Last Monday, the commission voted to put together a resolution to create a planning committee with the idea that it could eventually become the zoning committee when they implement zoning. It sounds like they want to try to vote to approve it today on August 11th.

After listening to all the zoning discussions in the community meetings, I am convinced that there is a potential future where zoning could be implemented in the county that would not be harmful and might even provide some benefits. Even with perfect execution, I’m not sure it is worth it. But either way, just because something is possible does not necessarily mean it is probable. So the real question is, how likely is Bourbon County to end up with zoning that is not harmful if implemented today? The answer for today is very near 0%. It might be different in the future, but right now, every piece of evidence we have indicates that implementing zoning would be a fiasco.

Does that sound like a bold statement? Not really. All we have to do is look at a few recent situations that are much less complex than zoning and use the outcome of those situations to project what would happen if zoning is implemented today.

First, let’s consider the recent lawsuit where the county lost by default. When a lawsuit comes to the county, it is supposed to make its way to the county counselor, and they will show up for the hearing date and defend the county.  Despite receiving a summons, despite knowing that the lawsuit was in process, and despite the hearing date being clearly posted to kscourts.gov, no one showed up to represent the county. It isn’t exactly clear why, and for the purposes of my argument here, it doesn’t matter. The point is that the county is struggling to function in what should be a very trivial matter of showing up to defend against a lawsuit when the judge schedules a hearing.

But maybe that was just a fluke. Do we have any other similar situations?

Let’s consider a second example: the issue of the Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center.  In June, the Sheriff’s department suggested that the county could save money by switching to a different provider. Later in June, the county learned that it owns 1/10th of the detention center—ownership that would be forfeited if they pull out of the contract. Not only does the county own part of the detention center, but one of the commissioners is on the board that sets the prices. Unfortunately, he has never attended any of the board meetings.

Later in July, the commissioners voted to cancel the contract, but they missed the July 1st deadline by about 20 days, so the county is stuck in the contract until 2027.  Was it a good idea to cancel the contract? I have no idea. But I do know that if you are on the board that sets the price and you don’t like the price, the first thing to do is to show up for the board meetings. And, if for some reason you actually do have enough information to know it is a good idea to cancel, it seems like it would have been a good idea to not miss the date by 20 days so you are committed for another year. And if you do miss the date by 20 days, it might make sense to attend at least one board meeting before you vote to cancel the contract.

The list goes on. Now when I look at these types of situations, I don’t see a commission that is necessarily doing a bad job. I see a commission that is new. There is a huge body of knowledge they are trying to acquire quickly. Based on their past work history, it is unlikely they are going to have much prior experience to draw from. That isn’t criticism, it is just pointing out that there is a lot to do and learn, and it is reasonable to expect some missteps along the way as they find their footing.

However, we can also look at these types of situations and get a pretty good idea of what type of results the county will have to live with if they move forward with creating a planning committee as a step toward implementing zoning. The county commission is struggling with basic functions like showing up for a lawsuit, showing up for board meetings of county-owned entities, and deciding on issues before contracts lock you in for another year. These are things that have a high probability of being handled correctly once the commissioners acquire the experience and knowledge they need to effectively do their jobs. Implementing zoning has a very high probability of doing injury to the county and a small chance of being done in a way that is beneficial—even once they have experience. Without experience, we can easily extrapolate the expected results.

Imagine you are Houdini’s manager and he wants to do a stunt where he is fastened in chains, put in a box, and dumped in the ocean. If many of his attempts to do the stunt on land result in failure, you would be wise to caution him against doing the far more risky version underwater. Once he has a solid track record of escaping his bonds on land, then the underwater version starts having a chance of being successful.

Until the commissioners have a track record of handling the basic functions, they shouldn’t launch a planning committee taking steps toward something that has a high degree of risk. The two examples I listed above give the expected, most probable outcome if they decide to do it before.

Mark Shead

Note: FortScott.biz publishes opinion pieces with a variety of perspectives. If you would like to share your opinion, please send a letter to [email protected]. 

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Two Girls and a Pair of Shoes

On my way home from Missouri I decided to stop at one of my favorite shoe stores. Sometimes I’m just looking, but on this particular day I was shopping for a specific style: dressy black shoes with medium-height heel and open toe. It didn’t take long to find the perfect pair, but my size was AWOL. I grabbed a sample shoe and found Jesslyn, the sweet young clerk, and asked if perhaps a size 6 could be in the storage room. She smiled and courteously responded that everything they had was out on the shelf. We visited for a few minutes about how cute these shoes were and then she said something I’d never heard before from a shoe-store clerk: “They are really pretty shoes, in fact, I have a black pair and a white pair of them at my house that I’ve worn only once for a high school special-occasion evening. I’m pretty sure at least one of them is a size 6. Would you be interested in buying them?” I said, “Yes! If it‘s the black pair — I don‘t need the white ones.” Jesslyn told me it was actually time for her break, so she’d ask the manager if she could run home to get the shoes for me. She got the green light and off she drove.

I meandered around the store waiting and thinking about how this was evolving into a very unusual story. Very shortly, Jesslyn zoomed into the parking lot and walked in toting the size 6 black shoes that I’d set my heart on. We had previously agreed on a price, so I laid the money down and both of us had a win-win for the day! I couldn’t leave without a taking a picture of the three of us smiling, standing behind the counter. I told the girls  they could be sure to find this story in their local newspaper — because it’s just too good and off-the-wall not to share!

I pray about everything, whether it‘s big or little. But I don‘t remember praying for a pair of black shoes. However, they were an insignificant secret desire of my heart. Over the years, the following scripture has proven to be true in my life: “Find your delight in the Lord. Then He will give you everything your heart really wants” (Psalm 37:4 NIRV). After experiencing several weeks of stress associated with totaling a vehicle, I think the odd blessing of finding these shoes was simply God’s way of reminding me that He cares about even the little things in my life.

You may think I’m an oddball; you may think I’m wacky. You may believe in coincidence; I do not. I see God’s fingerprints all over this encounter of the bizarre kind. It started with me simply asking, against all odds, “Do you have a size 6 in the backroom?” I already knew the answer, but something prompted me to ask anyway. And now you know the rest of the story.

There are definite perks that come to believers from delighting ourselves in the Lord. And many times God sends these unique blessings through people. These two girls were sweet as sugarcane but God can cause even grumpy people to give us favor. He knows the number of hairs on our head so He certainly cares about our desires, no matter what size they are. In my case, a 6.

The Key: God used Jesslyn and Donna to bring my heart’s desire to reality! I was still smiling as I drove across the Vernon/Bourbon County line.

After attending all the community meetings by the zoning advisory committee, there were a few things that stood out. In particular, it was very interesting to hear the different views of property rights and how much control individuals feel they should have over what their neighbors are allowed to do with their land.

One individual explained that when he burns his grass, he sometimes loses control of the fire and burns off his neighbor’s field as well. Right now, he didn’t seem to think it was any big deal, but if his neighbor was to put up solar panels (or presumably anything else valuable), his out-of-control fires might cause damage. The actual destruction didn’t seem to be a concern, but he was worried his fire-burning practices might make his insurance rates go up.  He wanted zoning implemented to keep his neighbor from being able to install solar panels. By the same logic, he’d probably oppose someone building a valuable house across the road from his land or anything else that might require any change in his fire-burning habits to avoid destroying his neighbor’s property.

Other people explained that they had bought their small hobby farm because they liked the way the neighbor’s land looked and didn’t want to see it change from the pretty fields they were used to looking out. They wanted zoning so they wouldn’t have to look at solar panels. Others said that they felt their house was more valuable because it looked out over their neighbor’s pastureland, and if the neighbor decided to put in something different, their view wouldn’t be as nice, and that might make their house not be worth as much. They wanted county zoning to make sure their neighbor kept their fields looking the way that they think makes their house the most valuable.

What is fascinating about all these positions is the shift it represents in the belief that the property owner has a right to use their land as they see fit. Instead, they see that right as being diminished from what is normally expected, and instead, neighbors have an increased right to determine what the property owner is allowed to do with their land.

In the late 1800s, Kansas had a similar issue, but back then it was driven by the invention of barbed wire. Cattle owners who were used to letting cattle run free weren’t particularly excited about farmers and ranchers who were putting fences around the land they owned. The range ranchers felt they had a right to run their cattle on their neighbor’s land, and this disagreement launched the “fence cutting wars.” From the perspective of the free-range cattle owners, it didn’t matter who owned the land. They had a right to their neighbor’s land in a way that was impeded by fencing.

The “fence cutting wars” were eventually settled in favor of property owners. The current difference of opinions on how much control people should have over what your neighbor’s land looks like (or how much effort you should be expected to expend avoiding catching it on fire) might eventually be resolved with the pendulum swung the other way.

Mark Shead

Note: FortScott.biz publishes opinion pieces with a variety of perspectives. If you would like to share your opinion, please send a letter to [email protected]. 

It’s a duck call to a mallard, a 75% off Instagram sale to a shopaholic, a box of Godiva chocolates to most of my friends.  Irresistible.  Enticing.  A guaranteed, surefire, “once in a lifetime opportunity.”  Never has a friend’s “O-I-A-L-O” investment given me anything but a migraine and a depleted bank account.  The invitation to ride a donkey to the depths of the Grand Canyon on a path only inches wider than the beast’s belly doesn’t mean I saddle up. And how many sets of knives do I need as a result of the “special ends in one hour” ploy?  Once-in-a-lifetime-opportunities have led to bankruptcy, divorce and even death (in which case, granted, the definition is literal).

Now, do I believe there are legitimate “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities?  Absolutely. Every day God allows us to cross paths with people we will never see again who need to hear the gospel. Our family’s trip to the mission field in Africa taught me that doing without “things” gives me time to hang with God. Spending hours every day with my mother in the nursing home showed me how fragile life can be and how those who dined with her one meal can have funerals a few days later.  There were chances to talk to them about Jesus.

Sometimes I did.  But not always. After all, there’s always tomorrow…

Now, that’s foolishness.  The Bible is chock full of decisions that had to be made on the spot, but Matthew 25 is a great analogy of the need for immediacy.  Ten virgins have carried their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Only five took extra oil with them. When the bridegroom failed to show up, the ten fell asleep, waking only when he was a short distance away.   The foolish virgins found their lamps dimming and asked for the wise to share.  Let’s pick it up in verse nine.

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’  But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.  Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’   “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

The point cannot be dismissed.

If we dilly-dally, thinking we’ll make Jesus our Lord “someday,” we are fools.  This day, this moment, might be our only chance to take Jesus up on his offer.  As for guaranteed, surefire “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities, it doesn’t get much more legitimate than that.

Have you ever flattered someone, only because you wanted them to think kindly of you or because you were going to need them to do something for you later? Games-players can appear soooo sweet. (“I am so sorry I didn’t show up for our meeting but I’ve been under such stress and I didn’t want to bother you all with my problems so I’ll just carry them alone.”)

They might even manipulate with money or gifts, obligating you to do whatever they ask.  Think wolf in sheep’s clothing.  Allow me to illustrate with a real-life scenario.  I once attended a ladies’ Bible study in which the leader instructed us on how to make our husbands more attentive (i.e., how to manipulate):

• You’re always home at a certain time?  Don’t be.
• He questions where you’ve been?  Be evasive, but just a little.
• You’re supposed to meet him somewhere?  Tardy is good.

The key, we were told, was to keep him wondering.

I thought the leader was going to get a standing ovation.  The young audience was excitedly taking copious notes.  New tactics!  Hooray!  My girlfriend Gretchen and I were glancing at each other, our eyeballs doing somersaults with each new option.  Simultaneously, our arms shot up.  Gretchen got the nod.

Of course.  Gretchen always got the nod.  She was gorgeous, stylish, energetic, and she had a southern drawl that would curl your eyelashes.

“I’m sorry,” she began, “but isn’t that a form of manipulation?” The leader stammered, desperately trying to win back her audience with a scripture or two.  It was pointless.  Every justification she presented was immediately countered with our frantic arm movements.

Before long, she glanced at her watch and silenced our gestures with, “Oh, dear, IMAGINE THAT.  We’re out of time.”  Our session quickly was terminated, and she disappeared.

Another way to play games is to use favors.  We cook his favorite meal or wash her car or run his errands or tolerate her anger…anything to get what we want, either the same day or, for the real pro’s, a few weeks later.

You know how this works.  You’ve been eyeing that stunning new suit at your favorite boutique, but oh, my! Way too expensive.  There’s no money in the budget for anything that extravagant.  What to do!  Well, just maybe if you can get Hubby in a good mood he’ll oblige. Yes, of course, that’s it.  Mood is everything.

You swing into action.  You recognize what moves your husband and you get busy.  Perhaps he needs help weeding the yard—you lather on the sunscreen, clap the crusted dirt off your gardening gloves, and whistle while you work. Maybe he just enjoys your company when he runs his errands—you grin and bear it, pretending to actually enjoy your one-aisle-at-a-time, Home Depot excursion.  He’s one content man. Happy camper man.  Now, if you’re really smart you let a little time pass—you don’t spring your request on him immediately, but you do make sure his mood hasn’t changed before petitioning for that expensive outfit.

Oh, yes, you are so clever.  And he is so clueless!   A fine combination, indeed.

Proverbs 24:8 states, “He who plots evil will be called a schemer,” and 12:2 warns us, “The good person obtains favor from the Lord, but He condemns a man who schemes.”  Any time we do anything with the intent of getting something in return, we are scheming.  God is not concerned with the outcome; He is concerned with our motives. Certainly worth a little self-investigating, don’t you think?

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Turbo vs. Puny

Several years ago I received a professional turbo hair dryer as a gift. The performance of this dryer was impressive! It was loud, powerful, and quickly got the job done in seconds. Recently, I picked up the hair dryer and, for some reason,  examined it and noticed that the air-intake desperately needed to be cleaned. So I took it apart to remove the dust and lint that had accumulated. The next time I used it, I was blown away (pun intended) by how powerful it worked! Slowly, over time, I hadn’t noticed the decline in the performance of the hair dryer. It was still working, but not as efficiently as it did when it was new. Instead of the original five-star rating, it had plummeted to a puny, pitiful three-star and I hadn’t even noticed. After a thorough cleaning, the hair dryer was restored to its original turbo power and performance.

Believers need to be careful not to lose our power, fervor, and love for God and His kingdom. We must be watchful not to slip into becoming part of the large masses who either don’t know Christ or are just casually acquainted with Him. A.W. Tozer hit the nail on the head when he said, “Take nothing for granted. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross, follow your Lord and pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. The masses are always wrong. In every generation, the number of righteous is small. Be sure you are among them.”

When it comes to being a Christ follower, our spiritual life is serious business. We simply can’t be asleep at the wheel because when we’re asleep we aren’t aware of what’s happening. I had no idea my hair dryer was not very powerful any more. I hadn’t noticed its gradual decline due to the simple fact I hadn’t routinely maintained it. If we don’t maintain our walk with Christ every day, then one thing after another will begin to break down. Try operating your lawn mower without ever changing the oil and see how that works out. Try boiling a pot of beans and not checking on it every few minutes and see how that turns out. Try never brushing your teeth and see how you like dentures.

Try not giving God a minute of your time to pray and thank Him for His goodness and see how ungrateful you become. Try not reading/studying God’s Word and see how ignorant and powerless you become. One of the strong points in selling my late husband’s Suzuki Boulevard was the fact that it had been well-maintained for 18 years. When the buyer checked the oil, it was a light yellow color — and he was impressed. Maintaining our relationship with God is of utmost importance. If we want to be powerful instead of puny, we most certainly can — but the ball is in our court. How bad do we want it?

Apostle Paul writes to the Church in Ephesus: “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:16,17,19 NLT).

The Key: If your spiritual power has turned puny, just clean out your air-intake by spending time with God every day.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Don’t Forget to Sing

As a child, I dearly loved attending Vacation Bible School. I enjoyed singing the songs that were geared for my age. One of my favorites was: “Praise Him, praise Him! Praise Him in the morning, praise Him in the noontime. Praise Him, praise Him! Praise Him when the sun goes down!” I also had a favorite grown-up song in the hymnal entitled, “He Keeps Me Singing” written by Luther B. Bridgers 1910: “There’s within my heart a melody. Jesus whispers sweet and low: ’Fear not, I am with thee; peace, be still,’ in all of life’s ebb and flow. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus — sweetest name I know. Fills my every longing; keeps me singing as I go.” The following anonymous quote really speaks to me: “Don’t let the song go out of your life.”

In the Old Testament, we read of the account when the land of Judah was in dire straits because of the invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites. King Jehoshaphat prayed a prayer that we’ve all uttered when we’ve found ourselves in a dilemma. In everyday language, here’s what the king prayed to God: “We have no way to protect ourselves against this mighty army! We don’t know what to do — but we’re looking to You.” Jahaziel, the spokesman for God then answered: “Don’t be afraid nor dismayed, for the battle is not yours, but God’s!”

Early the next morning the army of Judah went out toward the battlefield. After consulting with the leaders of the Israelite people, King Jehoshaphat appointed a choir to march ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His faithful love. “At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped (2 Chronicles 20:22-24 NLT).

This Old Testament incident clearly indicates that Christ followers should reason less about our problems and sing and praise more. “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and sing joyful songs of praise” (Psalm 95:2 GNT). We could be more joyful and peaceful if we would stop self-revolving and inward thinking. We can pray and sing our cares away a lot easier than we can reason them away. When we don’t know what to do, we are to look to God to give us strength and a victory song.

I’ve heard that singing is the last thing robins do before retiring for the night. When they’ve finished their daily work; flown their last flight, and eaten their last worm, then they give voice to their evening song. When my schedule allows, I’ve recently started playing piano and singing gospel songs before going to bed. “God is the One who saves me; I will trust Him and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord gives me strength and makes me sing. He has saved me” (Isaiah 12:2 NCV). Surely we can be as smart as a bird and bring a prayer of thanksgiving and a joyful song before turning in for the night.

The Key: Don’t let the song go out of your life.

If you are planning a Pity Party, don’t forget to add Manipulation to your guest list.

Oh, never mind.  It will figure out a way to come on its own.  When I was young, it was a regular.  Envy would lead; Manipulation would follow.  (“I want to feel good about myself…how can I make that happen?”)  Yes, indeedy, games-playing had free reign at many of my events.  Even my husband, Dave, was prey to my scheming.

The following dialogue is as close to truth as I can remember.  Dave’s version may be a slight bit different, but his is wrong. Let’s call this dramatic scene “The Confrontation.”

“What do you mean, you ‘won’t coach’ with me?  They are desperate.” “Patty, I know nothing about soccer.  I’ve never even seen a soccer game.  Let somebody coach it who is an expert at it.”

“Expert!  No one in Fort Scott is an expert on soccer.  It can’t be that hard.  Besides, I promised everyone at the meeting that you and I would team-coach.  What’s the big deal?  Kids run up and down the field and try to get a ball in a net.  We’ll coach Jeff” (our then-five year old son) “and learn together.” Two or three seconds passed.  Silence.  An obvious gesture my husband was weakening.  Time to take advantage…

“They’re five year olds, for crying out loud.  We….”

Dave never let me finish my rehearsed list of reasons. “I’m not going to do it.  That’s all there is to it.”

EXCU-U-USE ME?  Dave obviously had missed the part about me publicly signing us up. Didn’t he realize I had a face to save here?  The whole town would be talking about how he had refused me.  Dave had the wisdom to go to the garage and look busy.

Are you a manipulator?  Always scheming to get others (even God) to tap-dance on command?  If so, you are in the majority.  Many people I have met have learned every possible ploy to help others (especially spouses) be all that God wants them to be.

We don’t have to look far in scripture to find one man whose pitiful life was directed by manipulating women.  Judges 13-16 is the story of Samson who married a beautiful Philistine woman who comprised a riddle to trick her bridegroom into telling her the secret of his incredible strength.  Madame Manipulation at her finest.  Squeezing out some phony tears, she professed, “You don’t love me,” and soon Samson gave up his secret.

Lots of fun pictures for that honeymoon scrapbook.  Read the story.  Samson was abducted, blinded, and ultimately died.

There is no end to the way we can play games to get what we want and then sulk when we don’t.  We compare our spouses or kids (or whomever) to others who do things so much better.  We offer favors to those who can help us get what we want.  We flatter those whom we want in our corner.  We use silence, anger, tears or guilt to get our way.

John MacArthur said, “A person who truly loves someone else doesn’t try to get anything out of that person.  That’s because godly love is never conditioned on a response—it is unconditional.”

Since that incident, I have had literally hundreds of requests for Dave’s baseball services. I must admit, my first reaction is to say “Yes,” especially to close friends, knowing how terrific he would be for the task. I’m proud of his abilities and glad to share them…even if he isn’t.  But I have learned to show him the consideration to ask him only once.  I certainly don’t want to be put into the same category as Samson’s wife.

Only on a few occasions do I ask him twice.  And three times is my absolute limit.

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Weird Toothpaste

I just love it when someone tells a good story on themselves. I was visiting with a friend recently and she told me that once when she was brushing her teeth she noticed that the toothpaste was really weird. It didn’t taste right nor did it have the usual texture. After some quick investigation, she discovered that she had applied Desitin on her toothbrush! And then when I retold this funny incident to another friend, she told me that her husband had spread Preparation H on his father’s dentures instead of Fixodent! What’s this world coming to?

I think it all boils down to the fact that we live in a world of constant distractions and, if we aren’t paying attention, we’ll be caught doing some off-the-wall stuff! As Christ followers, we’re to pay careful and focused attention on what we’re doing and how we‘re living. John Mark shares some insightful light for us: “I will guard against the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things that creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, causing it to become fruitless” (Mark 4:19).

Every age/era has its own unique distractions and we‘re supposed to look out for them. When my late husband would be driving (and not paying attention to the road ahead), I would sometimes say, “Look out” in order to get him to see what was happening right in front of him. We also need to be careful of those “other things” that can worm their way into our lives and take up so much time that we can’t/won’t read and study God’s Word. The only way His Word becomes fruitless is when it is either not known or disregarded. When believers put into practice what we learn from God’s Word we, ourselves, become fruitful. Whether we’re fruitless or a fruitloop, God can help us be overcomers.

Philippians 1:10 is a powerful scripture for me. I have it underlined in red and highlighted in purple: “I cannot do everything so I choose those things which are vital and excellent and of real value. I have wisdom and I am able to distinguish the highest and the best things for me to do.” Most individuals are gifted in multiple ways, so we must choose what we’re the best at and focus on those gifts. Personally, I don’t have any gifting as an artist, athlete, or guitarist, so I chose to focus on playing the piano and singing. Even as a kid, I didn’t allow myself to get distracted by trying to develop a gift I wasn’t created to do.

Whether you’re athletic or not, you’re running in a spiritual race everyday. Apostle Paul writes that the believer’s race has distractions and we’re to keep our eyes on the prize. Before GPS, we used to have to pull off the highway occasionally to check the map and make sure we were headed in the right direction. Once, when my parents were in the prime of their life and traveling between California and Missouri, Dad took a break and slept in the backseat while Mom drove. When he woke up and looked out the window, he immediately said, “You’re going the wrong way.“ We need to pause and check our spiritual map (God’s Word) to see if we’re straying off course.

The Key: Believers have to pay attention and steer clear of distractions which can cause wrong turns and weird toothpaste encounters.

School will start soon. We need to pray for our teachers. Since the time Covid kept students out of the classroom, teachers have attempted to correct the physical/mental/emotional damage done to these children. Add to that the use of A.I. to keep students “thinkless,” and the task of teaching well creates monumental problems.

There are few jobs that require the number of hats teachers must wear. They are mentors, psychologists, nurses, seamstresses, food preparers, EMT’s, confidants, mediators, resource officers, role models, listeners, organizers, researchers, and technology gurus, for the short list.

For centuries, a teacher’s responsibility was to expect students to follow his/her lead. “Do as I say and your day will go well.” No longer. Now, teachers are expected to offer rich, tailored learning experiences to each child. Their job is to nurture healthy curiosity in their students, and considering their classroom contains a range of I.Q.’s, home life situations, economic opportunities and personality styles (all changing over the six classes taught each day), the job can seem overwhelming.

Educators teach to make a difference; that is their reward. But the job has become increasingly stressful. Students sneak cellphones into the classroom. Many parents defend their children, even when there is proof of guilt. Now, kids can wear pajama bottoms and slippers to class, and the school system is forced to give multiple chances for a student to pass a class.

As I run into educators in our community, the stories do not change. “How much longer until retirement?” “I used to think I would teach until I drop. No longer. Now the students are running the show and many parents don’t have our backs. I can’t wait until I can retire.” “We still have not recovered from the Covid mess where few students actually participated in the Zoom calls, and unless we wanted to visit them at their homes, there was nothing we could do.”

Over 40 times in the Gospels, Jesus is called a teacher. The apostle Luke writes in Acts 1:1 that his Gospel is a “record of all that Jesus began to do and teach.” Ephesians 4:11 says it was Christ “who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” Good teachers are a blessing.

In “Keep Believing Ministries,” Ray Pritchard wrote, “You don’t have to be famous or brilliant to teach. You don’t have to be highly educated. You don’t have to be clever or witty or unusually attractive. You don’t have to be anything but willing. It won’t cost you anything but your life. If you don’t mind being a sower, you can be a teacher. There are hungry minds and open hearts all around us. The door of opportunity is wide open.” Jesus knew that. Jesus had a way of speaking that caused people to listen.

Next month, I will be coming out of retirement to teach again, and one of my classes is “Introduction to Education” which I will rename “So, You Want to be a Teacher!” I pray that I can encourage my students to understand their calling: God doesn’t ask everyone to be a teacher, but should they choose this job, they need to pray that He will give them a love for their students that supersedes all the negativity causing people to quit. I pray that you make that your prayer as well.