and the Bear” — not because the young trucker was good looking but because his pet chimp was so adorable! When visiting the zoo once, I was standing on the other side of the bars lightheartedly watching a big chimpanzee when (to my astonishment) he threw poop right at me! What an unkind thing to do! That was my first up-close-and-personal experience of “shock and awe.“

Humans aren’t prone to throw poop, but they’re apt to throw negative words at people. We can make or break someone’s day by what we say. Of all people, believers need to get a handle on the words that come out of our mouth. It’s pretty safe to say that Christians aren’t tempted to rob the bank, steal a car, run off with the neighbor’s spouse, or cheat on their income taxes. But often times we’re tempted to say surly words.

The Book of Proverbs provides ample instructions on the right (God-fearing) way to talk. “Self-control means controlling the tongue. A quick retort can ruin everything. The words of the wise soothe and heal” (Proverbs 12:16,18 TLB). We have the ability to encourage (build up) or discourage (tear down) someone. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels. Gentle words cause life and health; griping brings discouragement” (Proverbs 15:1,4 TLB). The question to ask ourselves is, “What does this person need to hear today?” Rather than “What do I want to get off my chest?”

It’s wise to ask God to lead your conversation when you’re going to meet someone for lunch or coffee, business, etc. God cares about the words you speak, not just your actions. God also cares and hears how you talk to your family when you’re home alone with them. “How wonderful it is to be able to say the right thing at the right time. The Lord delights in kind words. A good man thinks before he speaks” (Proverbs 15:23,26,28 TLB).

I’ve heard it said that since there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, we should read one every day of the month. It sure wouldn’t hurt us to have a daily reminder on how to manage our mouths. “Kind words are like honey — enjoyable and healthful. Gossip separates the best of friends” (Proverbs 16:24,28 TLB). “The man of few words and settled mind is wise; therefore even a fool is thought to be wise when he is silent. It pays to keep his mouth shut” (Proverbs 17:27,28 TLB). “Keep your mouth closed and you’ll stay out of trouble” (Proverbs 21:23 TLB).

My sweet mother used to say, “If you can’t say anything good, then don’t say anything at all.” I’m hopeful that the older I get the more like my Mom I’ll become. Underlined in my late husband’s Bible is this verse: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14 NLT).

The Key: Throw kind and positive words at somebody and make their day.

In a previous column entitled “Local Patriots,” I made the connection between economic opportunities afforded to a community and the quality of their leaders. It just makes sense that any type of organization, whether it is government, business, or charity, rises or falls according to the effectiveness of the people in charge.

Leadership is even more critical in rural American communities, as we are fighting the megatrends that are making life difficult for us. There are few easy answers, so it requires creative, opportunistic, and steady hands on the helm. It is so easy to take a risk and make a big mistake; or, more critically, miss opportunities that have a short open window.

Over the course of my lifetime, it seems as if we have changed the way we look at leadership and evaluate the people in charge. No matter what leadership books one reads, all describe critical elements of competency, character, communication, and compassion. Seems that many 21^st century Americans are willing to overlook major gaps in one or more of these areas if the candidate is willing to support two or three hot-button issues. Leaders should be selected based on credentials, not popularity or showmanship.

Additionally, once we elect people who have been brave enough to run for office, we think nothing of castigating them online or in public forums, whether all the facts have been considered or if even one shred of truth exists in the criticisms. It is no wonder high-quality people are reluctant to run for office, or leave office after one or two terms. Who would want to put themselves and their families through the continual negative barrage?

How do we encourage the best leadership possible in rural America? Begin with encouraging and supporting those who are currently serving. You might be dubious about their politics or uneasy about the latest gossip regarding their personal lives, but we need our elected officials to succeed. Additionally, I consider it the height of cowardice to spread rumors or post half-truths or outright lies on social media about a leader in our community. Get the facts right and go to the people involved; don’t light your hair on fire and go running around saying, “the sky is falling” every time a shadow crosses your path.

Once we have established a pattern of supporting, respecting, and encouraging our leaders, our best and brightest will always be willing to serve. Let’s work together, holding each other accountable to civil and just behavior, and make leadership in Bourbon County something to be coveted and desired again.

My friends, Sue and Jessica, are finding their faith stretched. Sue’s mother, Edith, shows signs of mental illness. So does Jessica’s son, a victim of drug-induced schizophrenia. The emotional roller-coaster ride upon which my dear friends ride is grievous. One day, the mentally ill individuals are kind and trusting; the next, they are paranoid and accusatory. My friends constantly are looking for verbal weapons to combat the struggle.

A few minutes ago, I hung up from a phone call with Sue. Her elderly mother last month was told that she has only a few months to live, so my friend and her husband, John, traveled to her home in Texas to help clean up the mess created by her hoarding and inability to handle her finances.

After years of not being allowed in her mother’s house, time was up. Things were worse than expected. Unpaid bills and stock reports piled in heaps amidst hundreds of magazines and newspapers.

It was obvious that John needed to acquire a power-of-attorney to protect his mother-in-law. Edith signed the documents. Which lasted about two weeks. Sue’s mother then began accusing her only daughter and husband of taking advantage, stealing her gold coins and documents from her safety deposit box. The details aren’t necessary.

Sue wept as she shared the latest allegations, all unfounded. No amount of reason could change her mother’s decision…until, that is, her mind flipped into a loving, understanding, accepting perspective. Once again, John could have the power of attorney…until, that is, Edith trumped up more reasons to negate her judgment.

Jessica’s son, filled with guilt over past regressions, remains hopeless and unable to see how God wants to turn his badness into goodness. (God’s good at that, you know.) I shared with Jessica of pastors who had turned from their evil ways to lead growing, dynamic churches, after repenting and admitting their failures, and I asked that she share that with her son.

Mind and Soul Foundation documents that 25% of Christians suffer from a form of mental illness, yet most are ashamed to admit their issues. Both of my friends understand the complexities of dealing with dysfunctional loved ones and are continuing to love and support their mentally-ill relatives.

Still, loving the unlovely might be the most difficult challenge we all are asked to do.

God is our example of how to pull it off since He never gives up on us.

As Christians, we are to be mindful of damaging things we say to those who suffer from mental illness. “Surrender your infirmity to God.” “You can will this away.” “God is testing your faith.” “Jesus is calling you to repent of your sins.”

Psychologists question why we would ask such things, citing how we wouldn’t say that to a cancer victim. (Sadly, I have heard those “helpful” messages expressed to people with physical illnesses.)

Sometimes, no words are the best words. Merely practicing the ministry of presence might be the most powerful weapon on which we can rely.

Keys to the Kingdom

I don’t have an athletic bone in my body, however, I didn’t mind PE in school as long as it was exercises, crab soccer, relay races, or running to the Stockton Lake’s first boat dock and back. But when we played volleyball, softball, or basketball, I was completely lost. I don’t remember the coach ever explaining how to play any of these games. It seemed to me that all the other girls knew what to do, how to do it, and enjoyed it. I didn’t have a clue how to do any of these sports. When I played the outfield (and I happened to get the ball) I wouldn’t know where to throw it! I couldn’t seem to pay attention to these games because I simply wasn’t interested. It was comforting to know that I would eventually graduate and that would be the end of my athletic exasperations.

Not everyone is cut out to be a physical athlete, but all believers are to be spiritual athletes. In order to stand up under fire, spiritual muscles are a requirement. We must participate in lifelong training of our spirit. Paul is writing about spiritual growth and says, “Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong” (Hebrews 5:14 NLT). The only way to properly distinguish between good and evil is to read the user’s manual, which is God’s Word. “For the free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone; and along with this gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day” (Titus 2:12 TLB).

Lazy people practice being lazy. Disciplined people practice discipline. You have to practice whatever you’re interested in to be any good at it. “Exercise yourself spiritually and practice being a better Christian, because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too” (1 Timothy 4:8 TLB).

It seems to me that, if Christ followers really loved God, we would want to dedicate time in His Word. It’s comparable to spending time in the gym and working out to build muscles and strength. The Bible tells us how to be spiritual giants…if we’re interested. I recently read the book of Galatians. My vocabulary isn’t very sophisticated, but at the top of these pages I wrote: Wow, powerful, great news, live by love and faith, believe and reap blessings. “Jesus replied, ’But even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice’” (Luke 11:28 NLT).

Paul writes to the Christians in Colosse and tells them to continue to work on their spiritual muscles: “I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness“ (Colossians 2:5-7 NLT). When believers are disciplined and deeply committed to Christ Jesus as Lord, the devil is dialing 911.

God the Father has given His children triumphant grace to live a life of practicing His Word. He has given us powerful promises so we can be strong in faith, goodness, understanding, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, mercy, and love.

The Key: Flex your spiritual muscles and practice your strong faith outside the gym.