According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Social Security Trust Fund runs out of reserves in 2030. In 2031, unless the law changes, the government can only pay out the Social Security tax collected during that budget year.

Unfunded state pensions for public employees are a problem nationwide, totaling 1.28 trillion dollars. The three states in the worst position? Illinois, New Jersey, and Kentucky, all of which have less than 40% of their future pension liabilities funded. Kansas ranks 29^th, at 67% funded.

Who knows what the deferred maintenance totals in our nation’s roads, bridges, sewers, water lines, storm sewers, airports, parks, etc.? We know that in Bourbon County and our incorporated towns alone, the number is well over $100 million.

About 25 years ago, I served on the Johnson County Infrastructure Advisory Committee. We heard testimony after testimony from public works directors from around the region as to the necessity of maintaining systems. It costs five times as much to repair as to maintain, was the common theme. After much analysis, we recommended to the commission a fully-funded maintenance plan with the allocated tax revenue, which was promptly ignored. The county commission voted to spend 100% of the prescribed tax receipts on a new pet project that was important to the public. Budgeted for maintenance? Zero.

Why is this happening? Why did we not have the foresight to set up a self-funded system for Social Security and state pensions that would need no future contributions at some point in time? Why have we not budgeted for infrastructure maintenance, preferring to pay five times more for repairs?

My view? These investments are invisible. There is no political capital in having reserves in the bank, or underground improvements maintained. It is easier to get elected when politicians “rob Peter, to pay Paul.” There is no political penalty for ignoring the problem, especially at the national level.

Do I blame the politicians? No. They are acting at the impulse of the voters. We want free things. We want beautiful amenities. We want it all now! After all, this is how many of us run our home finances.

The economic development of an area is significantly impacted by these invisible factors. Site selectors and outsiders examine these factors when determining where to locate. Residents get tired of paying higher taxes and receiving less in services, and they move away.

We have to start playing the long game in our Bourbon County communities by repairing, then maintaining, all that is broken with our streets, sewers, etc. I am too old to sell my truck and buy a horse in order to get around.

Let’s work together to formulate a plan to make these invisible investments at home, and in our local governments. As voters, let’s quit rewarding politicians whose focus is instant gratification at all levels of government. Our future economic viability depends on it.

After years of watching Francis Chan’s sermons on line and following his transformation from leading a mega-church to evangelizing in China to starting living room churches, I recently had a chance to meet him. Between speaking engagements in the Kansas City area, he, a few missionaries, and their families were at my son Adam’s ranch, enjoying the peace and quiet of Midwest country life. Since my Zoom Bible study for the past 22 weeks had dealt with his book Crazy Love, I couldn’t wait to share how much he impacted our group. Our conversation was light and fun, centering around his wife and children, some details of his ministry and the experience he and his team were having in K.C. Somehow the conversation turned to my trials in raising three sons, and the group of adults seemed amazed that a teenager as challenging as Adam could turn out to be so kind and gracious. (Only by the grace of God.)

That’s when Adam told Francis that I had been in the Bible study based on his book. He questioned who led it. I told him. He brought out his phone and asked how to spell the leader’s name. Strange, I thought, but I spelled “Frank Guidara” and added, “He’s the one who organized the Zoom call.” Francis checked his phone and said that he didn’t have that name in his accounts. “Is there another name the study could have registered under?” I was becoming alarmed. “Dale somebody led it. I don’t know his last name.” Alarm was morphing to panic. “Most are Vietnam vets and their wives,” I added, trying to give some credibility to our little group. Surely he wouldn’t charge a fee to a group of retired, military heroes!

No one in my group had mentioned paying a registration fee to use Crazy Love for a Bible study. I was throwing a whole group of Christians under the bus, the longer I talked. “I’m just kidding. We never had a Bible study,” I said, trying to add some humor to this ridiculously awkward situation. Everyone laughed, but then Francis continued. “That’s just so strange that there doesn’t seem to be any registration for your group.” All eyes were on me, and although I usually appreciate it when that happens, this was different. It was then that Lisa, his wife, turned to her husband. “Since when do people have to register to use your book?”

Francis started cracking up. “I’m just messing with Patty. Of course, no one has to register to do a Bible study!”

He had me. Everyone—even Francis’ close friends—started laughing. And so did I. The evangelist said that if I could raise Adam and find delight in his antics, I must have a good sense of humor. Somehow, he understood me, and I loved it. And I loved his realness. The same man who once confronted his congregation, expressing his fear that the majority of them were lukewarm Christians who would never make it to Heaven, could have turned this time into a stern sermon, or at least could have asked for my take on his thought-provoking book. Instead, he brought levity into the conversation.

I need to learn from Francis. Everything doesn’t have to be a “Heaven or Hell” lecture or have a spiritual message. Sometimes we just need to bring joy into our exchanges so that others will want to hang with us which, in turn, will reveal the reality of who Christ is in us. No doubt, that is a huge part of Francis Chan’s ministerial success.

Keys to the Kingdom by Carolyn Tucker

My family loves to tell a good story which usually erupts in rip-roaring laughter, rufous faces, and tears. I recall a humorous incident my brother Randy told on his mother-in-law (whom he loved dearly). When Randy and Corda were first married, they would come back home on weekends and alternate staying with their parents. On this particular visit, they were at the Rosenbaum farm. Preparing to eat breakfast, my brother was sitting at the kitchen table as his mother-in-law began to pour him a glass of milk. She couldn’t actually see the pour spout as the milk came tumbling out in chunks. As she continued to pour, she sweetly asked, “Is this milk OK?“ I believe his answer was in the negative.

Has it ever occurred to you that there’s no expiration date on your prayers? The other night I was asleep when I distinctly heard, “Mommy!“ I awoke abruptly with a pounding heart as I listened and thought about what had just happened. I was prompted to pray for the protection of my two children, and then I drifted back to sleep. “I have courage in God’s presence, because I am sure that He hears me if I ask Him for anything that is according to His will” (1 John 5:14 GNT). In the morning, I sent both of them brief texts about what I’d experienced and both confirmed that they were just fine.

Exactly two weeks later while my son was driving to work in the early morning, a deer ran out in front of him which caused serious damage to the vehicle, but no harm to Aaron. I believe God prevented him from choosing to ride his motorcycle that day, as the outcome would have been quite different. Exactly six weeks following my prayer, my daughter Mariam and two of her girls were innocently involved in a three-vehicle accident (all were totaled), but no one was injured. No, not one!

“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7 NKJV). Fear of the Lord is simply a proper awe of His greatness and holiness. Believers can trust and depend on God’s faithfulness. I’m thankful my prayer for protection had not expired but was still in effect.

When my kids were little, I taught them a song entitled, “I Thank My God I’m in His Care.“ The lyrics, written by Ry Cooder, depict a simple faith in a loving heavenly Father: “Oh Daniel he was a good man; he prayed night and day. The angels opened up the windows just to hear what Daniel had to say. He prayed, ‘I thank my God I’m in His care.’ I am in His care, in my Savior’s care. I am in His care, in my Savior’s care. King Jesus got His arms wrapped all around me; no evil thought can ever harm me ‘cause I thank my God I’m in His care.“ The scriptural truth of this song still remains in my children’s hearts today.

A song is more than just a happy tune when it’s backed by God’s Word: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (1 Peter 5:7 AMP). If you can truly cast all your care in prayer, you can experience resting in God. I’m glad I heard God’s voice, thankful I prayed, and so grateful my prayer was answered.

The Key: I thank my God there’s no expiration date on my prayers.

It is difficult to run a small business in southeast Kansas, and for that matter, anywhere in rural America and be successful long term. The idea of a business is to create value; a net worth that can be handed down to the next generation or sold at a tidy profit. If your goal is earnings, get a job and work for a business owner, as it is not worth risking the capital and the long hours just to make a wage.

Additionally, it becomes increasingly difficult to create value whenever a population base around a small business is shrinking. I have seen Bourbon County business owners who have been successful over a long period of time try to sell their profitable business, only to learn it has little worth other than the liquidation value of the assets accumulated. Heartbreaking!

Consider these numbers from 2018 of small business loans outstanding (listed by original amount of loan) in some selected SEK counties:

County # of Loans Total $ Ave. Size

Allen 122 $6,571k $53,861

Bourbon 125 $4,193k $33,544

Cherokee 144 $8,887k $61,715

Linn 82 $2,847k $34,720

Neosho 125 $3,090k $26,870

We rank in the middle of the pack, holding our own. Obviously, there are successful small businesses in SEK that do not have loans outstanding, but typically financing goes hand in hand with investment to help an entrepreneur leverage their efforts. $4.2 million is not very much in total loans to small businesses in the county. If small farm loans were added in, the amount would grow exponentially.

A huge problem for rural small businesses, including SEK, is that government lending programs, such as the Small Business Administration (SBA), are harder to access for us. Upfront costs and fees, and cumbersome regulations and requirements make smaller SBA applications cost prohibitive. For example, there are almost no SBA 504 loans (a popular real estate construction financing program) outstanding in SEK, because of the increased cost of professional oversight required, and the fact that contractors must pay Davis-Bacon wages (union scale), which is vastly more than the market currently commands. All these requirements leave this valuable tool, and others, out of reach for us.

The solution? Besides lobbying Congress for lending support programs geared toward rural America, look to start businesses that sell products to growing markets. For example, the traffic count on Highway 69 continues to rise, bringing more consumers through our county every day. Several new businesses have opened up on South Main in recent years to take advantage of this.

Support youth mentoring programs that develop entrepreneurial thinking. The e-Community Program, run by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, holds a Youth Entrepreneurship contest every year which encourages our students to think through business concepts and come up with a business idea for our communities. The prize money is big, and the participation is good.

Bourbon County REDI is ready (pun intended) to support your business idea and give assistance with business planning. Call Rob Harrington at 620-215-0144 with questions.

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet.
2. Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water and have both lids lifted.
3. Obtain the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.
4. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids. (You may need to stand on the lid so he cannot escape.) CAUTION: Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge, as his paws will be reaching out for any purchase he can find. The cat will self-agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from your toilet; the cat is actually enjoying this.
5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a “power-wash and rinse” which I have found to be quite effective.
6. Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are no people between the toilet and the outside door.
7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.
8. The now clean cat will rocket out of the toilet and run outside where he will dry himself.

Sincerely,

The Dog

My cat-owner friends might not find humor in these instructions. That’s because a kitty lover’s idea of cat-care can be radically different from a dog’s idea. It’s all about perspective.

Perspective has a Latin root meaning “look through” or “perceive.” Our perspective is the way we see something, and if based on our biases, can really mess with how God wants us to view His creation. We all know that different perspectives have been known to destroy nations, ruin marriages, cause financial ruin, lead to addictions and incite volatile political arguments.

One Bible story calls attention to perspective. The Israelite soldiers viewed Goliath with fear and trepidation, thinking he was so big he could not be killed, but the young shepherd boy, David, trusting in God alone, saw the giant as a threatless pest who was so big, he couldn’t be missed.

I fear that most of us view some of our perspectives as “giant” differences without taking time to see how God views them. All people are made in God’s image. Should I see others only from my biased (white, Christian, female, conservative) perspective, I will have a narrow comprehension of who God is, and that is the problem. In all candor, it’s my problem.

Recently, for example, I was visiting with a manager of a large company in California. He recently had undergone “sensitivity training” where he learned that there are 53 identifiable genders he needs to understand. (“Healthline” has identified 64. I looked them up.) My first reaction was NOT “I need to understand how God views these distinctions.” It was more like “That’s soooo out of whack!” And since Jesus’ greatest commandment is that we are to love, as a Christian, my perspective cannot permit me not to love those who view things differently than I, no matter how out of whack I think they are.

Keys to the Kingdom

“This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.“ Blessed Assurance is one of Fanny Crosby’s 8,000 songs she penned during her 95 years as a blind hymnist. While reading Psalm 71 recently, I realized that this chapter is the epitome of my story. God’s Word is alive and powerful; sharper than any two-edged sword and my heart was pierced with His loving truth.

Although there are 24 verses to this Psalm, the following seven are the ones that specifically spoke to me that Sunday morning: “(3) Be to me a great protecting Rock, where I am always welcome, safe from all attacks. (5) O Lord, You alone are my hope; I’ve trusted You from childhood. (6) Yes, You have been with me from birth and have helped me constantly — no wonder I am always praising You! (15) I cannot count the times when You have faithfully rescued me from danger. I will tell everyone how good You are, and of Your constant, daily care. (16) I walk in the strength of the Lord God. (17) O God, You have helped me from my earliest childhood — and I have constantly testified to others of the wonderful things You do. (22) I will praise You with music, telling of Your faithfulness to all Your promises“ (Psalm 71 TLB).

As I worshipped God a few hours later in church, we sang “Goodness of God.” My heart was overflowing with the anointed lyrics because it was a perfect parallel to Psalm 71. I experienced a “God moment” with my loving heavenly Father. This revelation was my personal confirmation from Him concerning something I had been leaning toward, but now I knew I had my definite answer.

“Goodness of God” was written by Jenn and Brian Johnson, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, and Ben Fielding. I have lived this song — this is my story: “I love you Lord, oh Your mercy never fails me. All my days I’ve been held in Your hands. From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head, oh I will sing of the goodness of God. ‘Cause all my life You have been faithful. And all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able oh I will sing of the goodness of God. I love Your voice, You have led me through the fire. And in the darkest night You are close like no other. I’ve known You as a Father, I’ve known You as a Friend. And I have lived in the goodness of God.”

What do God’s promises in His Word say to you? Perhaps your past is one you’d rather forget. If so, then that’s exactly what you’re supposed to do — forgive, forget, and move on. Lay those hurtful experiences and memories down at the foot of the cross and leave them there. Never ever carry that heavy baggage again. Today is a new day chocked full of God’s loving mercy, kindness, and faithfulness. Reach out and take what God offers and freely run on the path of blessings He has for you. “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 3:20 NLT).

Accept what God offers through Christ Jesus and let His mighty power work in you. Then you, too, will have your own story and song.

The Key: Sing about the goodness of God at the top of your lungs until your last breath.

When healthy, government entities focus primarily on serving their constituents, and private entities focus on their investors. This is called incentive; if an elected official does NOT focus on the public good, they should be voted out of office. Likewise, a private entity, which ineffectively represents the shareholders, goes broke. The incentive in both cases is for effective behavior.

In some cases, both incentives are needed. A government entity needs a specialized building, so they hire a qualified contractor, and negotiate a fair price to serve the public, while allowing the contractor a reasonable profit. Win/win.

In more complicated situations, sometimes it is necessary for a public entity to invest in a project owned privately, to promote the public good, and allow for the private corporation to have the control they need, within reasonable boundaries. One of the common examples of this is a Land Bank, created by a government entity to act as a connector between owners, who no longer have a viable plan for a property, and investors, who have a profit incentive, to take on the property development. The public is saved the spectacle of a dilapidated building deteriorating before its eyes, and the investors make a reasonable profit.

Bourbon County is in need of expanding these types of opportunities. We have dozens of situations in which it does not make sense for a private entity to buy a property, absorb all the costs to reverse the years of deterioration, and make all the necessary investments to turn the project into a viable income producing property. This is where government has the opportunity to step in.

Additionally, local charities have an opportunity to enhance these partnerships. Donation money invested in these permanent improvements to our community may make as much sense as routine handouts. Government, businesses, and charities need to think outside the box, get creative, and look for ways to make our communities better.

Grant money and advantaged loan programs can help. Some of these opportunities are geared to the private sector, some to government, and some to not-for-profit entities. These possibilities need to be sought out, and structures put in place to effectively deploy the resources.

The key in all these opportunities is to keep the incentives where they belong. Asking a business to only serve the public good, or for a government to produce a profitable real estate venture, is a losing strategy long-term.

Let’s all get creative, and look for ways to work together to improve our communities, while keeping everyone operating in their lane. Bourbon County REDI (formerly BEDCO) will be looking for ways to build together county-wide.

Horrible, disgusting mushrooms have found a home in my yard.

This, after hiring a landscaping crew to come in four times a year to do whatever landscapers do to keep our grass green and somewhat weed-free.

These mushrooms prevent me from keeping up with my neighbor, the one to the south who last year sodded his yard and installed an irrigation system. Without fail, sprinklers come on in a watering pattern that keeps his grass worthy of a Better Homes and Garden cover photo.

I have zero chance since I am our sprinkler system. I purchased two sprinklers for the days in which it did not rain, and while joined to their 100-ft. hoses, I drag them around the yard, spending hours a week trying to keep my grass green and happy

You can imagine my horror this year when I returned from Mexico to find unwanted demon-guests (aka mushrooms) leeching off the decaying nutrients in my soil.

When no local business offered a solution, I made phone calls to experts and was told that the shrooms no doubt had thrived because of the rain.

“As soon as the sun comes out and the rain stops, they will go away.” Whining to experts has accomplished nothing.

I have spiked the area around the little imps and filled it with liquid detergent. Two gallons of Dawn later, the parasites had turned black and stank horribly. (Stink, stank, stunk…yes, that is correct.

) But then they resurrected in another area, including the edge of my neighbor’s pristine yard, and I felt responsible.

No doubt they had spread their underground mushroom spore-filled gills into Never-Never-Neighbor-Land and now might overtake the entire neighborhood.

I have dug them up and bagged them for disposal. I have doused them with a vinegar/water solution and have treated them with non-soluble fertilizer.

Still, their bothersome bouquets proliferate.

It’s no coincidence that this morning’s Bible reading is in Romans where Paul addresses our sin nature. Several chapters are spent on the entanglement of sin and how easily we continue doing what we should not do instead of understanding that as Christians, we are to move toward holiness.

You know, instead of continuing to feed our souls on rot.

Sin comes natural to us, and like mushrooms, if unchecked, works its way out in thoughts, words, and deeds. If we do not kill the decay upon which our sin is relying for nourishment, it can take over our lives.

The apostle Paul was direct when asked if it’s okay to ignore sin (since we are covered by grace). He used three words to answer: “By no means!” We have to do everything we can to correct all ways we do not reflect Jesus Christ.

In other words, just like the death of the mushrooms is the Sun, the death of our sin is dependent on the Son of God.

I just need to spend as much time with Him as I do the annoying pests in our ground.

Keys to the Kingdom

The first special song I remember hearing in church in the 1960s was “Mansion Over the Hilltop.” My cousin’s wife Shirley and her sister Judy sang it in perfect harmony as Shirley played her happy accordion. Another gospel song I recollect is “Honey in the Rock“ written by Frederick A. Graves, an Assembly of God minister who was healed of epilepsy. He penned, “Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious? Do you walk in the way that’s new? Have you drunk from the Living Fountain? There’s honey in the Rock for you.”

God isn’t confined to doing things that are explainable. Everybody knows there’s no honey in a rock. But Psalm 81:16 NLT states, “I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.” You can think what you want, but I believe that “honey in the rock” signifies God’s special blessings. God wants to satisfy (bless) you with extraordinary honey for the taking. Our awesome God enjoys doing unexpected and out-of-the-ordinary things for His born-again children who love and obey Him. God created us because He desired an object of love. All He wants is for us to live as we have been created — in His image.

My Mom experienced honey in the Rock when she delivered a baby girl on February 7, 1958. While praying a few years prior, she had promised the Lord that she would one day have a baby girl for Him. That was a tremendous pledge of faith because she was the last child and only girl out of thirteen children. She delivered on her promise with me.

My Dad experienced honey in the Rock on the battlefield in Germany when he spotted a watch on the ground. When he bent over to pick it up, his Army buddy standing right beside him was shot and killed. After a few minutes of somewhat recovering from this traumatic experience, he looked for the watch and discovered there was no watch.

Several years ago, my brother experienced honey in the Rock when he made his weekly jail visit. He was extremely tired and seriously considered not going; after all, there was only one inmate there. But he followed his heart rather than his feelings and, while ministering to the man, discovered that he had planned to end his life that very night if Randy had not come. Both men’s lives were forever changed.

When my late husband was about 14 years old, he experienced honey in the Rock when he mounted Dynamite. That nutsy unbroken colt dragged his leg down a barbed-wire fence while running full speed. Concerned Jimmy would bleed to death before the ambulance arrived, his mother drove him to the hospital. The emergency surgery was successful and he was dismissed later that night. The family was greatly impacted and deeply grateful for God’s divine participation.

I experienced honey in the Rock the day I was driving on a hilly Missouri road between Cane Hill and Bona. I topped a hill and met a tractor-trailer rig more than hugging the center line. With no shoulder for extra room and no time to think, I jerked the wheel with uncanny precision to avoid a collision. After that close encounter of the scary kind, I realized an angel had most certainly taken control of the steering wheel.

The Key: God is your Rock and He has more honey than you can shake a stick at.

What was the population of Bourbon County at its peak? When was it? What about the incorporated cities in the county? What about the cities that have folded? What is the current population? Here is the list:

Bourbon County 28,575 in 1890; 14,653 in 2018

Bronson 595 in 1910; 305 in 2019

Fort Scott 11,946 in 1890; 7,697 in 2019

Fulton 506 in 1890; 155 in 2019

Mapleton 251 in 1930; 81 in 2019

Redfield 269 in 1920; 143 in 2019

Uniontown 371 in 1980; 264 in 2019

Wikipedia lists 12 communities in BB that are no longer incorporated, including Devon, Garland, Hammond, Hiattville, and Xenia, to name a few. It is also interesting to note that Bourbon County has historically been fairly balanced in the population mix between rural and urban residences.

Our county is half the size it was, and many communities have contracted by more than one-half. More communities have ceased to exist than are currently still incorporated.

Who is at fault? The short answer is no one, and everyone.

Many people, using 20/20 hindsight, blame past commissioners, but that is naïve. No one could have foreseen the megatrends of the 20^th and 21^st centuries that have challenged rural America. Obviously, it is silly to blame the current commissioners or anyone government entity. No commission has raised the levy in the six years I have been here; in fact, it has been lowered in recent years. The blame game started long ago and continues to this day. It has divided us into parochial camps.

We have become a victim of simple math: less people to pay the growing cost of government means the people that remain pay more. People get tired of paying more, and then they leave. Potential new people look at the cost of living here and chose to live elsewhere.

Now that we know that we cannot resist the forces that created our predicament, it is time to play offense and defense…together. We must reduce the cost of government (at least stop the steady increase), invest in problem-solving and work to attract new businesses/residents.

Lastly, we are going to have to give up some of our parochial natures. Yes, civic pride is desirable, but not to the exclusion of fellow residents of the county. Drop your grudges, work to reestablish trust, and let’s reach across artificial geographic lines and become a team. As Ben Franklin once said, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

“Always read the fine print, from beginning to end.” Great advice from my lawyer-friend. My son is getting married mid-July. Finding a dress to wear for a mountaintop wedding has been a nuptial nightmare, especially since the bride’s mother already has found the perfect ensemble and emailed me a picture of it. The fact that she is a size 6 and I am…well, not, is somewhat disconcerting. (On another note, I am convinced we all will be size 4’s in Heaven.) My friend Marti has been on an internet mission to help me find something stunning. Two days ago, she came across a site that offered an array of sharp, flowing outfits, designed to hide the inner-tube that has, thanks to menopause–and possibly chocolate chip cookies– inexplicably surfaced around my waist. I selected three “hopefuls.” As I was placing my order, intending to return whichever two I did not want, I continued scrolling and was not happy with what I read. The dresses came from China so, in order to return them, I would pay 50% of their cost, plus shipping. Too, there was no real guarantee on the date they would arrive in Kansas. That was the end of that. There is no end to the “Read the fine print” warnings. Fancy-schmancy resorts have been known to hide extra costs in their small print. A $1500 trip can easily turn into a $2000 one based on what the company fails to reveal in its ad. My husband, Dave, recently had a charge of $74.46 for a product he had ordered two months previous. Come to find out, he did not read the fine print from beginning to end: “Approximately 3-4 weeks after your first order is shipped, and approximately every 12 weeks thereafter, you’ll be sent a new 90-day supply of _____.” My Luke Bryan tickets, purchased last year with insurance protection, ended up not protected “should an epidemic occur.” Of course, that was printed on the 244th (wee exaggeration) page of the insurance policy which I did not have four hours to read. There definitely is a benefit to reading to the end, even if it takes a magnifying glass to do so. After home economics teacher Donna Andrews booked her vacation to London, she read the travel insurance policy completely, and that’s where she discovered that it pays to read the fine print. Literally. As the first person to do so, Andrews received a $10,000 prize. It was an effort by Squaremouth to improve travel insurance literacy by encouraging customers to review the entire policy. Squaremouth estimates that less than 1% of travelers who buy travel insurance read all of their policy information. “We’re working to change that,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey. I love that the Bible has no fine print add-ons. There are no surprises, no “Oops! That really didn’t happen, but it’s a great story, don’t you think?” superfluities. Nowhere in small lettering is anything like “There really is a hidden cost to following the Savior.” That’s because what you read is what you get. Jesus walked on water. He healed the blind. He cured crazy people. He scolded religious leaders. And his disciples, chickens who went into hiding upon his death, turned into fearless, outspoken leaders following his resurrection. Jesus changed history. Forever. And ever. From beginning to end.

Keys to the Kingdom

I’ve heard way too many stories about the misconduct of a pressure cooker. I know of one country cook that had to scrape pinto beans off the kitchen ceiling, walls, and floor because her cooker blew its stack. I’ve never blown up anything because I’m afraid to use a pressure cooker, so I don’t even own one! I don’t like messes so, just to be safe, I practice patience and “w-a-i-t for it” by using a slow crockpot.

Everybody can skip through life when the sidewalk is smooth. But whether you’re a Christian or an unbeliever, we’re all going to experience segments of life in a pressure cooker. That’s where the rubber meets the road and you find out what you‘re made of. “You are a poor specimen if you can’t stand the pressure of adversity” (Proverbs 24:10 TLB).

When heartache, adversity, and disappointments knock on your door, that means they have arrived. And you better know what to do with them. Don’t hang out the “welcome” sign or roll out the red carpet! Adversities are uninvited and unwelcome visitors and they cannot take up residence in your life. Don’t let troubles set up camp in your heart and soul. We have to know how to hand them off to Jesus and keep them in proper perspective. Otherwise, they will get out of hand and be blown up all out of proportion. We have to deal with adversities similar to what Samson did — tie their tails together, set ’em on fire and send ‘em packin’ (Judges 15:4-5).

Your attitude and actions are extremely important to you, God, and everybody around you. The Bible tells us that troubles can’t keep a good man/woman down. “For the lovers of God may suffer adversity and stumble seven times, but they will continue to rise over and over again” (Proverbs 24:16 TPT). You can be bold as a lion, strong as an ox, and stubborn as a Missouri mule when you’re believing and standing on God’s Word.

The gospel song, “I Shall Not Be Moved” would be a great motto for Christians to adopt. “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8 NKJV). No matter what life throws our way or dumps on our porch, we cannot let it destroy our joy, peace, and confidence in Christ Jesus. Believers can say, “I am standing on the promises of God and I shall not be moved.” (So take them apples!)

The last thing I want to do is profess to believe in Almighty God and then be a poor specimen of a Christian because I won‘t trust God. My heavenly Father will take care of me and He‘ll take care of you. God has been good to me all my life and I’m confident that His love and my faith in Him will extend to my last breath.

Don’t wait for hard times to show up and then try to scrape up your spiritual weapons for battle. That’s like heading to the root cellar after the tornado blew up your house. Dig into that foxhole with God and prepare daily for life’s advancing trials. ”Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (Ephesians 4:23 NLT). Proper preparation prevents poor performance.

The Key: If you can’t take the pressure, get out of the kitchen and into God’s Word.