My writings have been primarily focused on Bourbon County and how we stack up to the counties in our area; however, it is wise to take a step back periodically and see how we fit into a larger context. Census trends over the last ten years for the United States of America and Kansas can be a window into our past and a foreshadowing of our future.

Census data indicates that our national population growth rate has been declining over the past few decades, caused by lower birth rates and the aging of the historically large Baby Boom generation. In fact, without immigration, the USA would have been near zero growth over the last 10 years. This would explain why the growth rate of Kansas lagged behind the national average by 4.2 percentage points at 2.1%; we tend to welcome fewer immigrants every year than east and west coast states. That is illustrated by the fact that the Kansas white population is 10 percentage points higher than the national number of 76.3%; we lag significantly behind in every ethnic group. The diversity numbers are the lowest in Southeast Kansas counties, where every county in the region lost population between census dates.

Surprisingly, Kansas tends to be younger on average than the USA as a whole, especially in the under 18 demographic. Kansans are still having children, while other parts of the country are relying upon migration or immigration for growth. The percentage of Kansans over 65 is slightly below the national average, despite Bourbon County being 3.7 percentage points above the average. Bourbon County has more retired people and additional people too young to earn a wage. Tough factors to overcome.

An important indicator is housing, and the numbers are a little foreboding for locals. The average home value in the state is $151,900 versus $217,500 nationally; in Bourbon County, the number is $82,700. Unfortunately, the average Kansan pays a slightly higher monthly cost for their undervalued home compared to the other 49 states and US territories; a symptom of the high real estate tax phenomenon we all endure.

Lastly, the health care/poverty statistics could be our biggest challenge as Kansans and residents of Bourbon County. The national poverty rate has been declining and stands at 10.5%; that number is 11.4% for Kansas and 15.6% for Bourbon County. To make matters worse, Kansas is 1.4 percentage points over the national average of citizens without health care insurance at 10.9%, and we have a much higher percentage of disabled residents under the age of 65, especially in Bourbon County. This means more stress on our local safety net and health care services.

Who is leading the growth in the USA? Energy sector states such as North Dakota, low tax/regulation states such as Texas and Florida and states conducive to immigration like New York. Because our energy sector is not large, higher taxes, and minimal immigration, expect rural Kansas to struggle to maintain population in the foreseeable future.

Joan’s neighbor invited Greg and Joan and another couple over for dinner. They live in an affluent suburb of Kansas City, and ever since the neighbors moved in, Greg and Joan have attempted to make small talk but found the new residents rather odd. Perhaps this was a break-through, a chance to see that their first impressions were wrong. Greg asked what they could bring for dinner but was told it would be catered, so they were to bring nothing.

My friend Joan shared with a group of us what happened when they arrived for dinner. The visiting foursome were brought into the kitchen and told to help themselves. On the stove was one covered pot. They were to use the tongs and grab one of the six hotdogs boiling in the pot. Six buns lie on a paper plate, ketchup and mustard were in their squeezable containers, and small bags of potato chips lie nearby. All were given water to drink. That was it: wieners, condiments, buns, chips and water. I’ve been to dinner at Joan’s. She puts her best palate forward when hosting guests. Appetizers are stunning, both in presentation and taste, and meals are feasts. Joan said that she and her husband avoided eye contact with the two couples for fear of bursting into hysterics. They looked for ways to praise the meal but could think of none. I mean, what do you say? “Your caterer really knocked herself out this time.” “Goodness, these must be Nathan’s all-beef wieners. Yum.”

The one-wiener-per-person miserliness was not nearly as objectionable as the conversation which centered around how the hosts had met. When the wife first was introduced to her (now) husband’s mother, the mother commented that she was shocked her son had a girlfriend because she “always thought he was gay.” Joan said the host showed no reaction, assuming this was not the first time he had heard his wife reveal that information. (You can’t make this stuff up.)

Joan and Greg are Christians and know that they are to love the unlovely. They realize that they need to be sharing Jesus with their unpleasant friends because very likely, that’s what God planned when the couple moved in next door. Since that night, however, she and her husband have avoided their neighbors. Our guilt-ridden friend questioned if they should reciprocate the dinner invitation in hopes of enlightening their neighbors to what real hospitality looks like. Still, she admitted, the food was the least of their concerns.

What made that woman divulge such private information about her husband in front of strangers? And how do those strangers then respond to such a comment? None of us had answers except that we Christians all live by the command “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And since this is a literal neighbor, well…ignoring them doesn’t seem to be a viable option. Joan shared that she is praying about the matter, but when we pressed her, she admitted that she is praying that her neighbors move. Although we all know God can’t be pleased with such a petition, I’m not so sure I wouldn’t be doing likewise.

There’s a lot of discussion right now about the vaccine and whether a person should or shouldn’t get it.  It doesn’t take long before you find people with differing opinions, and if I’m not mistaken we’ve always valued our freedoms in America that allow us to have differences of opinions.

However, I do want to tell you about a virus that is much deadlier than the Coronavirus, and if you don’t get the vaccine YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY DIE.  The virus is called SIN.  We’ve all got it, according to Romans 3:23.  Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4), and sin is not just doing the wrong thing, but it’s failing to do what is right (James 4:17).  We can say with Paul that though we want to do the right thing, we don’t do it, and we don’t want to do the wrong thing, but we still do it (Romans 7:19).  It’s the human thing to do.  It’s the nature that we inherited from Adam (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22).  Where does all of this lead to?  It leads to death.  Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…”  Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The soul who sins is the one who will die…”  There are many other such passages that help us understand that sin=death.

There’s only one way to get around this absolute certainty:  that is to get the vaccine.  The vaccine is Jesus.  Only Jesus can save you from sin’s wage.  Only Jesus can free you from sin’s penalty.  I didn’t quote to you the whole verse from Romans 6:23 a while ago.  It says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  There are lots of other verses that teach us forgiveness is through Jesus (Ephesians 1:7; Acts 13:38,39; 1 John 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; Hebrews 10:10-14).

Could I encourage you to get the vaccine for your deadly virus of sin?  Say “YES” to Jesus, so that when you stand before Him He will say “YES” to you.  If you need help in knowing how to find Him, I’d love to help you.

Kevin Moyers,

Rinehart Christian Church

I have written much about how Bourbon County compares with other SEK counties, and we come out looking pretty good. What about Vernon County, Missouri? Every morning, we get quite an influx of commuters that cross the state line for work, taking advantage of their low property tax rates and Kansas income tax rates. It is worth looking at the newly issued U.S. Census data to see how we stack up.

Vernon County (VC) is quite a bit larger than Bourbon County (BB) in geography and population, by about 30% in area and 37% in the number of residents. In the last 10 years, VC contracted by 6.9% to 19,707 people; BB lost 5.4% of our population, which now sits at 14,360. The residents of VC represent less diversity than BB at 93.6% white versus 89.7%. BB has more people over 65 and under the age of 18, while VC has a slightly higher percentage of female residents.

Housing is an interesting contrast. The average value of a home in VC is $98,300 compared to $82,700 in BB; interestingly, the average monthly cost to own a home in VC is $152 lower than in BB. One can only assume that while a VC resident pays more for their mortgage, they pay a much lower price for real estate taxes. Monthly rental costs were about the same, but VC had 11 building permits issued in 2020 compared to one in BB (not all new constructions have required permitting). As I discussed in a previous column, VC has a decided housing advantage.

Business activity statistics are about the same, but one noticeable negative trend was pronounced in BB; in recent years, we lost 8.6% of our workforce compared to 2.2% for VC. While retail is stronger in VC, BB has a decided manufacturing edge. Computers in households and households with broadband access are at much higher percentages in VC.

While personal income statistics are similar in both counties, and both counties rank above the national average in poverty statistics, the numbers are worse for VC: 17.1% compared to 15.6%. Also higher than the national average is the number of individuals without health insurance in the two counties; that percentage is 15.5% for VC, 10.8% for BB.

The similarities between the two counties are striking, but VC has a decided advantage where it counts: housing. This is strongly indicated by building permits, home prices, lower monthly cost of home ownership, retail sales, and workforce retention.

What can we do? We cannot close the gap all at once, but we can chip away at the factors that exacerbate the difference. Lowering real estate taxes, incentivizing new construction, improving our infrastructure, and facilitating broadband access over time will help.

Economic development is a multi-front challenge because of stiff competitors like VC, so we have to keep making progress on all fields of the battle.

Keys to the Kingdom

The name you’re given at birth is extremely important because you’re stuck with it all your life, and some people actually live up to their name. (Nabal means “fool” and that’s what he was according to the Book of 1 Samuel 25:3.) Back in 1990, we asked our daughter Mariam what she thought we should name her soon-to-be baby brother. She quickly replied, “Moses.” Although that’s a great name, we didn’t think that would be the best choice for our family. So, we compromised and named him Aaron because he was Moses‘ younger brother in the Old Testament.

As you’ll recall, Moses was dragging his feet and pretty-much arguing with God when He spoke to him from the burning bush. God needed Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, but he kept hem-hawing around. Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ’The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ’What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:13, 14 NKJV).

I AM is still I AM. I don’t care how big your box is, you can’t put God in it. It doesn’t matter how big your problem is, God is bigger. Several years ago I finally figured out God’s I AM name. When my Dad died unexpectedly in 2012, I found myself without a father. What a jolt — I needed my Dad! Shortly after that experience I heard in my heart, “I AM your Dad. Whatever you need, I‘m it.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18 CEB). I understood that I had God’s permission to fill in the blank and then He would fill it with Himself.

“Long as I’ve Got King Jesus,” recorded by Brian Free & Assurance, is a song that really preaches to me. A portion of the lyrics describe some of the names of Jesus: “He’s a burden bearer, He’s a heavy-load sharer, He’ll be your bridge over water. He‘ll be your friend when you‘re friendless, He‘ll be your mother when you‘re motherless, He‘ll be your comfort when you‘re lonely. He’s the Lily of the Valley, and the Bright Morning Star, He’s the sweet Rose of Sharon, and the Great I AM.” John the Revelator wrote, “’I am the Alpha and the Omega — the beginning and the end,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come — the Almighty One‘” (Revelation 1:8 NLT).

Let I AM prove in your own life what He proved for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. God didn’t prevent them from being tossed into the fiery furnace, but He sure kept them from being charred. They went through the fire without even smelling like smoked ribs. I AM was walking around in the fire with them! God says, “Listen to me…I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime — until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you” (Isaiah 46:3,4 NLT).

The Key: I AM is still I AM so get your pen and fill in the blank. I AM your ___________.

David, Henry and Alan, three little boys, were visiting their grandparents. David went over to his grandfather and asked, “Can you make a sound like a frog? His grandfather, being a little cranky, replied, “No David, I don’t really want to make the sound of a frog right now.”

Next, Henry went over to his grandfather and asked, “Papa, will you please make a sound like a frog?” Once again, his grandfather said, “No Henry, not now. I don’t really want to do that. I’m in a grumpy mood. Maybe later.”

Lastly, Alan went over to him and said, “Papa, oh please, please, please will you make a sound like a frog?”

“Why do all of you boys want me to make a sound like a frog?” their grandfather asked. David replied, with a hopeful look on his face, “Well Grandpa, Mommy told us that when YOU croak, we get to go to Disney World!

We all know that our children grow up to model what is modeled for them. They need to be taught the power of their words.

Unfortunately, sometimes these little ones receive conflicting messages. When our three sons were young, the church we attended held monthly potluck dinners. The line formed with the eldest members first, so you can imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw my four and five-year olds at the head of the line. Although I was holding their infant brother, I managed to pull the two away from the crowd and told them that the first would be last and the last first. (And yes, I probably should have done a little more explaining.)

You can imagine my shock at the next potluck when Adam ran to the head of the line and grabbed a plate. Not a little embarrassed, I yanked him aside and asked if he remembered what I had told him at the last church social.

With a confused look, he answered, “You said the first will be last, so I went first so I’d really be last. What did I do wrong?” I would like to tell you that that was the last time my words did not reflect Christlikeness, but that is far from the truth.

Sometimes our words do not produce the outcome we desire.

Sometimes, like the three boys with their grandfather, too many words can have disastrous results.

Other times, like my time at the potluck, not enough words can lead to misunderstandings.

James 3:5 reminds us of the importance of speaking with wisdom: The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. Perhaps that’s what my friend had in mind when she bought a plaque for me that read “Keep an arm around my shoulder, Lord, and a hand over my mouth.” That prayer could keep a lot of people out of trouble. Trust me. I know.

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.