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.”

Several years ago, Nicole Contos was scheduled to be married in a Manhattan church.

She showed up, 250 invited guests showed up, but the groom didn’t. He took off for Tahiti, the intended honeymoon location. So, there she was with a $100,000 reception and no wedding. What did she do?

She did the same thing the king in Matthew 22 did when his son’s reception didn’t turn out as planned. She said, “The food is ready, the drink is ready. We’re gonna have a party. And she did.” Last week, we looked at Jesus’ parable of a wedding ceremony in which a king’s invited guests opted not to come to his son’s marriage feast and killed the servants who came looking for the no-shows. Not a smart plan, since the king had an army at his disposal and sent it to annihilate the killers. (Not exactly a memorable marriage moment.) The parable doesn’t end there, however. The king then sent word for anyone and everyone to come and fill the seats for the banquet, and come they did.

Every down-and-out, every castle cast-off, came running.

But this is where the story turns wacky. The king, checking on his guests, noticed a man “who did not have on a wedding garment.” When asked why, the guest remained mute. “Then the king said to the servants, ’Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:11-14). A little over-kill, perhaps?

Tell me your heart doesn’t ache for the poor man. I mean, perhaps he had no fine clothes. Did his last-minute invitation come with a “formal attire” heads-up? Did everyone else have time to run home, sponge off in the Jordan River and don sequined togas?

I’m guessing not.

So, why is this guy singled out? Commentators write that none of these eleventh-hour invitees would have had appropriate clothing. The king would have supplied the guests’ apparel; all they had to do was to put it on. But this guy wouldn’t even do that much. He decided to come on his own terms instead of submitting to the king’s wishes.

Jesus’ point is well taken. The Jews—listening to Jesus as he spoke– had plenty of opportunities to R.S.V.P. favorably to God’s invitation to follow His commandments. God even sent His son, Jesus, but most of the Jews refused to believe that he was the Messiah. They said they would obey. They didn’t.

We’ve all met them. God has invited our neighbors, friends and relatives to be a part of His kingdom feast, yet they choose to remain spiritually sloppy. Most can’t find the time to participate, and many who come fail to completely submit. But are we just as guilty? Do we daily respond to God’s prodding, to serve Him before ourselves, to maintain the same enthusiasm we had when we first answered His call, to live up to kingdom standards? “Many are called but few are chosen.”

The choice is ours to make.

Keys to the Kingdom

I live in the country and I’ll be the first to admit that my yard is not perfect. The Better Homes and Gardens team will not be doing an article on my place! Nonetheless, I mow the three-acre property and it looks good from a distance. But for about three weeks in the spring you can see those puffy dandelions. I always thought these weeds were worthless, but after some research, I changed my attitude toward them. I discovered that dandelions serve a purpose in nature because they’re valuable to birds, bees, and little wild animals.

If you ever feel like a bump on a log, worthless, insecure, or unimportant, you need to understand that Jesus says you have great value. “What is the price of two sparrows — one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31 NLT). Believers are not to place their confidence in education, wealth, social privilege, or good looks. God alone, not things, should be our true source of confidence. “We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort (Philippians 3:3 NLT). It’s comforting to know that there’s nothing we can do to make God love us any more or any less.

You can’t be worthless because Jesus believed you were worth dying for. You’re important enough for God to want to be your partner…like two peas in a pod. God wouldn’t trade you for a farm in Texas! If you need to change your old negative attitude toward yourself, then do it. Choose to believe what God says about you and reject the lies Satan whispers to your soul. “But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him]” (1 Corinthians 8:3 AMP). To be known by God is to be accepted as His redeemed child and to have fellowship with Him.

The devil wants you to feel insecure and doubt God’s love so you’ll be afraid to reach out for His help. But your heavenly Father wants you to come boldly to Him: “Let us have confidence then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it” (Hebrews 4:16 GNT). When believers stand on the promises of God, we will have confidence that He will do what He says.

If you’re continually down on yourself, do some research in God’s Word and discover you’re not just a bump on a log. God thinks you’re very special and He‘s adamant about His love for you. “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of My hands“ (Isaiah 49:15,16 NLT). “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence“ (2 Corinthians 5:17 GW).

The Key: Live and think like the valuable person you are in Christ, not the bump on a log you thought you were.

Good News!

I am not on social media, but I understand the buzz is not good; not just in Bourbon County, but across the country. It is so easy to go negative. I was the banker for many newspapers in the Kansas City metro area, and it was interesting that the lowest paid reporters on staff were the critics: movies, restaurants, the arts, etc. It is just way too easy. Even I have made a few negative remarks in my columns.

Want some positive news? Bourbon County is number one in per person income in the eight counties in SEK. Here are the numbers:

2009 2018 2009 2018

Allen $33,302 $40,218 Crawford $30,834 $37,921

Anderson $31,955 $38,539 Labette $32,530 $42,127

Bourbon $32,661 $42,697 Linn $29,438 $37,267

Cherokee $28,170 $39,645 Neosho $28,926 $39,485

What this means is that the total income earned by Bourbon County residents divided by every man, woman and child exceeds that of all of our neighbors. Good news!

This is important for economic development in that it takes cash flow to make households, businesses, and government go, and we have it. What else is required for economic development? Capital to invest. Here are dollars on deposit with county bank branches, and the per person calculation, in 2019:

Millions in Millions in

Deposits Per Person Deposits Per Person

Allen $292 $23,600 Crawford $669 $17,200

Anderson $200 $25,500 Labette $484 $24,700

Bourbon $254 $17,500 Linn $178 $18,300

Cherokee $271 $13,600 Neosho $394 $24,600

What this means is that there is $17,500 on deposit in a county bank branch for every man, woman, and child in BB. We are closer to the bottom on the list. Either we have deposited a lot of money with local investment advisors/out of area banks, or we are bad savers. Money in savings is what people use to start new businesses.

Another statistic that plays into the future of economic activity in our county is the “pull factor” which measures the number of dollars spent in BB when compared to the earnings of its citizens; we are at 70%. Using the per person income chart above, what this means is that the average BB person spends about $30,000 in BB (It is actually lower than that, as the statistic does not measure dollars spent here by non-residents). This is a low number; for example, Allen County has pull factor of 103%, meaning more money is spent in Allen County than the total earnings of its residents. Alas, poor Cherokee County is just at 38% and declining; Joplin, Pittsburg, and Miami are just too close with better shopping options.

What can we do? Buy local. Save. Invest in BB. Deposit your money in local bank branches or with local investment advisors. Donate your money to local charities. Invest in a local business. Decide to pay as much of your sales tax as possible in BB. We have the earnings; let’s use it!

Répondez s’il vous plait. Simplified, we use “R.S.V.P.” instead of the French words meaning “Please reply.” The courtesy extended when one sends such a response can make an event go smoothly. The discourtesy extended when one fails to respond or disregards the invitation’s intention can cause chaos.

This past weekend Jeff, our oldest son, was married on a mountain top in Colorado. Because of Covid, only 30 people were permitted at the wedding site, but 120 were allowed at the reception. Part of the invitation included other activities that week such as an Olympic-style competition and a golf tournament. R.S.V.P.’s were critical for teams to be organized ahead of time. Colored headbands and wristbands had been ordered to indicate team membership for the eight Olympic events, and foursomes were designed around fair competition for golf. Most invitees took their responses seriously. Others, not so much. “Sorry, Bro, but I can’t make it today” (sent 30 minutes before the games began). “I’ll be an hour late. Hope that’s not a problem.” (Of course it was a problem.) “I’m bringing along a buddy. Please put him in my golf foursome.” “I know I said I couldn’t come, but things changed, so I’ll be there.” These were just a few of the replies that caused inconveniences. Some failed to respond but showed up, and others responded as coming but failed to show up. One team ended up with one person instead of the eight required to compete. Jeff’s brothers had to redesign teams because of last-minute cancellations, causing the entire Olympic events to start an hour later than scheduled. Sooooo unfair to the teammates who were there on time! If you’ve ever been in charge of organizing an activity that depended on people showing up, you know how frustrating it can be when they fail to take their R.S.V.P. seriously. You spend hours and hours getting everything ready. You work hard and are excited about what you’ve got planned. But then eight arrive instead of the 25 you counted on. Jesus had plenty to say about invited guests who fail to show up. In Mt. 22, he compared Heaven to a wedding banquet a king prepared for his son. Invitations had gone out ahead of time, but when the ceremony started, there were no-shows. Twice the king sent out his servants to find the guests, reminding them that the food was ready, but they had other plans. Some “seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.” The enraged king dispatched his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city. Fortunately, nothing so dramatic happened at Jeff’s weekend of activities, but Jesus took this snub very seriously. Let’s pick up in verse eight where his parable points to the Jews who, denying Jesus, were replaced with the Gentiles: Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. And everyone lived happily ever after. Ummm…maybe not. Next week we will look at one man who chose to come, but on his terms. It was an R.S.V.P. with eternal consequences.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Single Dove, but not Alone

One day shortly after my husband Jimmy died, I looked out the kitchen window and saw one dove. I waited for its mate to fly in, but it never did. And I thought, “I’m that dove.” Every once in awhile I see her. There’s a difference between lone and lonesome. The definition of lone: solitary or single. Lonesome: lonely, or unhappy at being alone. I believe the awesome Creator God uses all sorts of things, especially nature, to speak to us if we‘ll sit still and be quiet. This gentle bird was healthy, beautiful, and going about her daily routine. For whatever reason, her mate was gone and she was simply carrying on.

One evening the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “You’re not the only single woman in the world.” That was a true fact and a vital revelation for me. I needed that God-moment of understanding which was a double-decker packed with courage and resolve.

God’s Word is the believer’s instruction manual for everyday living. Knowing and embracing the truth found in these pages can change your life if you’ll jump on the bandwagon with God. The following four scriptures are powerful promises and reminders of what to believe and act on if you’re flying solo:

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God“ (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV). As David pulled himself up by his bootstraps, he asked God to encourage him. God will not fly the coop when you’re in the middle of a challenging situation. He‘s always available to provide you with support, confidence, and hope…just ask Him in faith.

Jesus is speaking to His disciples and says, “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…for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you” (John 14:16,17b AMP). Believers may have to get in front of the mirror, look themselves in the eyes and say, “I am never alone because the Holy Spirit lives in me and that‘s as close as it gets.”

“…God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear‘” (Hebrews 13:5,6 NLT). No matter what the situation looks like or how you feel, you are never alone. You can depend on God to keep His Word. When the winds of adversity have come and gone, you can keep gliding because Jesus remains with you.

“May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from His glorious power, so that you may be able to endure everything with patience. And with joy give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to have your share of what God has reserved for His people in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:11 GNT). Believe God has made you strong through His mighty power, then you can act on your faith and joyfully fly through life’s storms with thanksgiving.

The Key: There are no solo flights in God’s Kingdom.