Perspective

It was one of the late nights, many years ago, when I was playing a lot of music and writing a lot of songs. At around midnight on one rare, quiet Friday night, sitting alone in the basement of my parents’ home in Kansas City, the words to the song I’ve shared below came gushing out. I remember writing them down as quickly as possible before picking up my guitar and putting together the chords and melody. The song was unusual for me, because it started out slowly before the pace picked up for the main verses, and then it slowed back to the slow, melancholy pace of the opening to bring it to an end. It was one of the songs chosen for an album some friends of mine and I put together around 1980. People have always seemed to enjoy it, or to at least be intrigued by the questions it puts forward. Anyway, I hope it speaks to everyone as I continue to share it whenever possible.

by Minister Melanie Dees Campbell Ark Ministries Hope of the World Not hearing from this younger challenged woman from Kansas City for a few years, her phone call did not surprise me, but her request did. She requested I minister to her former step-father, SK, who was dying from Aids.

There’s a light fog more of a haze, really — lying across the lower hay field this morning down where Johnson Creek runs into the Tomahawk. I’ve seen yellow leaves being blown by the breeze under the high green canopy in the old woodlot across from the hunting cabin. The hay is already needing a second cutting. The deep blue of the rain-cleaned sky and the puffy whiteness of the lingering clouds seem out of place — more like late September than the last few days of August, if you know what I mean. Maybe the extreme dryness and intense heat of the early summer caused the regular timing to shift, or maybe it’s just a fluke. But it sure seems like autumn is quite a bit closer than it should be. I love autumn. The sights, the smells, the brisk freshness of the morning air have always made me feel more alive, more at home, especially here in the holler. Usually, one has to wait until late September or even early October to get a sense of the changing of the seasons. This year seems to be different.

by David Sitzes Gill Memorial Baptist Church Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.

A review of children’s books by Eveleth Hill “Chrysanthemum” The following two books by Kevin Henkes are fun to read and are sensitive to concerns children may have. Chrysanthemum loves her name.

Dear Editor, Having recently received a notification that my vehicles have increased in value for personal property tax purposes, I have to wonder if there will be a corresponding rollback in tax rates? The personal property tax is not covered by the Hancock Amendment rules on lowering property tax rates as values increase since traditionally cars decrease in value. It’s only due to the recent pandemic that car values have risen rather dramatically. It is glaringly obvious to me that the increase in tax on personal property is going to hit Missouri residents hard — especially at this time when we are all dealing with higher rates of inflation that we’ve grown accustomed. Right now, local government coffers are rather full between federal stimulus funds and other revenues. I don’t believe that cities and counties need an additional bonus and that rolling back personal property tax rates is the solution – not adding additional burdens to struggling working families and the elderly. A personal vehicle is not a luxury in rural areas where other options for getting to work, school and medical appointments are not available.

Proverbs 29:18 says that where there is no vision the people perish (or cast off restraint). It seems to me our nation could use a good bit of prophetic vision right about now. We have definitely “cast off restraint.” But the verse speaks about more than just creating a plan for the future, or trying to conjure up answers to all of those “what’s next” questions we face from time to time. It speaks to more than just the “vision quest” meetings we have on corporate levels of business or in the leadership of many churches.

by Minister Melanie Dees Campbell Ark Ministries/Hope of the World Many believe Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior who died for the sins of all. The question is, have we made him Lord over our lives? Have we made Yeshua/Jesus our King? He is the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings but have we recognized and accepted his Kingship, his Lordship personally? When we have the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, over our lives, we can walk in true confidence of his love.

by Bob G. Stewart Columnist Last week I spoke of the need for true believers - the “remnant” as spoken of in the scriptures - to stand tall and to warn others of what might be at stake if we fail to take a stand for what we believe in.

Dear Coach, I turned 40 this year and decided to get back into tennis which I played in high school. Two weeks into the process and only after playing a few sets my knees, back and elbow are killing me. What's upwith that? Is it all over for me or is there hope for the future?