Sometimes life feels heavy, confusing, or unfair. What we thought was loss, setback, or pain may be unbearable in the moment. But God sees beyond the surface. He is at work, turning struggles into growth, delays into preparation, and difficulties into opportunities we couldn’t have imagined. more

I really enjoyed the program that Channel Three did on our Bank of Sparta. My family has been a member of that bank since we got married in 1953. It has been so good to all the things this community has been involved in. Those three special girls could answer any question we might have and keep us updated on things good and and not so good. more

When I was a boy, air conditioning was a small “Zero” fan humming atop my chest-of-drawers. more

For some of you, today’s technological world is both a blessing and a curse. Some of it is helpful and good, but much of it only adds stress to our lives. We have let it consume too much of our time. It is affecting the health of our minds and bodies. It is changing the lives of adults and kids, and not necessarily for the better. more

Christian County 4-H would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who came out to support our Pie and Dessert Auction on April 30 at Victory Baptist Church in Nixa! From the delicious homemade desserts to the incredible community support, the evening was a huge success. We are so grateful to everyone who donated desserts, attended, bid, volunteered, and helped make this fundraiser possible. The generosity shown by our community means more than we can express. As part of 4-H, we are passionate about providing youth with opportunities to learn, lead, grow, and give back to their communities. Events like this help make future experiences possible for our members, and every dollar raised stays right here in Christian County to support local youth programs, activities, leadership opportunities, camps, and educational experiences through 4-H. We are incredibly thankful for the continued support of our community and for everyone who believes in investing in our youth. Your support truly helps our members grow into confident, capable leaders. We could not have done it without the amazing auctioneers at Melton Auction & Realty LLC and Christian County Sheriff's Office - Sheriff Cole! Thank you for helping make the night so fun and successful. And a big shout out to Victory Baptist Church for hosting! Thank you again to everyone who helped make this event one to remember! more

Had some cattle to move around and get weaned from calves, and they are not happy with the change. Lots of bawling going on in this quiet neighborhood. more

When you get older, you notice things or remember things you paid no attention to when you were younger. I was driving in the country a few weeks ago, away from the busy highways of today, and I began to notice something that I had never paid any attention to before. more

In the early 1980s, following my second trip to visit my brother in New Mexico, I penned the following notes on the journey. more

I drove to Windyville some years ago to cover the presentation of a Missouri state flag to the Happy Homemakers Extension Club. more

Memorial Day is an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May each year. It is a day of remembrance dedicated to honoring and remembering the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. more

It has been a week of celebrations for almost all families. more

A day that starts with prayer is a day rooted in peace. It is choosing to entrust everything, your worries, your dreams, your desires, and also your challenges, into God’s hands before the business and craziness of the world begins to pull at you. more

I wrote this column at least 40 years ago. I don’t remember exactly when, but it reflects on my experiences on a farm no longer mine to ramble, and an era of youthful innocence and simple joys. I cannot turn back the clock to those years, but I can cherish the memories. Perhaps mine will touch on yours, too. more

It is Friday morning, and he is loading his fishing gear into his old V-bottom boat, which is already hooked to his truck. Then he loads his old canvas tent and other camping gear. It has seen many camping trips over the years. He puts it in his truck bed along with a cooler of food. more

Jackie and I made a doctor stop on Thursday, then went to Bailey's Beauty shop for a haircut. Cara was there at the same time. That meant some catching up of wedding plans for Allie coming up on Tuesday evening. It takes a lot of work to make some beautiful memories. more

There is no greater love, Jesus tells us in John 15:13, than when one gives his life for another. more

We just had a nice weekend with activities in all directions. Somehow, I wish things would calm down just a little. It is hard to make it to all those places and get anything done at home. more

I like fishing. Never mind that I seldom go today. When I first penned this column four decades ago, I was at the lake or river every week. more

Long before I convinced Lindsey to marry me, I learned I was going to have to earn it. If memory serves me right, I sent her flowers every day for a week before she would even return my call. Some men fall in love at first sight. I apparently signed up for a seven-day floral payment plan. more

Another wedding shower on Saturday with lots of neat snacks. They got some really neat gifts. The couple will be living in a travel trailer on the house grounds while the house is being built by family members. It is good to have builders in the family. more

In my mother’s yard are yellow roses — old-fashioned roses with spindly, stickery vines that reach out and grab Dad’s overalls when he walks too near them to get to his truck. more

Christian County Lions Club is hosting a shred event on Saturday, May 2, from 10 am - Noon at the Price Cutter Store in Nixa, Mo. This is an excellent opportunity to safely dispose of documents with sensitive information. There is no cost. If offered, we will gratefully accept a donation, but there is no cost. more

Several weeks ago, I attended the opening of the new Christian County Museum and Historical Society located in the old rock building on the square in Ozark. Paul Johns and many others have done a wonderful job in preserving the history of the county where some of us grew up, and others now call home. more

We will have a road closing between here and Chadwick this Monday for some pipe work. Hopefully it doesn't last long. We like to run around a lot. more

Exploring my new patch of woods some 40 years ago, I was trudging through the leaves where I’d seen a black snake sunning a few days earlier when something foreign caught my eye. more